I love figuring things out
After the many times that I needed to hire a Tech to come fix my Ampex 440C 1”- 8 track I thought, “I need to learn how to do this stuff!” It was a pretty surface level impulse, mostly about avoiding the cost. It was definitely not because I had the intelligence to know the myriad of reasons that being an Audio Tech would be completely transformative for me.
I was very reluctantly introduced to soldering, and circuit building while at Institute of Audio Research. My 22 year old self being certain that this class was a complete waste of time, not to mention simply intolerable at 8 am, after working doing Live Sound till 3 am. I still use the little 4 track mixer we built.
I love fixing, refurbishing, and modifying
I work on a lot of different gear, but mostly older vintage equipment, the stuff that was made to be able to fix.
I do a lot of refurbishing, and modifications, and re-purposing older circuits to work specifically with modern recording situations.
I do a lot of mods working around the concepts of interfacing, and passive loading with respect to frequency, and transient response.
I have worked with almost every brand console, tape machine, microphone, and amp
Consoles
I have worked on many different brand consoles, Neve, ApI, MCI 4,5,600’s, Harrison 32C, Tree Audio, Auditronics, RCA, Langevin, Yamaha PM 1 and 2k, Altec Tube Mixers as well as racking up channels strips, building new channel direct out buffers, adding different transformer choices, replacing mix busses, replicating motherboard functionality, and some chassis building.
Tape machines
I have repaired many Tascam 388, and 246 reel to reel tape machines, as well as Studer A820, A810, Sony APR 5000, MCI JH-110B,C, Ampex MM1000, Ampex 351, Ampex 440C, Otari MTR90, Studer A80 MK iv.
Microphones
I have repaired and restored microphones like the Telefunken U47, U48 Sony C37, 38, 57, RCA 74, 77, KU-2A, Neumann U87, Fet 47, AKG 414, C12, 451, D36, D12, D25, Mojave, Shure Bros, Octava.
Amps
I repair, restore, and modify Tube and Solid State instrument amplifiers. I have a whole lot of love and experience with Ampeg, Fender, Vox, Marshall, Magnatone, Traynor, Mesa Boogie to name just a few.
For the last 6 years I performed amp repairs for Imperial Guitar and Soundworks in New Paltz, New York, and going back over 15 years I worked for Expert Audio Repairs and Services (E.A.R.S) in NYC, and so have had my hands inside most of them.
I build and maintain studios all over the country
Along with my own Marcata Recording, I have helped build, and maintain many other studios for friends all around the Hudson Valley, NYC, Maine, Texas, and the Pacific Northwest.
I consult on studio design and configuration, sound proofing and reflection control, patchbay design and layout, and of course, I do a whole lot of wiring.
I work out of my shop at home, at Marcata Recording, and also make house calls.