Audio Recording Studio | Cleveland, OH Recording Studio

WHO WE ARE

Audio Recording Studio started downtown Cleveland in the 1950s. In 1992, owner Bruce Gigax custom built a studio utilizing room-within-room construction for superior sound isolation. Audio utilizes state-of-the-art technology and provides 40 years' experience and guidance to ensure a quality recording. We specialize in acoustic recording — but also have extensive experience in spoken word, orchestral, chamber, choral, jazz, solo, and ensemble music. Your project starts with recording at your location of choice; mixing in our control room; editing and final assembly; and, if desired, replicating any quantity of CDs. See INSTRUMENTS for the beautiful Steinway information..

Our Services

Studio Recording

Our studio has been designed and built to enhance your recording. Acoustic treatments such as floating floors, shock mount hung walls, and moveable partitions help get the sound you need without unwanted artifacts.

Remote Recording

You choose the venue right for your music, and we ensure you will sound your best! The next step is to meet in the studio and mix it.

Mixing and Post Production

Our Control Room is a comfy place to mix and edit your project. We have a selection of studio monitors and headphones available so you’ll know how your mixes translate on different playback systems.

News

Charity Tillemann-Dick

Jan. 15, 2018 - I went to a book signing by Charity Tillemann-Dick, a soprano whose "American Grace" recording we… Read More

It’s a Small, Small World – Rich Stibrick and Tom Yeigh

A Chance meeting After enjoying a performance one evening Bruce invited the duo to tour the studio. As it turns… Read More

Potato Chips Anyone? – Kevin Sylvester, Composer

A return to heritage Audio has long been involved in jingle work. Since the studio began in downtown Cleveland in… Read More

The Audio Recording Team

Bruce Gigax - Owner and Chief Engineer

Owner Bruce Gigax has been in the recording business since 1977. As Audio Supervisor for The Cleveland Orchestra since 1986, he’s had the privilege of recording that great orchestra at Severance Hall, Blossom Music Center, on remotes around Cleveland, and in residency at Miami’s Knight Concert Hall (2006-2017). He is a 1977 graduate of Mount Union with a degree in Music, majoring in Voice. He, too, may lend his talents if needed. But greater than that is his input from 40 years' experience in recording all genres. Outside Audio, Bruce enjoys singing as a soloist at church and paid performances.

Reed Wheeler - Engineer

Reed Wheeler is a 1986 graduate from Indiana University's School of Music, majoring in Recording Arts and Sciences. He continually works in studio and on remotes. Reed has engineered recordings of all genres. Reed has provided voice-overs for various recording projects and plays guitar, bass, and sings.

Mascot

Often seen in the studio are Bruce's wife, Trina, and Bentley, the new Audio “mascot”. Bentley joined us in September 2017. He is a 4-year old Yorkie-Poodle. Coco and Skippy are playing in doggie heaven.

Client Testimonials

"Bruce, without a doubt recording my CD ‘One Dream’ at your studio is one of the best recording experiences I have ever had. I visited many studios looking for the right ingredients and I found them all at Audio Recording. Undertaking the task of recording my CD - with as fine a big band as the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra- was going to be no mean feat, but you made things so easy. Where do I start with my compliments?

First of all, Audio Recording is a clean, efficient, spacious studio and a lovely environment to work in, especially when you know you’re going to be there for many hours! The studio has you -- an incredibly capable and knowledgeable engineer with great ears, a great disposition, and the patience of a saint. Not only that -- you can read a score! The piano is wonderful and you took care of ensuring that it was in tune for each session.

Most importantly, of all your enthusiasm towards my project and encouragement and constructive criticism whilst recording my vocals, resulted in some of the best singing I’ve ever done.

I truly hope to repeat the experience someday soon and have recommended Audio Recording to many an artist. Thanks for a fabulous experience!"

Helen Welch

vocalist - http://helenwelch.com

"Bruce Gigax and I have been musical associates for at least 30 years. I have had dozens of recording sessions with him at Audio Recording that included my own records, other people's sessions, mixing, scratch tracks, demos, commercials, and the like.

Everything about Bruce (and his studio) is first class. At my latest session with him, he pulled out a very expensive demo microphone that had never been used anywhere and said, "Let's try this. I want to see how your voice sounds with it." It turned out to be the best session of my career. The piano in his studio -- an 1894 Steinway which he mics perfectly for the most beautiful piano sound I have ever heard. His even demeanor, dry wit and insightful comments (both technical and musical) are invaluable in the often tense environs of the studio and concert hall.

As they say in the biz, Bruce has "big ears". He misses nothing and has extremely exacting standards, which have been honed through years and years of associating with the finest musicians and the finest repertoire. My brother Dred lives in New York City wants me to record there. Why would I fly to New York when Audio Recording is 7 minutes from my house, reasonably priced, and I get to work with Bruce?"

Thomas More Scott, Ph. D.

Pianist/singer/composer
Associate Director of Music Ministries,
First Congregational Church of Hudson

"Bruce Gigax and Audio Recording made my first professional recording with the Wind Ensemble of the Cleveland Orchestra (aka - the Blossom Festival Band) many years ago. Since that time, I have have worked closely with Mr. Gigax and Audio Recording on over 30 recordings in a variety of ensembles and settings. In all of my years as a professional musician, conductor and arranger, I have yet to find any producer, recording engineer, editor, and —most importantly— musician with the professionalism, skill, taste, and musicianship of Bruce Gigax and his engineer, Reed Wheeler. I don't say that lightly - I've worked with many of the top people in the field, and Audio Recording and Bruce Gigax are incomparable.

I sent Phil Ramone a Blossom Festival Band recording after he produced our Gershwin Prize show, and he said--"Wow, what a recording." Gunther Schuller was equally enthusiastic!"

Loras Schissel

professional musician, conductor, arranger and senior musicologist at the Library of Congress

"As a choral arts educator, I feel it is very important for all ensembles to professionally record on an annual basis. This not only encourages the singers to leave a legacy of their best-possible work, but it also enables them to take ownership of their final product and possess a quality recording for submission to professional applications (OMEA, ACDA, college scholarships, etc.)

A plethora of technological options currently exist to facilitate recording ensembles. However, nothing compares to the human element behind that equipment. This is where Audio Recording shines. The engineers are supremely knowledgeable of the compositional and production elements of choral music. They are sensitive to the positioning of voices, balance with instruments and they easily adapt to any recording venue of the director's choice. They also offer a state-of-the-art sound studio for smaller ensemble purposes. The monetary investment is well worth the total experience and final product."

Sally Schneider

Former Director of Choirs, Firestone High School, Akron, Ohio

"I have had the pleasure of recording 5 projects at Audio Recording: two with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, one with vocalist Barbara Knight, one with my own quartet, and a lengthy studio project with the Jazz Unit. Without exception, every one of these projects went smoothly.

There was none of the usual delays -- everything was set up and ready for us to begin recording as soon as we arrived at the studio. Great care was taken in every aspect of the process – making the musicians feel comfortable and ensuring everyone could hear what they needed to hear.

The command that Bruce has over his equipment was evident in the speed and efficiency with which the takes were recorded and played back, and the edits performed were flawless and invisible. The mixing process was also a joy, and Bruce's contribution was immeasurable. The facilities and the people at Audio are first rate. It is my studio of choice."

Jack Schantz

Cleveland Jazz Orchestra
Professor of Jazz Studies at University of Akron

"After The University of Iowa lost its recording facilities in a flood, I searched long and hard to find a place to record my recital, 'Animal Songs: Bestiaries in English, French, and German.' I needed a studio with state-of-the-art equipment, a well-maintained and responsive piano, and a recording engineer who could read and edit complex scores.

Bruce Gigax offered me everything I sought and at a very reasonable price. I am delighted with the final product and recommend him to anyone who needs top-quality work for a recording."

Stephen Swanson, baritone
David Gompper, piano

"When it comes to perfection in audio recording, Bruce Gigax is in a class by himself. Not only does he bring a wealth of experience of audio technology to his craft, but also a keen sense of music since he is a trained, college-educated musician.

He is patient, meticulous about achieving the proper balance of a large ensemble, and tackles each task with perseverance that drives him to create the very best product for the listener.

Bruce is keenly attuned to the type of sound that I require on a complex show involving a large vintage Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Pipe Organ and a group of 8-10 vocalists, a daunting task to say the least. On a personal level, Bruce is easy to work with, very accommodating of his time and abilities, and timely in turning out the final product. In my opinion, he is simply the best."

Dr. Larry Kass

Producer, musical director, vocal arranger, script, pianist/organist - The Mighty Wurlitzer Radio Hour - razzmatazzproductions.net

"Bruce Gigax at Audio Recordings is an invaluable resource. His acute ear for music and sounds is very evident as I read my scripts, which is the narration for my DVDs. Bruce has a superior ability to hear if a word is not pronounced correctly, if my voice should be at a different level, or if I am speaking too quickly or too slowly.

Equally important, he has the creativity to select and add the perfect music for various sections of my DVDs.

I have worked with Bruce for over twenty-five years and cannot praise him enough for his exceptional and outstanding work. Unequivocally he has my highest recommendation."

Cynthia Bassett

Travelogues - www.myraretravels.com

"Bruce Gigax is an extremely talented recording engineer and has been vital in bringing our multiple acoustic guitar instrumental projects to fruition.

His experience and expertise in the field were instantly apparent to us during our very first recording session.

Through crystal-clear recording and meticulous editing, mixing and mastering, he brought out the best in our compositions. Bruce clearly has a keen ear for music, and he has provided valuable suggestions that have helped us achieve a top-quality sound for our style.

It has been a tremendous pleasure working with Bruce over the years."

Mike Pocci and Sean Sency

acoustic instrumental guitar and composition
Socci and Pency

"Any artist fortunate enough to work with Bruce Gigax has the huge advantage of his wealth of experience, including his many years in Cleveland’s Severance Hall preparing concerts of The Cleveland Orchestra for radio broadcast.

It is always a comfort to know that Bruce is at work on the other side of the glass. He brings his keen musical judgment and discriminating ear to every project. Having benefited from nearly twenty sessions in Bruce’s Audio Recording Studio, I have appreciated his honest appraisal of each take. His high musical aspirations extend to the artists he records; he does not settle for a second-best effort when he knows the artist is capable of better.

I recorded my 2012 album Neo-Ragtime (Centaur 3161/3162) in Bruce’s studio. It received several rave reviews in the July-August issue of Fanfare magazine, including the following testament to Bruce’s mic skills: 'The recorded sound is warm, close, and full.'

I highly recommend Bruce Gigax and his Audio Recording Studio."

Brian Dykstra

Ragtime artist
Centaur Labelwww.centaurrecords.com
reviews and audio clips www.fanfarearchive.com

"Working with Bruce Gigax and his team at Audio Recording over the past 25 years has been more than just a wonderful experience for me and my company. They invariably accommodate our scheduling anomalies; they continually upgrade equipment and techniques; and they always deliver the very best product possible.

In fact, I can comfortably say that for my genre - spoken word meditation with music - there is no better studio for recording, editing, mixing and delivering the most beautiful sound possible."

Belleruth Naparstek

Health Journeys Inc - Guided Imagery

"When it comes to sound, I am an extreme perfectionist and I would drive most recording engineers crazy with my requests for sound accuracy to the original timbre of the instrument. But, working with Bruce is a pleasure, as he too is just as much of a perfectionist as I am. Bruce and Audio recording Studios have done several projects for me with wonderful results. What significantly impresses me about Bruce is his attention to every little detail. Bruce has such a sensitive ear that he discerns even the smallest nuance; the level of sound perfection he strives for is achieved in the recording of my instruments and the finished results are of the highest quality; the warmth and singing sound of a fine instrument comes through to the listener.

When Bruce finishes a recording project for me, the sound of my harpsichord that he achieves is total perfection -- full, rich, warm singing, extraordinarily beautiful and very natural as if one is listening to the actual instrument. "

Philip M. Cucchiara

Harpsichord Builder & Technician -www.facebook.com/philip.cucchiara

"WCLV, Cleveland's 50+ year old classical radio station, has worked with Audio Recording on The Cleveland Orchestra radio broadcasts since 1965. Bruce Gigax has recorded the Orchestra for broadcast for 40 years.

His duties include the recording and editing of at least three concerts per week during the Severance seasons and two per week during the Blossom Music Festivals, plus the regular Severance Hall Saturday night live broadcasts on WCLV.

The results have been lauded by stations around the world, by respected audio professionals, by the musicians of the Orchestra and by listeners. WCLV is proud of our decades-long association with Bruce Gigax, Reed Wheeler and Audio Recording."