Fastback Studios is offering professional recording classes that will teach and involve you on how to record. You will have hands on training in a commercial recording studio that will help you become an experienced and knowledgeable engineer and producer.

The recording classes are once a week for 10 weeks Tuesday Oct. 6th 2009. Classes will consist of 5 students with text book and 2 teachers.

Program of study will include: Pro-Tools usage, how to record, edit & mix, monitor placement, room acoustics, analog mic-pre’s, compressors, EQ’s, interfaces, plug-ins, MIDI, microphones and mic-placement, knowledge of instrument’s, business of recording, actual recording of class project.. And much more!

Classes start Oct. 6th, for more info please contact: Mark, 206.367.4667 – info@fastbackstudios.net

The gang at Fastback is completing our new 8’ x 9’ isolation booth, this is our 4^th isolation booth. Along with our 33’ x 22’ x 12’ live room, we have ISO Booth #1 that is often used for vocals or bass cabinets, ISO#2 that is used for guitar amps, ISO#3 large booth for vocal or horns.

The reason we have a large live room plus 4 isolation booths is for separation of instruments (not people) that have many band member in their group. Isolation booths serve as no instrument/sound bleed over, which means that the bass amp will not bleed in guitar amp mic and vise-versa. Many band mates want to record live and physically be in the same room. At Fastback we can do that while amps and instrument overage’s can be separated in another rooms.

At FBS you “can turn it up to 11″ and get the tone you want to make a great track!

When thinking of a story to talk about, I found myself coming back to this one conversation I had the other night with a new member of the FBS staff.  This is more of a story about customer service and quality of product. 

The difference between a staff member and an intern.  A staff member has a motivated invested interest in the quality and satisfaction of what the business is providing to the the customer.  In Fastback’s case it is not only to the customer but a global audience that will listen to the music that is produced and created at our facility.  

Interns do have a place in business but in music I have found the average intern to be a “fish out of water” wondering what the next studio step is, be it load-in, setting-up, use of equipment or accommodating the client.  Or often not taking a pro-active initiative to find a solution to a problem that might occur.  Just because someone like’s or enjoys music doesn’t mean the audio field is the correct business fit for them; I enjoy fast old cars but I’m not a professional driver.  In the recording industry you must first be a people person, have a strong factual understanding of historic, current and changing music genre’s and audio equipment, a customer service attitude, high product quality standards.  These are attributes you must have first or are dedicated to obtain them quickly, after that everything else will follow.  

Our staff consist of now, five people. Myself (Mark Naron): Owner and Director of operations, Jason Lackie: Producer and Chief Engineer, Steve Palermo: Mastering and Audio Tech,  Bryce Francis: Studio Manager and engineer and now introducing you to our newest member Trevor Boone.

Along with being our newest Fastback member, Trevor Boone has a long continuing history with Emerald City Guitars.  ECG is one of the regions premier vintage guitar, amp, pedal and repair shop.  Like Fastback Studios Emerald City Guitars is dedicated to quality product and service. 

Here is an article that I found about Local studio owner Tom Pfaeffle, you will be missed truely missed Tom.

The Methow Valley News reported that a 49 year old man was shot on the night of July 17, at about 10:42 p.m. The fatal shot seems to have been fired by a 57 year old man from Seattle area, who had been held back in the county jail. The alleged suspect has been charged with Murder in the Second Degree and Reckless Endangerment. Methow Valley News also reports that the victim had been taken to the Mid Valley Hospital in Omak, where he had died two hours later from the fatal wounds, as has been stated in an early morning report from a police officer from Twisp, Ty Sheehan. The police are still investigating the matter. The police did not release the names of the victim, the suspect or the motel at which the incident had taken place. However, on Saturday, The Seattle Times came out with the reports that the victim had been Tom Pfaeffle.

Pfaeffle is a well known name in the local music scenario and is known to have worked with such names as Nirvana, Heart and The Black Crowes. He was also reported to have been an instructor at the Art Institute in Seattle. He owned and operated the a recording studio by the name The Tank, which is located in the woods of Black Diamond.

Fastback Studios had to pleasure to record and befriend James Dail. A true British punk rocker in every sense.  James was very musically creative and we had the opportunity to record his last record just a week before his disappearance and soon after the recovery of his body.  Both his memory and music will live on and I am glad that we, here at Fastback met and inspired by James.  Here is a Myspace note from Boot Liquor.

Boot Liquor received some very bad news late Friday afternoon, the King County Coroner called the band to confirm the identity of our friend and band member James Dail. All we know is that they recovered the body late last week and that it matches James description. Detectives are looking into all of the details and as soon as we find out anything new, we will let you know. Thanks again to EVERYONE who put up flyers, posted bulletins, asked around,and did anything to get the word out there about James. we will be putting out the recently recorded record as a tribute to our friend and his music. Once again, THANK YOU ALL for everyhthing!! Jack,Rob, and Mike