A fully isolated 4,000 cu. ft. mastering suite is the focal point of Colossal Mastering's facility, located in Chicago's thriving Bucktown/Wicker Park neighborhood. This state-of-the-art, acoustically tuned room is designed to professionally emulate a comfortable living room atmosphere. Every detail has been handled with care to create the best possible listening environment. Our custom Legacy speakers, for example, are situated solidly on limestone bases. With a combined heft of nearly 1,000 lbs., this arrangement serves toanchor the speakers, which translates into more accurate sound. As you wouldexpect, the room is outfitted with first-rate equipment such as Spectral Design, Weiss, Avalon, Manley, Ampex, Apogee, t.c. electronic... digital and analog equipment chosen for clean signal paths and excellent capabilities.

Our clients listen to their music from a prime sonic vantage point -- a leather couch and chair placed on an 8” platform directly behind the engineer. To contribute to the comfortable vibe of the room, two glass block panels in the front of the studio let in sunlight during the day. At night, back lighting substitutes for the sunlight. The back of the room features a custom-designed quadratic diffuser, built to function also as a bookshelf. It serves both to enhance the acoustics of the mastering environment and to provide for clients’ reading pleasure. The shelves are stocked with a variety of eclectic selections, from industry source books and reference materials to travel books and classic sci-fi, all of which we invite you to dig into during your visit.

 

As our guest, we also welcome you to enjoy the other portions of our brick and timber loft studio. Kick back in the client lounge and entertainment area, grab a beverage from the kitchen or relax by playing a bit of piano or guitar (B.Y.O. axe) in the music room.

We want you to feel that you're in a comfortable, creative environment, so please do make yourself at home...musically and otherwise.

On another note, 1644 N. Honore is almost entirely owned and occupied by recording industry professionals. Jeff McClusky & Associates (marketing and promotion), Breakthrough Audio (duplication), and Engine Music Studios (recording studio) and Bug Eye Productions (video) are all housed in the same building. These independently-owned businesses together form a full-service music complex, where an album could potentially be recorded, mixed, mastered, duplicated, and promoted all under the same roof!

 

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