About
Dave Richardson founded Compact Recording Systems in San Gabriel, California in 1997 and relocated it to Colorado in 2018. Mr. Richardson is a professional musician who has recorded several albums over the years and performed in numerous venues. His interest in recording goes back to early childhood when he recorded plays, shows, and interviews with his young friends. At the age of 9, he was writing scripts, editing analog tape, and recording his dad’s music on a Webcor reel-to-reel tape recorder. Mr. Richardson became interested in acoustic music at an early age and played guitar and 5-string banjo in his teenage years with various folk and bluegrass groups. In college, he recorded his first record on Century Records entitled “The Other Half.” After graduating, he moved to Hawaii where he accepted a 5-year position playing guitar, Dobro guitar, and 5-string banjo with the Don Ho Show. In 1978 ABC picked up the show for a daily series on television. In 1980, he moved to California and appeared in several musical ensembles. Mr. Richardson also worked for 28 years in the broadcast and aerospace industries designing intercommunications systems.
What We Do
The range of services for the acoustic artist includes audio recording, music videos, graphic design, virtual instrument enhancement, and production type services. We love our work and is why we can help you progress toward your dream. In short, tell us your story. Compact Recording Systems exists simply to help you sound and look your best.
While recording, editing, mixing, mastering and video production are included in our offerings, we do not provide mass CD disk replications. Backup musicians can be provided at extra billing, and we will provide a finished CD video or audio master to help further your career. We work exclusively with individuals who are bluegrass, classical or folk artists but also consider voice-over artists.
Monitoring System
We have a wide variety of microphones to help you achieve a crystal clear rendition of your effort. These include ribbon, large diaphragm, tube, and other types. The recording area is physically separated from the control room which allows us to talk to you via our panel microphone without the need for headphones in the control room area.
Recorders
We have an array of recorders including Cubase, Samplitude, Sonar, Reaper, Waveform, Mixbus and Logic Pro. Upon request, we can also use our vintage PARIS recording system for audio recording. The PARIS system was designed by the late Stephen St. Croix and Edmund Pirali to duplicate the warm and musical quality of a very expensive SSL audio console that Stephen had been using. The acronym PARIS means Professional Audio Recording Integrated System. Although no longer available, you can learn more about the sound of the vintage PARIS system by listening to some of our sample CD’s. Our main workstation in recent years have been Reaper and Cubase. They both are highly customizable which assists in the faithful reproduction of acoustic music. We like to use Cubase coupled with many high end plug-ins.
Restoration
We have an industry standard restoration suite that can help you with previously recorded material. Some of our customers wish to add or augment a vocal or guitar track that have been captured in less than ideal conditions. For example, there may be noise in the background, clicks, or other audio problems that require additional help. An audio track is sometimes recorded with too much level resulting in distortion which would normally mean that it would have to be redone. With our equipment a poorly recorded event can be brought back to excellence using our algorithms. We can also lift a vocal from a mix so that you can add a new rhythm section to your previous effort.
Remote Recording
Using our portable recording system, we can provide remote recording by personal visit. The system has many of the features of our main studio including headphone monitoring, microphones, reverb, equalization, and multi-track playback and recording.
We can record up to two channels simultaneously, and the recorder has unlimited tracks. If you have a nice quiet area such as a closet to record, the results will be wonderful. After you have recorded several takes of your instruments and vocals, we will return to the studio for post production of your project.
Please contact us for further information and/or a price quote for your particular project.
Audio Transfer
If you have recorded media that you would like to transfer to digital format, we can help. From cassette, 1/4″ tape, or vinyl, we have the equipment to make the transfer process easy and economical. Just drop your media off at the studio and leave the rest to us.
Check out our price list or contact us for a quote.
Music Videos
Our revised price list has reasonable rates!
Let’s make you sound the best that you can be!
Virtual Instrument Enhancement
Sometimes acoustic artists request background ambiance to enhance their acoustic performance. Compact Recording Systems has a number of string libraries played by real musicians on real instruments at your disposal. Whether it be single or double violin, string quartet, chamber strings, or complete symphonies, we have the ability to add these Virtual Instruments in a non intrusive manner.
Some of the fine sample libraries that we employ are Synchron Strings, Spitfire, Cinematic Studio Strings, Berlin Strings, and LA Scoring Strings. These libraries are recorded in world class rooms with multiple microphone positions to achieve the perfect sound for your effort. Click HERE to listen to an example.
Graphic Design
We can design your CD artwork for you. If you have photos or other creative media to include in your project, they can be used to provide an eye-catching design for you. If you would like us to help you with an idea or template for your CD, we can most certainly help.
We work with most CD packaging formats from simple to complex. And we collaborate closely with you to make sure that everything is correct and to your satisfaction before the completed package is sent to the duplication center
Thank you for considering Compact Recording Systems for the graphic design for your new CD!
