Country music star Keith Urban breathes new life into a renowned Nashville number in the second installment of his latest project.
The Sound Studio, nestled in the heart of Music Row at 1033 16th Avenue South, is a historic gem that has undergone a remarkable transformation. Originally Emerald Sound Studio, it was built in 1920, making it a cornerstone of Nashville's music scene for nearly a century [1]. Although it shares some similarities with the iconic RCA Studio B, The Sound retains its unique identity and recent reinvention.
Country superstar Keith Urban spearheaded the revitalization of the facility, previously known as The Tracking Room, turning it into a state-of-the-art personal and commercial studio space [4]. The renovation involved the installation of a control room within the tracking space, as well as the conversion of several isolation rooms into vocal booths, catering to modern recording needs.
Urban's team equipped the studio with advanced video and audio lines, notably to enable his wife, Nicole Kidman, to record ADR (automated dialogue replacement) on site, demonstrating the facility's adaptability for multimedia production [4]. Urban intends to use the studio for both personal creative sessions and occasional collaborations with trusted artists, striking a balance between exclusivity and commercial viability.
The studio's electrical infrastructure and technical features are designed for professional-grade recording and production. It boasts multiple isolation rooms, a dedicated control room, and integrated multimedia capabilities [4]. While specific electrical specifications are not detailed, the description of the integrated video and audio connectivity implies a high-end, modern audiovisual infrastructure.
The Sound Studio offers more than just music recording. It supports post-production work such as ADR, making it versatile in the realm of multimedia production. Its location among Music Row's most historic and influential recording venues adds to its allure. Urban's personal use of the studio contributes to its unique artist-centric atmosphere, blending comfort, creativity, and technical sophistication.
Some notable features of The Sound Studio include the Stone Room, designed by Tom Hidley with the perfect reverb, and the amp locker in Iso 2, designed to produce natural compression. The tracking room is spacious enough to accommodate an 85-piece orchestra, and the isolation between the inside and outside is second to none. However, the Levinson-powered Rey Audio RM-7 main monitors require reconditioning.
The studio's first outside sessions were recorded in late March with The Retrograde, produced by David Huff. With the completion of updates to the electrical infrastructure, more artists are expected to book the space, including one longtime repeat client who has already scheduled their next album recording at The Sound. Brandon Lake, Jelly Roll, and Chris Tomlin are among the artists who have already recorded at the studio for separate projects.
In summary, The Sound Studio is a historic Music Row building that has been revitalized by Keith Urban into a modern recording and production facility. It features advanced technical infrastructure, multiple vocal booths, a control room, and integrated multimedia capabilities. Its legacy is intertwined with Nashville's rich recording history, enhanced now with contemporary upgrades for top-tier artistic use [1][4].
[1] Cunningham, M. (2020, October 2). Keith Urban's Nashville Studio Is Now Open for Business. Retrieved from https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9494720/keith-urban-nashville-studio-open-business
[2] Cunningham, M. (2020, October 2). Keith Urban's Nashville Studio Is Now Open for Business. Retrieved from https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9494720/keith-urban-nashville-studio-open-business
[3] Cunningham, M. (2020, October 2). Keith Urban's Nashville Studio Is Now Open for Business. Retrieved from https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9494720/keith-urban-nashville-studio-open-business
[4] Cunningham, M. (2020, October 2). Keith Urban's Nashville Studio Is Now Open for Business. Retrieved from https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9494720/keith-urban-nashville-studio-open-business
[5] Cunningham, M. (2020, October 2). Keith Urban's Nashville Studio Is Now Open for Business. Retrieved from https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9494720/keith-urban-nashville-studio-open-business
- The Sound Studio, a historic building on Music Row at 1033 16th Avenue South, was transformed into a state-of-the-art personal and commercial studio space by country superstar Keith Urban.
- The studio's modern facilities cater to various recording needs, including multiple isolation rooms, a dedicated control room, and integrated multimedia capabilities, as evidenced by the capability for Nicole Kidman to record ADR on site.
- Equipped with advanced video and audio lines, The Sound Studio offers more than just music recording; it supports post-production work such as ADR, making it versatile in the realm of multimedia production.
- Famous celebrities like Brandon Lake, Jelly Roll, and Chris Tomlin have already recorded at The Sound Studio, demonstrating its appeal for high-profile artists seeking an artist-centric atmosphere that blends comfort, creativity, and technical sophistication.
