Michigan’s longest continuously operating professional studio is celebrating completion of renovations to a building near the Grand River, with a renewed emphasis on recording bands and music.
Studio A: Roy Wallace in River City Studios in Grand Rapids. (Photo/Local Spins)
When veteran recording studio engineer and producer Roy Wallace decided to purchase the venerable River City Studios from longtime owner Dan Trierweiler a few years ago, he knew he was taking a risk … and a giant leap of faith.
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
Not only that, but he quickly had to move the entire operation to a new Grand Rapids location because Mercy Health Saint Mary’s was taking over the building off Jefferson Avenue SE for its own expansion.
Challenging as it was, Wallace managed to set up shop in October 2012 in half of the former Boy Scouts of America/Appletree Learning Center building at 1935 Monroe Ave. NW, allowing River City to record albums by such well-known Michigan acts as Ultraviolet Hippopotamus, Trudg, Alexis and more.
Part of the Team: Wallace with chief recording engineer Austin Ruhstorfer. (Photo/Local Spins)
Now, Wallace and studio compatriots Austin Ruhstorfer and Joe McCargar are celebrating completion of the renovation of the second half of the building – a project which got plenty of help from relatives and friends – with a grand re-opening reception from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday. Nickel & Dime, aka Sam Parks & Danielle Crosby, will perform during the open house, along with Matt Young and Matt Kok from the Sweet J Band.
It’s the latest chapter for the longest-running professional recording studio in Michigan which first opened its doors more than 35 years ago.
“It’s a better use of space,” says Wallace. “The new building doesn’t allow us to do anything, recording wise, that we weren’t able to do before. However, the new building does allow us to offer what we feel is a more creative space, that is easier to use with updated wiring and better lighting. Our goal is to keep the studio culture alive right here in West Michigan. Something you only see in California.”
CHECK OUT ROY WALLACE’S LOCAL SPINS GUEST PLAYLIST BELOW
The Monroe Avenue building also is rife with natural light, thanks to large windows (especially in the spacious Studio A which has accommodated 25 musicians in a bell choir at the same time). That’s different than many recording studios and something many bands and artists appreciate. “You don’t feel like you’re in a dungeon,” says Wallace, adding that River City’s proximity to Riverside Park along the Grand River gives musicians a place to relax between recording sessions.
And with the entire building now available, River City “can accommodate projects large and small, from pre-production, recording, editing, mixing, mastering and duplication better with more attention to detail and a quicker turner around,” says Wallace, noting the extra space provides more room for interns and gives River City a chance to expand into areas such as publishing. “We have also invested in lots of new gear and the reconditioning of our vintage gear.”
That vintage gear includes top-drawer, analog tape-recording equipment that’s seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years.
River City these days also is focusing more on recording bands and producing music, compared to the commercial work that used drive 60 to 70 percent of its business. “Now,” says Wallace, “that ratio has shifted to more like 50 to 60 percent music and music production as our primary source of income.”
ROY WALLACE’S LOCAL SPINS GUEST PLAYLIST
1. “Feel It All Around” (Washed Out)
2. “Midnight In Harlem” (Tedeschi Trucks Band)
3. “Who You Love” (John Mayer)
4. “Sinking To The Side” (UV Hippo)
5. “I Ran Away” (Vox Vidorra) – (Unreleased recording. Part of a project I’m working on with them right now.)
Copyright 2014, Spins on Music
