Adirondack School of Recording Arts: audio magic

PLATTSBURGH | Local musicians and singer/songwriters provide a raw and real learning curve for students at the Adirondack School of Recording Arts (ASRA). Their classroom is arranged between microphones, drums and guitars. Behind their workstation, a lyrical voice croons from a sound booth. Their classroom is a studio tracking room. The audio engineering training course opened for its first year at BluVudu Productions, the professional recording studio founded by John Bradley. The eight-month course emerged from an Audio Engineering and Music Production course he arranged at CV-TEC. "We've been working with area recording artists for the past few months," Bradley smiled. The vibe at BluVudu blends science with art. Music made here sinks into walls of acoustic panels. "We recorded this in class," he said of a ballad playing through the speakers. He turned up the volume. "The students loved it. We start mixing next week." Four young adults are training this school year to blend sound on what Bradley calls "both sides of the glass." "We talk about the cycles of a sound wave," Bradley said of technical details. "They've learned audio engineering for recording, editing and mixing, utilizing professional tools and software. Now they can professionally record an entire band." In the next few months they will blend the tracks. That final process takes time and, like any art, develops with practice, Bradley said. "It's all hands on," Bradley said of his students' work."There is nothing here that isn't hands on." AUDIO ENGINEER The producer's desire to bring studio music arts to the North Country grew through 15 years of education and experience. Bradley earned an Audio Engineering degree from the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences and went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Music Production from Full Sail University. Career steps added industry certification with many technical audio tools. He worked as an instructor at the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences and as a director for Deyan Audio; his work in audio book production earned him an Audie. "Everything I've done up to this point is available to my students," Bradley said. "We do a segment on audio book production. It's a growing industry." Building ASRA was part of coming home for the sound engineer. "I came back to write and develop a curriculum for New York State to use to teach audio engineering to the blind," he said. "That's what brought me home. But I've always wanted to bring this to Plattsburgh. I love it here." There aren't many professional recording studios in the North Country. But Bradley forged ahead. His ear for music engineering started early. "I've been playing guitar since I was nine. And then I went to visit a recording studio in Vermont at age 15 to record my first album. That was it. I fell in love with this environment. From there, my life has been focused on doing this." SUCCESS TRACKS BluVudu has mixed sound and produced masters for many area musicians, including Taylor LaValley, Bluebird, Damaged Goods and many others. Adding a student track to BluVudu gives Bradley a chance to help build the industry, which is growing. Adult learners work for eight months to learn studio recording, editing, and mixing on a professional 16-track mixing console. An array of equipment helps get them started: ASRA is sponsored by Rode Microphones, SoundToys plug-ins, Bettermaker software and other industry products. Bradley said this, his first class of students, has been amazing. All four plan to pursue careers in the music industry. Their next steps will take them to Arizona, Nashville, Kentucky and New York City. "We set them up for success. They complete the program with songs for their portfolio, a foot in the door and their first internship. They will have an extremely strong foundation in the professional audio engineering business." To find out more about ASRA and BluVudu Productions: bluvudu.com To reach Bradley via email: bluvuduprodco@gmail.com Or call: 623-688-6733

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Adirondack School of Recording Arts: audio magic

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