Blade Studios opened in Shreveport, Louisiana, as a new full-service record and film production company formed by drummer/producer Brady Blade Jr., chief engineer/mixer Chris Bell and media developer Scott Crompton. The 8,000 sq.ft. facility is equipped with the most advanced technology to support the area's growing film industry and the local music community, which includes many Grammy Award-winning recording artists.
Studio A is a traditional recording suite with a control room and a 1,100-sq-ft studio with several isolations booths. The studio’s volume can accommodate a wide variety of music projects and is ideal for tracking drums. The control room is outfitted with an SSL Duality console as well as both vintage and cutting-edge gear.
Studio B’s configuration is best suited for mixing, commercials and post production for music and film work, but is equally capable of recording music projects. Here, users will be able to assemble audio to picture as well as handle automated dialogue replacement (ADR). Throughout the facility, clients can enjoy the use of private VIP offices, workstations, spacious lounges, a conference area, and a kitchen and dining area large enough for catered events.
To create appropriate ceiling heights in the studio areas, roughly half the space was excavated to three feet below grade, with floating floors installed on the lowered structural slabs to achieve the needed sound isolation. Tall expanses of glass provide direct sightlines between recording engineer and musicians. Both studios are wired for video as well as audio. RBDG’s design anticipated all the technical needs for recording, film and television projects, since Blade Studios wanted to capitalize on the state of Louisiana’s aggressive tax incentives in these industries.
Blade, who has toured the world performing with top artists such as Dave Matthews, Emmylou Harris, Indigo Girls, Jewel and Bob Dylan, has also produced works for major artists and commercials for companies like H&M and Bing. Crompton has worked in the music industry and helped build the local film industry, and brings his business and marketing expertise to the partnership. Chris Bell’s recording credits include Erykah Badu, U2, Destiny’s Child and The Eagles.
Blade Studios opened in April 2011, and was nominated for a TEC Foundation Award in the category of Outstanding Creative Achievement, Studio Design Project.
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