Tapeworks Recording Studios

Great Voices, Great Planes

2012-02-15T13:23:00.000-05:00

Over the last couple of weeks we've had an opportunity to brush up on our historical aviation knowledge, with the help of Military Channel host and former Survivor: Panama contestant Terry Dietz.

Terry - a Simsbury, CT resident and American Airlines pilot - is a retired US Navy Commander and he provides the narration for the show Great Planes. The show, about to start its 3rd season on Military Channel, focuses on aircraft that have played a vital role in significant military events throughout US history.

Although Terry had previously made a name for himself on TV through his 3rd-place finish on Survivor in 2006, his expertise and enthusiasm when it comes to aviation is perfectly suited for this show.

We've even managed to learn a thing or two...

With Season 3 just about ready to "take off," we're looking forward to seeing the new episodes!

Putting a Face - and Piano - to the Music

2012-01-24T14:02:00.004-05:00

While we're used to seeing musicians and actors pay regular visits to Tapeworks, it's not often that they are accompanied by a film crew!

Last week, the studio had a unique opportunity to host a video shoot for our friend Grayson Hugh. Grayson was putting together a promotional video featuring parts of 5 of his most memorable songs, and the video prominently features not only Grayson, but our very own C6 Yamaha Concert Grand Piano.

Both Grayson and our Yamaha look great -- you can watch the finished video by clicking here.

The shoot was a fun experience for everyone involved, and a chance for us to re-visit some great songs from a great Connecticut-based songwriter and performer!

Hakuna for the Holidays

2011-12-13T14:14:00.001-05:00

Yesterday we received a seasonal "shot in the arm" and a real boost in holiday spirit as Ernie Sabella, the voice of "Pumbaa" in The Lion King, brought his infectious energy and cheer to the studio.

Ernie was recording voiceovers for "Wishes," the newest original show for Disney Cruise Lines. The show will be performed on DCL cruises, and features a trio of teen characters visiting Disneyland to celebrate their high school graduation.

Along the way, they run into some real-life Disney characters who help make their experience a memorable one -- enter Ernie's performance as Pumbaa, along with his old pal Timon.

From the sound of things, it should be a really fun show... now who left all of these bugs lying around the studio??

Once upon a time, in a LEGO set far, far away...

2011-12-12T14:30:00.004-05:00

Amongst the various signs of holiday spirit, none have contributed more to the festive mood 'round these parts than the Star Wars Holiday specials we recently made with our friends from LEGO. As part of a campaign that is helping raise awareness for a great charity, the folks from LEGO worked with Tapeworks engineers to score and sound-design both Darth Vader- and Yoda-themed Youtube holiday season videos.

You can take a look at the videos by clicking the links above, or by copy/pasting these URLs into your web browser:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFKqAhIlcHI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFpDa5e4lpo&feature=related

These videos are raising awareness for the Toys-for-Tots donation program that LEGO is running this winter; click here to find out how you can help make a child's holiday season much merrier with a couple clicks of the mouse.

More to report in the upcoming days - including a visit from our favorite animated warthog and a trip to the snowy slopes of New Hampshire...

...Now, in the words of a very wise little Jedi: "Back to work, we must get!"

It's Doc Season at Tapeworks!

2011-12-09T15:38:00.002-05:00

It's always exciting when you get a chance to host Hollywood talent - this week we were pleased to work with highly-regarded film actor and international stage performer, Marton Csokas.

Mr. Csokas (from the films Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring; Kingdom of Heaven; Alice in Wonderland (2010), and The Debt, among others) was in our studio to perform voiceovers for the upcoming feature-length documentary, Follow Me: The Jonathan Netanyahu Story.

This film depicts the story of a young Israeli soldier who was killed during the 1976 rescue of 246 passengers who were taken hostage by terrorists on a flight from the Ben-Gurion Airport (in Israel) to Paris, France. The narrative is of a combination of historical accounts from the highjacking to the eventual rescue, as well as personal letters and correspondences involving Jonathan from the time of his military training up until the time of his death. Mr. Csokas' role in the project is the vocalization of Netanyahu's written letters - the voice of the principle character for the film.

Despite coming from a variety of backgrounds (born in New Zealand, dual-citizenship and ancestry in Hungary, and permanent residence in the US), none of which include a Hebrew dialect, Marton expertly delivered his lines with an Israeli accent; no small task, when we regularly see just how hard it is to read lines the right way in our regular voices!

Marton even found some time to demonstrate his didjeridoo chops during a short break - don't you just love working with those multi-talented performers!

"Rush"-ing to An Xbox Near You

2011-11-09T11:11:00.002-05:00

Now that the power is back and we find ourselves caught up enough to take just a tiny breath, it's as good a time as any to write about what we've been up to since last time....

This week we were thrilled to work with an old friend of the studio (also an internationally-acclaimed film, stage and voiceover actor), Mr. Brian Dennehy. Brian was in the studio working on a couple of projects, including a new Xbox Kinect game code-named "Rush" based on various Pixar films. Brian was lending his voice to the project as a reprisal of his character "Django" from the original 2007 Pixar film, Ratatouille. His other project was a narrative voiceover for an upcoming historical film titled Ice Bound, which deals with both the physical and psychological hardships that settlers in Nome, AK were forced to overcome during the early 20th century. As always, it was a pleasure watching a true professional of the craft hard at work.

We would also like to take a moment to recognize and congratulate another friend of the studio, Orice Jenkins, on his wonderful write-up in the Hartford Courant this past Sunday. This young, talented jazz artist is drawing widespread praise for both his songwriting and piano playing, performing for (and with) some heavy hitters in both the regional and national jazz communities. Of course, this came as little surprise to us, since we have been fortunate enough to record and mix both of Orice's last two album projects here at Tapeworks. The growth in his playing and writing between the two albums recorded here ("Just One of Those Things" from Fall 2010, and "Journals of a Teenage Chromaticist" in Summer 2011) is huge, and the sky appears to be the limit for this strong local talent.

Congratulations, Orice! We look forward to hearing about all your upcoming endeavors, and working with you again in the future.

Lastly: we hope that everybody out there has managed to come out of the horrible storm and ensuing power outage that ravaged CT a couple of weeks back in good health and moderate humor. Hopefully the worst storm of the winter is already behind us, and we can all look forward to a prosperous (and dry!) November. Stay tuned for much more in the coming weeks!

- TW

Kicking off our October on the right "note"

2011-10-20T10:12:00.002-04:00

While we've been knee-deep in voiceover recording and commercial production (see Tuesday's entry, below), we've also had the pleasure of working with some extremely talented musicians and artists over the last few weeks.

Local musician/songwriter Hattie Wilcox has just completed mixing and mastering her new album with our Chief Engineer Bill Ahearn, and we can't wait to hear the full project. The mixes sound great; cool, catchy and complex all at once. We also had the pleasure of recording guitar guru Jeff Pevar recently on a couple of tracks for Hattie's next album project. As usual, Jeff sounded fantastic, and it's always exciting when he swings by the studio.

This past Saturday afternoon, our friend Grayson Hugh stopped by the studio to record his inspirational arrangement of "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," a classic Hank Williams standard. After laying down the piano track in only two takes, Grayson and his wife, Polly Messer, recorded vocals that included some very moving, beautiful harmonies.

Last (but definitely not least): we would like to congratulate Thomasina Levy and Joanie Spear for receiving the Native American Music Award (or "NAMMY," as it is commonly called) for Best Single/Song of the Year at the awards ceremony in Niagara Falls, NY last week. We are proud of our studio's contribution to the completion of their song, "Out of Many, We Are One."

Well... it looks like we're finally caught up - for now. Stand by, because we're looking forward to an even more eventful and productive fall!!

- From the TW Crew

So... a cartoon superhero, a linebacker and a sociology prof walk into a bar...

2011-10-18T15:07:00.004-04:00

It's been awhile since we wrote, but rest assured - with some big projects for LEGO, NFL Films, NPR and a handful of very cool music projects and accolades - we've been keeping busy!

Last week, Chief Engineer Bill Ahearn recorded the infamous voice of "Space Ghost", Mr. George Lowe, for a project with LEGO. George reminded us all - not that we needed it - why he's one of the best in the biz. Along with nailing his voiceover part in only a couple of takes, he had both Tapeworks staff and the Lego crew alike in stitches with some poignant ad libs and observations that only Space Ghost himself could come up with. You gotta love it when everybody's smiling after a session. Keep your ears peeled for George's distinct baritone in the near future!

Keeping in theme with cool VO projects, we've also recorded several film voiceovers with actor Chris Lemmon for a series of NFL Films productions over the last couple of weeks. Chris' voice was beamed out from our studio via ISDN, and will be appearing on documentary projects about Tom Brady, Greg Jennings and Ray Rice, amongst others.

We were also pleased to host Dr. Bradley Wright, associate Professor of Sociology at UConn, for his appearance on NPR yesterday afternoon. Dr. Wright teleconferenced via ISDN with Jean Feraca, host of the radio show "Here on Earth", which is based in Madison, Wisconsin. The topic of the day was Dr. Wright's new book, "Upside: Surprising Good News About the State of Our World" - as you might expect, it was a great way to end our Monday on a positive note!

All this and we've only covered our recent voiceover work - in the next entry (to be posted later this week), we'll talk about our recent music work.

A Little Goodbye to A Little Wednesday Night Music

2011-08-29T14:49:00.009-04:00

We're into the last few weeks of summer, which means it's almost time to say goodbye to another summer producing the "A Little Wednesday Night Music" concert series at Blue Back Square in West Hartford, CT.

This year we were delighted to have (mostly) wonderful weather for our Wednesday-night live music series, and a fantastic lineup of performers from all around New England and beyond.

From old-school R&B, to Jug-Band Blues...

... from infectious Gypsy-Jazz, to the premiere "The Band" tribute group...

... from youthful Jam-Band Funk, to an impromptu unplugged Latin Jazz set (performed during a "rainout" and under an overhang); our artists delighted the crowds and kept people dancing and smiling all summer.

The lighting for our concerts, provided by Rich Owen at Northern Lights, helped create the atmosphere for our shows. You may not have noticed it at the start of each show, but as the sun set on Blue Back Square, Rich's setup certainly enhanced the concert experience for everyone involved!

The sound - provided spectacularly, once again, by SP3 - was the perfect compliment to our amazing artists and venue, and we couldn't have asked for a better-sounding season series!

A big thanks to all who participated in making this a summer to remember: Barbara Lerner and Ronus Properties, Jeff Simon and his sound crew at SP3, Rich Owen and Northern Lights, our wonderful bands and the most important part: everyone who came out to enjoy the music!

If you are in the Hartford area, definitely drop by the pergola at Blue Back Square in West Hartford, CT for our final band this Wednesday night, from 7:00-9:00pm. This summer's series will close with a performance by CT-based classic-country band Gunsmoke, in what promises to be a fitting finish to a wonderful season.

Hope you can all make it out this Wednesday - if not, we'll see you next year!

2011-08-10T10:49:00.002-04:00

August is in full swing here at Tapeworks, and we are now feeling exceptionally organized, thanks to a visit by HGTV's "extreme home de-cluttering" expert, Jill Pollack.

Jill is the host of HGTV Canada's reality series "Consumed," in which she helps families eliminate clutter and get back to the basics of living happily. In what is among our longest-distance phone patch sessions, we had Jill in the studio while she was being directed over the phone by the show's production company, Paperny Films, from Vancouver, British Columbia.

We can't decide if we passed her de-clutter test with flying colors, or if she decided that we were beyond helping - in any event, the kind of drama that will be present on "Consumed" was thankfully absent during her visit to the studio yesterday afternoon.

Jill, who's a CT resident, will be back for more voiceover work for the show, which premieres August 30th on HGTV Canada.

Hmm think we'll clean that closet now!!

API Has Arrived at Tapeworks!

2011-07-29T10:27:00.002-04:00

We recently introduced a piece of the legendary API sound to the Tapeworks studio, acquiring a 6-slot API lunch box with two full channel strips comprised of 6 brand-spankin'-new modules. The new strips consist of BAE 312A Mic Pre/DIs, API 550A Discrete 3-Band Equalizers, and API 527 Compressor/Limiters that give us an added dimension of portability and 2-channel tracking through complete channel strips, outside of (or in addition to) our Status Console and SSL strip.

For the non-"audio geeks" out there, you'll just have to come in and try them out to see what has us beaming about our new gear!

We can't wait to try out our new toys! Who wants to go first?

Dreaming in LEGO

2011-07-12T14:32:00.003-04:00

Whomever called these the "Dogs days of summer" clearly never spent a July observing the folks here at Tapeworks!
We have been swooshing, zapping, revving and soaring our way through several projects for LEGO over the last couple of weeks.

A couple of weeks ago, Chief Engineer Bill Ahearn put together the sound design for a couple of 2-minute LEGO animation videos involving the characters and sub-plots of the new Disney animated feature, Cars 2. Featuring the voice of Larry the Cable Guy (reprising his role as Mater from the first Cars), these videos are to be featured in both web advertising for LEGO/Cars products as well as potentially on a future DVD release of the 2nd Cars installment.

Other recent projects have seen us sound-designing and composing scores for a promotional LEGO/Batman video, and sound designing a very special new project that will combine 30-second spots for LEGO's Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, Alien Conquest, and Star Wars sets into a 2-minute, action-packed mini-saga.

While we've certainly had no shortage of work from our friends at LEGO, we are also delighted to be recording Alyssa Milano this evening -- Alyssa will be speaking her voiceover parts in a California studio, and via ISDN we will be recording her here at Tapeworks. The voiceover is part of a new series of promotions for her Touch clothing line, and just further proof that really, if you want to rub shoulders with Hollywood, all you need is a good ISDN box.

Unholster That SM-7 - its a Shootout!

2011-06-06T15:29:00.006-04:00

It's been a while since we brought everyone up to speed, but rest assured - the excitement scarcely stops at Tapeworks. Tomorrow (June 7), we will be hosting the inimitable Gary Craig for an old-fashioned, no-holds-barred microphone shootout.

Gary Craig has become a fixture in the CT radio scene as co-host of the morning program, "Craig & Company" on Hartford's 96.5-TIC FM. He has also established himself as a voice/acting talent in multiple Hollywood films, as well as numerous appearances on well-known TV shows. Mr. Craig will be testing out 3-4 of our studio microphones to see which one captures his voice most ideally.

Stay tuned for the results, and possibly even a contest to see if you all can tell the difference between our different microphones as accurately - or even more so - than we can!

Up to our ears in ideas... and jobs!

2011-05-17T13:13:00.008-04:00

It's been a long while between updates here, but certainly not for lack of activity. The jobs have been pouring in and there's plenty to report about the last 1 1/2 months at Tapeworks, now that we have a chance to take a breath - albeit, a short one!

May the Fourth Be With You P.2
Chief Engineer Bill Ahearn was hard at work on producing some viral video magic for the second straight year: Star Wars, Lego, Tapeworks, and "the kid with the incredible Lego collection" joined forces earlier this month to sound-design and score the follow-up to last year's monster viral hit, "The Fastest and Funniest LEGO Star Wars story ever told". Once again, we enlisted the guitar-shredding prowess of our friend Jimi Bell, and if you thought the first video was metal-tastic, you'll love the newest video, which you can watch here. Thanks to Bill's son, Zack Ahearn, for lending his voice to the project!

Stony Brook Invades Hartford
On the weekend of April 10/11, Tapeworks was home to a couple of marathon recording sessions with the Stony Brook Vocalists, who were recording their debut album with engineer Chris Lennie. Their energy and enthusiasm were contagious and we got some great results from their work. Check out their website for details on album availability and release updates, as well as audio and video clips of the group's live performances in the meantime.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Golf Season....
Last week, famed Sportscaster and ESPN anchorman Chris Berman was in our studio recording promos for the upcoming 2011 PGA Travelers Championship. The event will take place at the TPC Highlands golf course in Cromwell, CT during the week June 20-26, and feature a bevy of renowned PGA pros, including Vijay Singh, Padraig Harrington, John Daly, Hunter Mahan, and 2010 winner Bubba Watson. We were honored to have Mr. Berman's "Boomer"-ing baritone filling our halls once again!

Whew! We've already had a full-season's worth of excitement, and Spring is only half-over. Can't wait to see what the next month will bring...

Just The Beginning..

2011-03-29T09:45:00.009-04:00

My name is Haylee and I am the newest addition to the Tapeworks crew. I started working at the studio on Monday, March 21st. I wanted to work here because I have a passion for music and the entertainment world. I've wanted to be involved in this industry ever since I was a little girl. Naturally, when I had the opportunity to work at Tapeworks I jumped at the chance.

Things got off to a quick start when I was introduced to Ernie Sabella, the voice of Pumbaa, of the Lion King, who was a big part of my early childhood. Looking back, I must have watched the VHS tape a thousand times! I couldn't believe my ears as I listened to him going through a voice over session.

Also, in my first couple of days, the legendary actor Brian Dennehy stopped by our studio to do some session work. It was very exciting to be in the company of a respected Hollywood star.

I always knew that the Tapeworks had a great reputation, but I was so impressed when Jeanine Basinger, a noted film critic, graced our studio to do a live national NPR broadcast following the death of Elizabeth Taylor.

The thing I like most about Tapeworks is that every day is a new adventure. Given Doug's thirty plus years of experience, you never know what or who to expect next.

Renowned Film Scholar LIVE from Tapeworks

2011-03-25T11:10:00.008-04:00

It was our pleasure this morning to host renowned film historian, Jeanine Basinger, as she took part in an NPR broadcast discussing the legacy of the late Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor, and void left by her recent passing. The show was a round-table interview featuring Ms. Basinger, and Chief Film Critic for the NY Times A. O. Scott. It was produced for the WBUR-Boston radio program On Point with Tom Ashbrook.

Lemmon Days at Tapeworks

2011-03-07T14:59:00.011-05:00

The past couple of weeks, we have had the chance to work on a couple of projects with Connecticut's own, Chris Lemmon. He and his wife, Gina Raymond Lemmon, own Stone Manor Productions, and are working on two separate, yet connected projects: A documentary entitled, "Day By Day", in association with John Rosas Productions, and a piano album that Cathy Barlow is helping to produce.

The documentary, "Day By Day", based on the book written by Christine Frisbee, is about children living with a sick brother or sister and the impact it has on their lives. Chris, who will also serve as host, wrote both the script and soundtrack for the film.

The second project is an album of all original music, written and performed by Chris Lemmon. The classically trained pianist gained international acclaim during a performance with Shirley MacLaine of Gershwin's, "I've Got A Crush On You" at the 1988 AFI Life Achievement Award honoring Jack Lemmon. The album is a musical account of Chris' journey to adulthood and reliving the memories of his past through his music. The album will share the title of Chris' written tribute to his father, "A Twist Of Lemmon", and will contain 11 original pieces - including the title soundtrack for the documentary, "Day By Day."

We've had a lot of fun working with them - and the treats they always bring!

Music and Interviews

2011-02-21T15:36:00.008-05:00

Over the weekend here at Tapeworks, the control room was the location site for Milling About - a blogtalkradio.com feature hosted by entertainment reporter, Robin Milling. This week's interviewee was a close friend of the studio - Grayson Hugh .

The 40 minute interview, which will air on Friday, February 25th, contains three songs performed by Grayson and his wife (Polly Messer, providing vocal harmonies), and showcases some of his newer piano/vocal work as well as an old favorite.

It will be a program you won't want to miss - included in the interview is a very uplifting story about Grayson's recent return to recording and performing his own music, and how he has never been in a better place in his life. It is surely one that anyone involved in the music business can learn from.

Remotes and Radio

2011-02-11T13:18:00.008-05:00

So despite all the crazy weather we've been having, things are still bustling along - as are we - from one corner of the state to the other!

First Bill got to take a drive up to "UConn country" where he met with Women's Head Basketball Coach, Geno Auriemma, in snow-covered Gampel Pavilion to record him for a radio spot due out in March. (Can you imagine having to clear the snow off of that roof?)

Then Chris hit the road on the last weather-filled morning CT has seen so far, (which, if you can believe, was only a lengthy 4 days ago) to head down to Norwalk Hospital where he recorded one of the doctors and two very moving patient testimonials.

Now back to the studio (and connecting us back up to Storrs), high school student, Mike Casey, who attends E.O. Smith and The Greater Hartford Academy for the Arts recorded a jazz CD in which all of the proceeds will be donated to Horns For Kids - a charity which supports music education in CT.

Anxiously awaiting what should hopefully be just around the corner - Spring! I think we are all well-deserving of that!

A 2010 Wrap-up From the "B" Room

2011-01-10T11:10:00.012-05:00

As we get ready for whatever excitement 2011 will bring us, this feels like as good a time as any for reflecting on my "rookie season" at Tapeworks.

In the eight short months since joining the crew here, I've seen many of the ways in which a pro studio earns the kind of reputation that this place has had for so many years. I've learned that a successful audio engineer needs to be constantly aware of many elements within a recording session. That means learning tendencies of clients and being able to anticipate their next requests. It also means constantly weighing the factors of fatigue, productivity and "finance efficiency" against each other when working with studio talent.

It also means multitasking. I was amazed to discover how much multitasking is required to run a successful session between multiple locations simultaneously. Let's just say that my "involuntary stopwatch reflex" has become finely tuned as a result of these sessions.

2010 also brought some very cool new developments to our "B" room, which made the leap this year from functional control room to a miniature version of our "A" room. The end of the year saw the introduction of our brand new Mackie Onyx 1620i Mixer, which combines the necessity of a 16-channel analog mixer with a Firewire digital output. With functional ISDN and phone patch lines running into Studio B, we can now do all kinds of multi-client (and multi-location) sessions from either room at Tapeworks (yes, the "B" room even has a snazzy stopwatch!).

It was a great 2010, and we're looking forward to an even better 2011!

Happy New Year!

From Control Room A:

2011-01-04T11:16:00.007-05:00

Well 2010 ended with a bang for us! We had an exciting year. In November I had the opportunity to head out to San Fran to see what's hot in the new tech gear arena, and was able to bring home some toys for the new year. Ribbons seemed to be the hot item on our list. No, not holiday ribbons, but ribbon microphones (Audio-technica AT4080), and ribbon tweeter speaker systems (Adam A8X). So whats so great about ribbons? They provide a more controlled listening environment, and a new (or old) way to capture sound. We are also enjoying our mid 2010 purchase of the PLAY sample and sound design library, that we have used on all of our large scaled audio design jobs. Also with the help of our friends at Upscale Music we have been working hard refurbishing our main recording console to continue to deliver that sought after analogue sound. Happy New Year! And away we go!

Not A Dull Moment This Year!

2010-12-23T15:53:00.006-05:00

It's that time of year again - the weather outside is becoming frightful (or at least just very cold!) and the fires are oh so delightful. We are off for a week, so bring on the snow!

In all seriousness though, we are taking a look back at all of the fun we had this year with our clients and the great projects we got to work on. There is never a dull moment, especially when working with so many talented people!

November and December kept us just as busy as usual producing several radio spots for a couple of ski mountains - Cranmore (North Conway, NH) and Okemo (Ludlow, VT). We also got to meet and work with actor and author, Chris Lemmon, Jack's son, who was in a few time doing some voiceover work for Cadillac.

And if you were ever hesitant to record a CD of yourself playing or singing a few songs as a gift to family and friends - they will love it! Our latest treat was doing just that with a woman who wanted to record some piano selections for her three daughters as a Christmas gift this year - (34 tunes!) - and as it turns out - just about everyone she knows wants one!

Overall it's been a great year, and we are looking forward to what 2011 will bring! Happy Holidays everyone!

Learnin' the Blues Keb' Mo'-style

2010-11-30T13:02:00.006-05:00

Over the years we've been very fortunate to work with some of the greatest musicians out there. Sometimes the are gracious enough to help a fledgling player out with a video taped lesson or two.

We'll be sharing some of these videos with our Facebook friends.

This week's installment is a bluesy beauty by the masterful musician Keb' Mo'.

Keb' shows me how he plays Robert Johnson's "Kind Hearted Woman" with a very cool turn-around.

A Gem From The Tapeworks Vault!

2010-11-24T14:40:00.004-05:00

Guess What?! We have decided to join the world of YouTube. Stay tuned for more video updates. In the meantime check out this video we found in our archives, circa 1991, of Jeff Pevar playing an original solo acoustic tune.

A Special "Thanks" From A Happy Client!

2010-11-23T11:31:00.007-05:00

Check out this note that we received from another happy client:

Doug and Bill-

You guys are AWESOME!

I received the Final Master/Revision 2 CDs by Fed Ex YESTERDAY. Wow! Thank you so much for making the CDs and sending them so quickly. That really enabled me to make my final decisions, and to put the whole project into the mail for replication this afternoon. That is huge! (Can't believe I've finally reached this point!)

Thanks also, Bill, for saving me a trip up there, and for humoring me. You may be gratified to know that, after all that, I ended up using the original Master with no volume changes to any tracks. But I had to go through the process of trying the changes, I guess, to hear the result of lowering those two that were bothering me. Now that I've done that, they don't bother me at all-they sound "right" and good-thanks to your good work. So again, thanks for your patience and extra trouble.

I had a great experience at Tapeworks, and your excellent service just continues even after the studio time is done. Many, many thanks. I will, of course, send you a CD when it's ready.

I can't thank you enough!

Todd Beaney - Rye Brook, NY

Filling the House with Jeff Pevar

2010-11-01T15:54:00.027-04:00

Talk about your full house! Jeff Pevar sold out the third of his Tapeworks' house concerts, topping off at 70 attendees.

Our anticipation grew as we helped unload 10 guitars from his car. And how cool is it that his rehearsal time was interrupted to field a phone call from David Crosby! We wanted to say 'Hi,' but thought better of it.

Jeff regaled the audience with tales about many of the great musicians he has played with through the years. He fondly recalled his start in the business when he met his long-time friend, Doug "Dougie" Kupper. Doug was also a surprise guest artist that evening, playing with Jeff an arrangement of Little Feat's, "Roll Um Easy."

Jeff also had his two nieces join him in singing a touching rendition of, "Till There Was You."

Overall, it was a great night. Jeff was at the top of his game, and the appreciative audience loved it!

If you were wondering how we were able to fit 70 people in the studio, you'll just have to come to the next house concert to find out!

Studio Spotlight: The Sounds of Soccer

2010-08-18T11:02:00.008-04:00

Abuzz with World Cup Fever

With the infamous buzz of the vuvuzelas mercifully fading from our memories, the passion and excitement shown earlier in the summer for the world's largest sporting event still lingers. Everybody is caught up in soccer fever, and Tapeworks is no exception. We have been producing television and radio spots for the Philadelphia Union soccer team's agency of record, the Silverman Group, throughout the Union's inaugural season.

We were thrilled to compose, record and mix the Philadelphia Union chant that accompanies each of the Union television and radio spots. The story behind this chant's creation is an interesting one.

The Story: PHI-LA-DEL-PHIA UUUUUUUUU-NION!!!

Long before the Philadelphia Union made its Major league Soccer (MLS) debut, the Sons of Ben were already the major Philadelphia soccer supporters' group. They led the charge for years towards an MLS franchise in Philadelphia. When the Silverman Group asked us to create a piece of music that would accompany commercials for the Philly Union, we felt that the Sons of Ben should feature prominently in our project. By patching in several of Philly's favorite rowdy super-fans and layering their chants with additional recorded voices, Chief Engineer Bill Ahearn began to build the trademark chant heard in Union ads. These chants were then layered with authentic crowd noises from a Chilean soccer match, which were programmed to individual keys on a sampler. These combined "stadium crowd" chants were then mixed with some loud, deep percussion and an appropriately raucous bass line - creating an auditory sensation similar to an actual Philadelphia Union game experience. The process was challenging, but definitely rewarding!

Between the dazzling offensive prowess of Union forward Sebastien le Toux (the club's first-ever MLS all star selection), and the ongoing bid for Rookie of the Year by 19-year-old forward Danny Mwanda, it certainly has been an exciting first season for the Philadelphia Union. From promoting their first games to the grand opening of their new soccer stadium, PPL Park, we've been an integral part of Philly Union advertising.

Click here to see some of the exciting work we've done with Philadelphia Union, as well as many other projects we have recently completed!

Session Spotlight: Seth Farber

2010-07-22T15:17:00.004-04:00

Greetings! This past week we received a visit from Seth Farber, an accomplished pianist and composer who has worked with some top musical acts. Farber, who runs Red Wall Records with his wife Liz Queler, traveled from his native New York to record on our in-house keys. That's a long way to travel for a piano! We are flattered that he made the trip to record with us again. The skillful playing that filled our ears during the session was an added bonus.

Over the past 15 years, Seth has recorded and performed with Billy Joel, Cliff Eberhardt, Joan Osborne, Phoebe Snow, John Prine, Lucinda Williams, Chip Taylor, Curtis Stigers, Chuck Jackson, Popa Chubby, Alejandro Escovedo, Little Steven, Liz Queler and many others. He has also been a part of various Broadway shows, and he scored songs that have appeared on TV networks including HBO, The Disney Channel, VH1, MTV, Comedy Central, and the Travel Channel.

For more information on Seth Farber's projects, visit www.redwallrecords.com

While we've had a slower past couple of weeks - amidst the season of vacation time - next week we're diving (ears first!) into a bunch of new and exciting jobs. Up next as we close out July: Three bank radio spots, a defense contractor production package that includes voiceover and scoring, and two new Lego videos to score, voice, and provide sound design for. Whew! August will be here before we know it ... as always, stay tuned!

East Granby's Gospel Guys Croon For A Cause

2010-07-01T14:02:00.007-04:00

Recently, engineer Tony Thomas recorded a full-length CD for The Gospel Guys, a local a cappella group that began through East Granby Congregational Church in 1994. The talented quartet - aiming to raise money for the very place where they began - decided to donate all proceeds from CD sales to the church fund.

Ultimately, the endeavor has proved rewarding: check out this article from The Granby News for more information on the group's beginnings, some insights on the project, and the successful fundraising they've accomplished thus far.

After 16 years, East Granby's Gospel Guys release their first CD

Overall, the constant flow of varied, new projects in the studio have made us question the phrase "lazy days of summer." Our days have been anything but! One voice that's been floating around our halls for some time now is that of Mr. Jake Gyllenhaal, this summer's Prince of Persia. With an ongoing series of creative videos that feature the prince in Lego form, it's begun to feel as if the character is right here in our studio! Just imagine ...

Maybe someday! As always, stay tuned to this blog for more updates.
(Especially since our Facebook fan page is regrettably still M.I.A.)

Reflections on Responsive Classroom

2010-06-17T12:09:00.009-04:00

A few months back, we spent many hours in-studio to record and edit an audio book for the Responsive Classroom series, an interactive teaching approach that is sponsored by the Northeast Foundation for Children (NEFC). This particular selection, entitled "Sammy and his Behavior Problems: Stories and Strategies from a Teacher's Year", follows a teacher's experience with a particularly challenging child in her class. Author Caltha Crowe paid us several visits to provide her own voice for her story, which turned out to be an inspired choice. Although she had no previous voiceover experience, she proved to be a quick study, as well as an enthusiastic storyteller. Check out the photo of Caltha as she expertly sought to bring her story to life.

Following the release of the audio book, an interview with project manager Michael Lain was posted on the Responsive Classroom blog. He had very kind words to share in regards to his time in our studio. Check out the excerpt below:

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How was the audiobook made?

Michael Lain: Once Caltha agreed to do the audiobook, we found a recording studio, Tapeworks, in Hartford, Connecticut. Caltha spent four mornings there reading the book, and Bill Ahearn, Tapeworks' engineer, recorded the reading. Bill and I spent one more morning with a professional reader who was patched in from California. (The other voice you'll hear on the audiobook is his.) Then, when the recording was finished, Bill added a few sound effects, such as incidental music, and mastered it to get the great sound quality you hear on the CDs. He did an amazing job.

What did you learn from this experience? What did you enjoy?

Michael Lain: I had never seen the inside of a professional recording studio before, but it's exactly like what I'd imagined - big panels of dials, switches, and lights, and a booth with a big glass window. I was a little surprised to discover that those panels of dials and switches aren't used much anymore - it's all done with desktop computers now! Caltha and I also learned that the best way to keep your voice fresh when talking for a long period of time is to eat an apple.

I enjoyed the entire process - I learned so much, and working with Caltha was a pleasure. She's so professional in everything she does, and it was inspirational to watch her work. I never would have known that she'd never recorded an audiobook before! When we were in the recording studio, people were disappointed when we had to stop for the day because they really wanted to know what would happen next in the story! Even me - and I'd already read the book!
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We also enjoyed the recording process on our end. Michael's kind input and enthusiasm - paired with Caltha's intriguing narrative voice - made our job pleasantly painless! Although Caltha's narrative cliffhangers at the end of sessions left some of us feeling "disappointed", (I wanted to know what would happen next for Sammy!), the session as a whole left us feeling quite the opposite. It was a job well done by all who were involved. Thanks again to Michael and Caltha.

To read the interview in its entirety, follow the link provided:
http://www.responsiveclassroom.org/blog/?p=1410

Pumbaa, Pevar, and a Lego Prince!

2010-06-11T13:27:00.014-04:00

Judging by the recent heatwaves and abundant sunshine, Summer has arrived: bringing a handful of music projects, renovations, and other exciting collaborations with it. The month of June has already delivered a number of jobs to keep us busy- including a Disney voiceover, a couple visits from talented guitarist and friend of the studio Jeff Pevar, and a handful of Lego videos that center around some of this summer's biggest blockbusters- just to name a few!

Ernie Sabella, an accomplished actor most widely recognized as the voice of Pumbaa in The Lion King, returned to our studio to record as his signature character for an upcoming DVD release. The session displayed his great talent and comedic timing, as well as his ability to belt out a tune!

Jeff Pevar also made a reappearance to assist with two developing music projects. It's always a pleasure to have his guitar stylings fill our studio halls, and this time around we had a great couple days of tracking. The first project involved overdubs for an excellent upcoming album from Linda Chorney. Jeff is one of many accomplished musicians making an appearance on the project. A few days later, Steve Yanek and his daughter Emily ventured over from Harrisburg, PA to record some of her promising new tracks. With a hardworking, budding young talent like Emily at the helm, the sessions were a rewarding treat. And with Jeff's overdubs added into the mix, the final product was enhanced all the more.

Lastly, Lego has continued to send fun video projects our way, including some tie-ins with two summer blockbusters. We are continuing work on additional Prince of Persia videos, and Engineer Bill Ahearn has begun sound design for a series of short videos that will promote Toy Story 3. He completed an impressive amount of sound design in a few short weeks. Stay tuned for a more in-depth look at these ongoing collaborations, (possible video links to follow!)

PS- As for our aesthetic alterations, I present to you: our new studio control room floor! (Click to enlarge)

A Meeting of Hollywood and Hartford

2010-05-28T15:23:00.006-04:00

We've had a whirlwind couple of weeks here in the studio, with a variety of projects and some studio renovations!

One newsworthy note: our facebook fan page has mysteriously disappeared without a trace! Oh the joys of technology ... but we're sincerely hoping that the facebook powers-that-be figure out the glitch sooner than later! Meanwhile, stay tuned to this blog for our project updates.

This afternoon, renowned Hollywood actor Brian Dennehy revisited our studio for some ADR recordings on an upcoming film, Alleged, set for release later this year. His past film credits include Cocoon, Tommy Boy, Romeo + Juliet, and Ratatouille, among many others. It's always a pleasure to have him grace our halls, since his talented reads are always accompanied by his enjoyable, sharp wit.
See the photo below!

Engineer Bill Ahearn, Assistant Jessica Thibodeau, and Actor Brian Dennehy.
True to form, Dennehy humorously labeled the photo "A rose between two thorns."

It was a fantastic session, topping off a hectic yet productive two weeks! We can't wait to see what the next few weeks will bring,
(although were especially hoping they will include the resurrection of our greatly-missed facebook fan page!)

PS- We've also got a brand new control room floor and snazzy new lighting in-studio. Photos coming soon...

The story of Star Wars - told in two and a half minutes flat!

2010-05-10T15:54:00.007-04:00

The force was with us this past week at Tapeworks - the force of YouTube viral videos that is! Audio Engineer Bill Ahearn has been hard at work on the sound design for various Lego projects in the studio. One of these newly completed videos became a YouTube sensation this past weekend. The video tells the story of all three original Star Wars films, (episodes IV, V, and VI), in a little over two minutes!

Within the first two days, the video had over 150,000 hits. Now, after only six days, the video currently boasts over 1.2 million views. The viewers seem to agree in the comments that this quirky little video is quite the impressive feat!

Check out the video below:

From University A Cappella To Lego Royalty...

2010-04-19T09:31:00.007-04:00

Disney and Lego helped bring a new degree of star power to our studio this past weekend. Audio Engineer Bill Ahearn has been super busy in the studio the past few months, creating sound design for a series of Lego videos. One of their most recent variations, a Prince of Persia short, is slated to launch alongside Disney's upcoming feature film based on the popular video game. In order to promote the blockbuster's May 28th release, Lego enlisted the vocal talents of the Prince of Persia himself: actor Jake Gyllenhaal.

With Jake's busy schedule, it was tough to find the right time slot to record, but as always, we were more than happy to accommodate last minute openings. When we received word a few days ago that Jake could patch in through ISDN from a Montreal studio, we were happy to oblige.

The Saturday morning session was a pleasant surprise. The recording went smoothly, and we even finished ahead of schedule. Jake was quite the professional, even staying in character between takes at times! He was very friendly, and kept us all entertained with his playful side comments, (An example of his insight: We should all aspire to the ripped physique and "plastic abs" of his Lego counterpart.) Needless to say, Jake proved to be the perfect Prince of Persia.

-----------------------------------

The prince was not the only voice to grace our halls this past Saturday. Engineer Tony Thomas was simultaneously working with TGFI, a female a cappella group from Central Connecticut State University. TGFI, which is shorthand for "Too Good For Instruments", boasts 12 talented members.

The group, with multiple recording sessions behind them, expressed increasing excitement that they will soon have a completed, 10-track CD. As one of the four groups in the Central CT A Cappella Society, they were also preparing for their "Music and Meatballs" fundraiser later that night. They were aiming to raise money for their individual group, as well as the society as a whole. We wish them luck in all of their endeavors, and we can't wait to hear the finished product soon!

A few of TGFI's members take a moment to pose for the camera!

An Award-Winning Collaboration!

2010-04-09T16:21:00.008-04:00

We would like to congratulate Lockheed Martin and Keiler & Company on scoring two Silver Telly Awards, (the top honor!), for recent video projects. We were more than happy to contribute our sound services to both spots- "Energy" and "SIC Cyber".

Although 2009 seems like a distant memory after a very busy season, we remember this collaboration well. Our work on the cyber security video was especially rewarding. We logged extensive hours in the casting, recording, and mixing of voices, as well as in creating music for the piece. The spot features a team of analysts successfully navigating through a security crisis, with the concluding reveal that the threat was a practice simulation. We built the audio from the ground up, ultimately providing our own interpretation of what this tense setting would sound like. We always appreciate a challenge, and we're glad to see that the hard work has paid off for the various collaborators.

You can catch a glimpse of the SIC Cyber video below:

Bill Ahearn's Bon Jovi Weekend

2010-03-29T11:19:00.007-04:00

This past Saturday, Tapeworks was able to add a super-cool rock collaboration to its credits. It all started Wednesday, when we got a call requesting studio time for that upcoming Saturday. The inquiring artists: members of Bon Jovi, who were scheduled to play two shows at Mohegan Sun that weekend. They had been calling around, but we were the first studio to answer our phones, (lesson of the day: being accessible has its perks!) We were more than happy to accommodate them.

With their hectic schedules, it was tough to squeeze in a visit to our studio once Saturday rolled around. So Bill brought his expertise to them! He hit the road, with his Protools rig in tow, and met up with Bon Jovi's producer, Obie O'Brien. Bill assisted in recording Richie Sambora's overdubs for an upcoming compilation.

Bill was accompanied by his lovely wife, Jamey, a die-hard Bon Jovi fan. It turns out, she was celebrating a milestone birthday- Happy Belated Birthday Jamey!- at the Mohegan shows that weekend, and was hoping for a Bon Jovi sighting. Bill, with a little help from fate, was able to grant her that wish! What an awesome birthday gift. See the above photo of Bill and Jamey posing with Richie Sambora as he takes a break from laying down his guitar stylings.

Stay tuned for updates on more exciting projects in our line-up!

(Prime Access!)

A Helping Hand For Haiti

2010-03-19T14:54:00.003-04:00

Greetings! We are very excited about some of our recent projects.

Dr. Gina Athena Ulysse, a professor from Wesleyan University, returned to the studio on Wednesday to record content for "I Am A Storm: Songs & Poems For Haiti". The cd is donating 80% of its profits to INURED, a non-profit organization that is contributing to earthquake recovery in Haiti. They are specifically focusing their efforts toward Cite Soleil, one of the largest slums in Port-au-Prince, by establishing the Emergency Response Fund. For more information on this great cause, visit inured.org.

In other news, Tapeworks is still reeling from the exciting explosion of creative content in our studio all day yesterday! The talent, an impressive singer/actress/songwriter, arrived bright and early, dressed to impress and ready to deliver. By the end of the day, she had six radio spots and a handful of viral videos recorded. The mix of guitar riffs and spoken-word musings were spot on. We must have set a personal record for productivity in a given day. It was a tiring session, but we all left smiling!

Other projects included two international LEGO voiceovers, along with a series of radio spots for Market New Haven, Mass Mutual, and St. Francis. All in all, it was a great mix.

We're back to blogging!

2010-03-15T11:28:00.004-04:00

We've been so busy this past winter season at Tapeworks that we've neglected our blog! It's been awhile since we gave some updates, so here's some highlights:

August 25th- Joey Pantoliano, aka "Ralph Cifaretto" from The Sopranos, was in the house with his pooch Bogey to do voiceover work for "Cats & Dogs 2", a Warner Bros film. Other notable credits include the Matrix movies, Memento, and Midnight Run. Check out the photo!

September and October brought us four Deloitte podcasts, some varied radio spots, recording and mixing for The Mark Nomad band, a Grayson Hugh's mastering session, and sound design for The Philadelphia Union soccer team (among other things!) We dabble in a little bit of everything here at Tapeworks...

In November, we recorded all sorts of music: from Italian arias, to some hip-hop tracks, and ending with a Jeff Pevar in-house concert. Also threw in an ISDN patch that connected the Pacific Northwest and Denmark. It's always fun when we can reach across the Atlantic and bring our work to other continents!

December saw a mix of jobs, including ski-area radio spots and choir recordings to put us in the holiday spirit. We laid down some musical tracks, ranging from Bosnian be-bop to classical piano, to conclude 2009.

HAPPY BELATED NEW YEAR!

In January, we really began to see our LEGO partnership take off, with the arrival of new film shorts to edit. On January 25th, the studio sent out a live feed to Madison, Wisconsin for a WPR radio interview with Dr. Gina Athena Ulysse of Wesleyan University. A Haitian native, Ulysse explained the history of Vodou in Haitian history and how the West's perception of Vodou has influenced public opinion about the religion. Very interesting stuff. Add in audio books for Responsive Classroom and ESPN's Mike & Mike, and you've got a great start to 2010!

February was all about the music, with a few radio and film scores. Audio engineer Bill Ahearn kept the LEGO shorts crankin', along with some other long-term projects.

... and that brings us to: this month! A new project were excited about is a series of clever, credit union radio spots that mix acoustic guitar and comedy, (possible viral video to follow!) Also, we've had some recent sessions to record demos for a local entertainment company. Some past artists they've worked with include Erykah Badu and Avril Lavigne. Here's hoping that they score some more great collaborations with their new hip-hop tracks!

Now that we're all caught up, let's hope we can find some time to keep the updates coming. We're already booking some great projects for the next couple months. Stay tuned!

New and Interesting Projects at Tapeworks

2009-08-12T09:25:00.004-04:00

What do a major financial institution podcast, a Hollywood film actor voiceover, and an online Lego cartoon have in common? Not much, but they all are making up a typical Monday workday here at the Tapeworks Studio.

The past week has been a busy one here at the studio. Whether it's Deloitte and Touche employees podcasting about their marathon training and Mt. Everest adventures or creating sound effects for an online Lego cartoon, there is always something new. Studio regular, film actor Brian Dennehy took a break from making major motion pictures to record a voiceover here at Tapeworks. Who knows what next week will bring?

Podcasting Production

2009-07-27T15:23:00.005-04:00

Ever hear of a company that gives its employees payed time off to train for a marathon or to climb Mt. Everest? We hadn't either until the Keiler advertising agency brought us a special project from one of their clients.

The financial consulting firm "Deloitte & Touche" decided to produce a podcast featuring amazing testimonials from employees taking part in their health and fitness program. One interviewee recalled several mountain climbing excursions and another employee praised the program for its free gym membership and personal training.

The interview called upon Tapeworks to work in real-time with studios in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and New York City in order for everyone to interact as if they were in the same room. This was made possible by the studio's ISDN equipment and its network throughout the country. The podcast will be available soon on the Deloitte web site.

Pumba Talks "Fire Safety" at Tapeworks

2009-07-13T13:05:00.006-04:00

Pumba, from Disney's "Lion King" may live in the jungle, but his voice lives here in Connecticut. Actor Ernie Sabella and his unmistakable voice came to the studio recently to record for Disney's "Wild About Safety", an upcoming educational DVD featuring the Timon and Pumba characters. This episode emphasized fire safety and and stressed the importance of smoke alarms in the household.

Ernie was directed via phone patch by the Disney team in Burbank, CA, while being recorded by Bill Ahearn, chief engineer, here at Tapeworks in Hartford. The recorded audio was organized and promptly sent to the producers of the DVD.

Find Us Online

2009-07-06T12:02:00.003-04:00

Want to follow the latest updates from our studio? Now you can with our new Facebook and Twitter pages. Follow the links below to add us and get most recent news out of the studio!

Our Twitter Page

Add us on Facebook

A Romanesque Return to the Studio

2009-07-01T14:06:00.006-04:00

Brian Dennehy, renowned Hollywood actor, visited the Tapeworks studio this week. Dennehy came to the studio to record narration for the documentary "Via Papale: The Lost Road of the Popes." The film, slated for a 2009 release, details the 16th century comeback of Rome and its church. The production company needed Tapeworks to record Dennehy's narration while he viewed the video for the timing. In addition, a phone patch with producer Tom Sammon was required. The staff at Tapeworks was happy to provide all that was needed to make the process as smooth as possible. Sure enough, Mr. Dennehy finished earlier than expected and the recorded audio was sent off to Los Angeles. The session was engineered by Bill Ahearn.

An Out of This World Opportunity

2009-07-01T13:41:00.006-04:00

LEGO has been a friend of the Tapeworks studio for many years now and when they needed sound design for an action-packed video for their website, they knew who to call. Tapeworks was able to provide an impressive array of sound effects and backdrops for "Space Police," an online video of LEGO's new line of toys. All of the work was done in-house and even some of the voices were recorded by our very own. The end product added much intensity to the action on the screen. The session was engineered by Tapeworks' Bill Ahearn.

Tapeworks Goes Gospel

2009-06-25T12:07:00.005-04:00

The sound of heavenly gospel voices reverberated in the studio this week as four women rehearsed in a practice room at Tapeworks. The voices belonged to members of the contemporary Christian band "Seventh" who is recording their newest CD at Tapeworks. Seventh’s music is inspiring combination of gospel, jazz, and rock complete with phenomenal musicianship. Tapeworks' chief engineer Bill Ahearn helped the group layer their compositions from simple piano/bass/drums arrangements to lush musical soundscapes. Seventh recorded five of their original songs at the studio and will soon send off their master for duplication before their upcoming tour.

An Award-Winning Month at Tapeworks

2009-06-01T12:37:00.009-04:00

May has been a rewarding month for Tapeworks. The studio has received two awards from its recent productions in both the audio and video fields. The first accolade, a 2009 Lamplighter Award, recognizes outstanding healthcare communications and Tapeworks was selected for a unique radio advertisement produced for the Hospital of Central Connecticut. The radio spot "Say Ahh" featured a funny and informative script, original music, and a professional cast of narrators and singers. The creative juices and ingenuity found in the studio helped make the concept a reality and the staff was honored to receive the award .

The studio's recent video production, "Familes Are A Work of Art" produced for CAFAP (Connecticut Association of Foster and Adoptive Parents), was recognized by a 2009 Silver Mercury award. This awards are given to the best public relations campaigns that the area has to offer and Tapeworks was recognized for a informational video it produced for potential foster parents. "This was a very satisfying project to work on and we are pleased with the results it brought to the organization" commented Doug Kupper, the owner of Tapeworks.

A Booming Voice in the Tapeworks Studio

2009-05-15T15:04:00.005-04:00

Legendary American sportscaster Chris Berman made a welcomed return to the Tapeworks studio recently. Berman, also known as Boomer, has one of the most recognizable voices in sports as he hosts many programs on ESPN and NBC Sports. In the session, Berman promoted one of the highest attended PGA tournaments, the Travelers Championship taking place this June. The Connecticut native worked under the direction of the Silverman Group to record 30-second and 60-second radio advertisements for the tournament. Tapeworks has worked with Berman and the Travelers Championship for decades and was delighted to have another opportunity to be involved. The session was engineered by Bill Ahearn.

Getting Sirius at Tapeworks

2009-05-12T10:40:00.007-04:00

Production assistant Ben Bishop instructs Breuer on the studio's equipment.

Stand-up comic and actor Jim Breuer brewed up an episode of "Raw Dog", his radio show, recently at Tapeworks. Breuer was in the Hartford area this weekend performing at a comedy club in Manchester but stopped by the studio to patch in to his XM Sirius radio show. The set-up required a complex network of high-speed phone lines and internet connections which allowed Breuer to communicate with the New York City studio and callers from all over the United States. The engineers at Tapeworks also set up a production console that allowed Breuer to manage callers and connect with other producers of the show instantly. "Tapeworks was great to work with and made the process very easy!" stated the previous Saturday Night Live star. The session was engineered by Bill Ahearn and Ben Bishop.

Alyssa Milano Talks Touch at Tapeworks

2009-03-18T12:51:00.004-04:00

We recently had the pleasure of working with celebrity actress Alyssa Milano on a project for her women's clothing brand Touch. Although the session was here at Tapeworks, Alyssa wasn't. In fact, she wasn't even on the east cost!

Best known for her work on the television program Charmed, Alyssa Milano recorded a voiceover via ISDN for an online boutique that carries her brand. She was able to record from a studio in the San Fernando Valley while the audio was digitally streamed into Tapeworks. We helped her produce a fun and informative voiceover which included information about the featured clothing as well as the Touch brand itself.

Alyssa was recorded by Bill Ahearn, the chief engineer at Tapeworks in Hartford.

Brass, bass and sonic boom

2008-11-24T14:15:00.008-05:00

The studio was really flying high last week when the Screamin' Eagles, an 18 piece big band, recorded their third CD, Breaking the Sound Barrier, at Tapeworks, Inc.

Structures Engineer at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, band manager and bass player, Chuck Gendrich explained, "All our musicians have day jobs at United Technologies. We do this as stress relief and we do this because it's fun. The only pro in the group is our music director, Topher Logan who is also Director of the Community School of the Arts at the University of Connecticut."

Topher added, "The Tapeworks staff is super helpful. They anticipate the needs of a big ensemble making the process smooth and effective. And chief engineer, Bill Ahearn, has a great set of ears!"

Chuck went on to say that, "Recording forces us to get better and we are a not-for-profit so sales of the new album help underwrite our operating expenses. Tapeworks makes it all work for us."

The band plays at private functions and charity events. Recent gigs include; Veteran's Day at Pratt & Whitney, Bradley Family Day and the Hartford Hospital Cancer Center.

We're not above simple . . .

2008-11-13T12:09:00.003-05:00

Perhaps the highest form of giving is to donate anonymously to those you will never know.

Last week Tapeworks, Inc. had the privilege of building a series of very simple, but powerful radio spots, directed by Eric Cavoli of Lang & Durham.

For the last three years the Dalio Family Foundation has been funding a campaign to raise our aspirations at holiday time. In this series of radio spots the compelling voice of Sam Mercurio encourages us to redefine the spirit of giving at Christmas. Rather than buying gifts that will soon be forgotten or discarded, we can make better use of our money by donating to worthy causes in the names of our friends and loved ones.

As Doug Kupper, owner of Tapeworks commented, "Sure, its fun to create a complex production but sometimes when you have such a powerful message, the simple route is the best. Tapeworks is privileged to contribute to such an honorable endeavor."

So check out www.redefinechristmas.org and redefine your Christmas.

Disney Makes Yet another Splash at Tapeworks

2008-11-05T13:52:00.001-05:00

We had a lot of laughs and learning at Tapeworks recording studio today with Ernie Sabella, a Simsbury, CT resident and the voice of Pumba from the Disney feature film, The Lion King. We recorded a new episode in the Disney children’s Safety Smart series; "Safety Smart in the Water" by Douglas Segal.

Water Safety issues; including the importance of sun screen, the dangers of thunder and lightning and AFR (accidental fecal release – uhg!) were all covered sensitively, humorously and musically.

Ernie was directed via phone patch by the Disney team in Burbank, CA, while being recorded by Bill Ahearn, chief engineer, here at Tapeworks in Hartford.

Politics Just Won't Wait

2008-10-23T13:56:00.006-04:00

The phone rang at 11:10 AM. "Hi! I am calling from the Hamburger Company, an agency in D.C. and we need to get the Connecticut Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal into a studio to record a radio spot on Question 1. Do you folks do that sort of thing?"

At Tapeworks the answer of course is yes.

"When do you want to do this?"

"Well the Attorney General is available for an hour this afternoon and we want it on the air tomorrow."

"Okay, let me call you back in 10 minutes."

We were able to juggle things and schedule AG Blumenthal's session for a few hours later, so the agency sent the script via email. Our engineer, Tony Thomas, set up a phone patch with the agency so they could direct the reading from D.C.. At 2 PM the AG drove the 5 minutes from the Capitol to our studio.

He spent half an hour recording and listening to a number of takes of the spot in both English and Spanish. We cleaned up the recording and delivered the final cut by FTP site before 3 PM the same day.

Responsive and professional. When the need is critical, Tapeworks delivers.

Death or Canada

2008-10-10T11:08:00.003-04:00

During the Great Famine in Ireland, 1 out of 3 citizens either perished or immigrated to North America. A vast number reached the American border and were denied access, thus moved up the coast to Canada and the city of Toronto. A new film documenting this journey is being produced, and Tapeworks had the privilege of recording and producing audio for it. Partnering with Brian Dennehy and Craig Thompson of Ballinran Productions, the audio was recorded using Tapeworks' state of the art facilities and vocal mikes. The film, entitled "Death or Canada," is due out this spring.

Mike Golic Spices Up Recording

2008-09-23T10:35:00.007-04:00

Golic, one of two hosts of Mike & Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio used his trademark, upbeat voice to promote the liberal use of McIlhenny Corp’s signature sauce.

The radio spots featured the former NFL defensive lineman urging listeners to try Tabasco on non-traditional foods like pizza and scrambled eggs.

Tabasco’s agency, Tracy Locke flew in a production team from Dallas to oversee the session in Hartford’s Tapeworks studio.

After the session the 6’5” Golic was happy to relax and autograph footballs for the staff while remarking, “It’s great to have this pro recording studio so handy to ESPN, makes things easy for talent and clients.”

Pictured L-R: Leeann Wells (Tracy Locke), Mike Golic, Deanna Nussbaum (Tracy Locke)

Middlebury College

2008-09-10T12:40:00.006-04:00

Ryan Kellett's Blog

Nice kudos to us from Ryan Kellett of Stuck in the Middle. Thanks Ryan!

Ten Ways To Sustain a Voiceover Career

2008-09-09T11:31:00.001-04:00

http://www.backstage.com/bso/advice-columns/actors-craft/voice-movement/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003827144&imw=Y

Great article with advice for what to do after the demo is made!

Hartford Courant Article

2008-09-09T10:07:00.002-04:00

Keep an eye on the Business section of the Hartford Courant for an article on Tapeworks! The Courant's staff recently interviewed owner Doug Kupper and chief engineer Bill Ahearn for a feature in the paper. We'll post the article as soon as it is published, so stay tuned for the update.

A Month of May

2008-09-04T14:43:00.001-04:00

Month of May, a young band out of Glastonbury, CT has just wrapped up their first EP recorded here at Tapeworks. The band is comprised of four multi-instrumentalists: Jeff - Vocals/Bass/Piano, Orion - Guitar/Vocals/Drums, Kim - Guitar/Vocals and Scott - Drums. Month of May is playing at the Webster this November with Hawthorne Heights and Emory.

Check out their myspace at http://www.myspace.com/monthofmay.

Voiceover Database

2008-09-04T14:19:00.002-04:00

We are still putting together our-soon-to-be-launched voiceover database! Submissions are being accepted constantly, and we'd love to check out your demo and add you if we feel you meet our standards. Please submit all demos and information to erin@tapeworksinc.com to be considered!

Hospital of Central Connecticut

2008-08-20T13:46:00.003-04:00

We've just wrapped up recording an exciting new spot for the HOCC! The introduction of new state of the art medical equipment (can't spill the beans yet!) deserved an outstanding announcement, and it was all put together here at Tapeworks. Using the concept of a chorus in rehearsal, it cleverly ties in some "oohs" and "aaahs" while explaining the new technology the hospital has acquired. The script is by Helayne Lightstone, casting by Bill Ahearn and featuring Erin Paul (Tapeworks staffer that writes this blog!!) in a bit part as "Marilyn," the singer who doesn't know the words... how embarrassing.

Stay tuned to your local radio this fall to hear the announcement, as soon as it's airing we'll also post it to the Tapeworks blog.

BUS13 updates

2008-08-19T11:38:00.002-04:00

BUS13 has sent us some updates on the sucess of their album recorded here:

BUS13's NEW CD "Underground Parties and Other Fabulous Shoes" is now available at CDbaby.com.

Here is the link to BUS13's CD on the CDbaby on-line music store: http://cdbaby.com:80/cd/bus133

BUS13's song "Bella Bandido" is already playing on XM Satellite Radio - America's #1 Satellite Radio service... Tune into Channel 43 XMU on your XM radio dial. The XMU channel plays what's next... now - discover the latest rock/indie/college bands.

Please request XMU to play "Bella Bandido" by BUS13 today - here's how:

Help BUS13 reach this weeks "Top 23" on XMU XM Radio. It's simple and easy. Just email XMU at xmu@xmradio.com and ask them to play "Bella Bandido" by Bus13. Hit send and that's it!

BUS13 loves you for your support.

www.bus13.com

http://www.myspace.com/bus13daniels

Talos wins battle, victoriously recording at Tapeworks!!

2008-07-28T14:25:00.003-04:00

Talos is a 4-piece band out of Springfield, MA. Brothers Tony (guitar/vocals) and Joe Staf (bass/vocals), along with Corey Villamaino (drums) and lead player Erik have been playing shows throughout Mass and CT. On June 28th, Talos won the Battle of the Bands at Webster Theater in downtown Hartford. The contest was run by Gorilla Productions, a company specializing in discovering new talent throughout the US.

In addition to prizes and cash, the band received 20 hours of studio time at Tapeworks, a prominent Hartford recording studio. They are using the time to create a 4-song demo CD with their best material, and Gorilla Productions will put their music in front of several major record labels in hopes of a deal.

For more information on the band, check out www.myspace.com/talosmusic.

Bus 13 Album complete!

2008-07-16T14:53:00.001-04:00

After many hours of recording, mixing and re-mixing, Bus 13's album is finally finished! The guys certainly did this album right, and carefully listened and edited and listened some more until they felt it was perfect. The tracks have been sent to a mastering house in Boulder, CO; AIRSHOW.

Praised for his storytelling abilities, front-man Todd Daniels' originals have been a hit on the Hartford music scene for years, and Bus 13's blend of folk-rock translates well in the studio. The new release, titled "Underground Parties & Other Fabulous Shoes” is available for purchase at CD Baby.

BUS13 Official Website

Tapeworks Website

2008-07-14T09:50:00.004-04:00

The new Tapeworks website is well underway. We've been reviewing some design concepts with our developers, and will hopefully finalize in the next few weeks. The new site will contain a bevy of resources and work samples for our existing and potential clients. We're very excited, and will keep you posted on a release date!

The Passion of Cashin

2008-07-11T09:37:00.002-04:00

Duane Cashin is on the move!

The "differentiation" expert of the business world has been here at Tapeworks recording material for his business presentations and seminars. His unique approach to sales, coupled with his experience in starting and building a multi-million dollar business, is a great inspiration and practical resource for a variety of companies. Some of his major clients include Verizon Wireless, Cisco and Bank of America.

Based in Simsbury, Duane travels to meetings, seminars, etc. to provide a humorous yet poignant take on the evolving world of sales.

For more information, visit www.duanecashin.com.

Chris Berman

2008-07-10T12:45:00.003-04:00

Chris Berman joined us once again at Tapeworks to record narrative tracking the history of the New England (Boston) Patriots. Coordinating with Cortina Productions in Virginia, Chris recorded here while being directed by the Cortina team.

Chris Berman is ESPN's top sportscaster, and a well-known voice in the New England area. Who better to narrate the rise of our football team?

Pumbaa pays a visit Tapeworks!

2008-06-27T14:08:00.006-04:00

Yesterday, Ernie Sabella, the voice of Pumbaa from The Lion King, recorded a Timon and Pumbaa episode at Tapeworks. The Lion King spin-off series, which can be seen at 2 pm and 2:30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays on Toon Disney, features Mr. Sabella as the lovable Warthog.

The episode, complete with sing-alongable song, lets kids know how to save the environment; every little bit counts! The show's writers in Los Angeles were able to listen in real time and provide on-the-spot feedback.

Hilarious and spontaneous, Ernie was a treat to have here at Tapeworks.

Hakuna Matata!

MLB Scratch Games from CT lottery

2008-06-25T11:54:00.002-04:00

Our state has long been a battleground for Red Sox and Yankees rivalry, and Connecticut Lottery is riling up the fans once again. The MLB scratch tickets are a big hit this summer, and Boston is outselling New York by a long shot!

A new radio spot was recorded here at Tapeworks this week to let Yankees fans know they’re being trounced. Encouraging fans to “show their pinstripes,” it will air later this summer. (Don’t let ‘em beat you, Boston!! )

Concert series

2008-06-16T13:46:00.004-04:00

Also be sure to check out a cool concert series at Blue Back Square called "A Little Wednesday Night Music." Taking place on, you guessed it, Wednesday nights, the concerts run 7-9pm June-August.

Schedule of Performances

CHC

2008-06-16T13:14:00.003-04:00

Community Health Center is expanding once again, this time into Danbury, CT. No official date has been announced, but the new on hold calling system for Danbury was recorded here at Tapeworks.

Requiring three languages to serve local populations, Tapeworks sought out Portuguese, Spanish and English voice talent for the recordings. Voices from around the New England area help patients who are not native speakers of English get the healthcare and service they deserve!

CHC Website

Hospital of Central Connecticut

2008-06-05T10:02:00.000-04:00

A new TV spot for the Hospital of Central CT was created this week at Tapeworks. Jointly produced with Helayne Lightstone of HCC, the spot “Incredible Hands” is a celebration of the hospital’s doctors and other medical personnel.

The voice of Bruce Bayley Johnson eloquently described the effort and care the doctors of the HCC put into their patients.

Joe Grieco, pianist, provided an original score of material composed on the spot with the producers.

Tapeworks, Inc offers a vast array of creative services, and with 32 years of experience in the field of advertising they are a staple of the Hartford market.

The metaphysical arrives at Tapeworks

2008-06-03T12:20:00.003-04:00

Author Linda Thompson (I Am My Own Dragon) recorded a series of poems and website dialogue to promote her new work at Tapeworks Recording Studios in Hartford last week.

I Am My Own Dragon is of a new genre called metaphysical fiction. Thompson’s novel is divided into three sections: Life, depicting childhood traumas and struggling to learn; Transformation, which deals with the healing process and personal transformation for the main character, Lucy; and finally Enlightenment, where the reader co-creates Lucy’s experience transitioning from an atheist to a spiritual being.

Linda Thompson is also an active dramatist and performer, as well as singer and motivational speaker. She holds a BA in American studies from The University of Texas at Austin, an MA in creative writing from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from the University of Southern California.

Information found at: http://www.bookmasters.com/marktplc/02056.htm

Jeanine Basinger in Western Mode

2008-05-23T11:48:00.001-04:00

It was a B Movie bonanza in Tapeworks today as noted film authority Jeanine Basinger, narrated a companion DVD track to the Budd Boetticher Western, “The Tall ‘T’” Starring Randolph Scott and Maureen O’Sullivan.

This is the first in a series of Boetticher releases that will comprise a box set of the directors distinctive works.

A regular presence in the Hartford recording studio, Prof. Basinger has provided commentary on numerous titles while viewing the films with Chief Engineer Bill Ahearn at Tapeworks and simultaneously with a Hollywood production company on the digital patch.

Jeanine Basinger is Corwin-Fuller Professor of Film Studies and Founder and Curator of the Cinema Archives at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut.

She is also a Trustee of the American Film Institute a member of the Steering Committee of the National Center for Film and Video Preservation, and one of the Board of Advisors for the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers.

Tapeworks is uniquely qualified for this type of work with it’s close ties to Hollywood production studios and specialized film and ADR equipment.

Tapeworks Honored at Ad Club Awards

2008-05-22T15:02:00.002-04:00

Tapeworks brought home an award last night at the 54th Annual Advertising Club of CT Award Show! The Silver award for best Original Music or Jingle was awarded to Tapeworks for the merger announcement project we worked on with Helayne Lightstone and the Hospital of Central CT. New Britain Hospital and Bradley Hospital merged last summer, and Tapeworks' work helped smooth the transition for patients and doctors alike. Thanks to the Ad Club for this special recognition!

Celebrity Sighting!

2008-05-22T10:53:00.002-04:00

TV personality Lynn Hoffman, the dynamic host of VH1’s Classics and the new Private Sessions on A&E, was recently spotted at Tapeworks, Inc. recording studio in Hartford, CT. Her distinctive voice and friendly demeanor made her the perfect candidate for narrating two segments of A&E’s Biography series. Biography’s “Where Are They Now?” series is bringing two more stars into the fold: The features focus on lengendary pop star Leif Garret and actor Scott Baio. Lynn’s warm and inviting voice captures viewers and brings the stories to life. Keep an eye out for the new episodes on A&E! Check out Lynn's MySpace page: www.myspace.com/lynnhoffman

Voice Over Talent

2008-05-20T09:58:00.002-04:00

Tapeworks is constantly searching for fresh voice talent for our radio spots. Radio ads are calling more and more for voice actors, as opposed to the traditional announcer (although announcers are still well-employed!). If you are an aspiring voiceover artist or a veteran looking for more opportunities, please send us your demo! Our ears are open.

Email: erin@tapeworksinc.com

Or send a CD:

Erin Paul
770 Maple Ave
Hartford, CT 06114

Sam Foggle

2008-05-09T14:32:00.002-04:00

Samantha Foggle frequently records her original compositions at Tapeworks. Congratulations Sam!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Lili Foggle (203) 245-4150
236 Boston Post Road, Madison CT
lili.foggle@sbcglobal.net

Jannel Rap (877) 411-GINA
clemstreet@aol.com
www.411gina.org

LOCAL FIFTH GRADER IS FINALIST IN INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION

May 7, 2008 ….Samantha Foggle, a fifth-grade student at Madison’s Brown Middle School is a finalist in the 5th Annual GINA Singer-Songwriter Competition 2008. She will join the other finalists – all adults – in Los Angeles for the live webcast of the finals on May 17, 2008 at 9 pm EST. The GINA for Missing Persons Singer-Songwriter Contest for the Missing is held annually during National Missing Children’s Month. As a finalist, Samantha will “adopt” a missing child by featuring an in-depth profile of the child during the webcast. Samantha will perform her original song “Anywhere But Here”. Winners of the contest are selected by an industry panel of judges during the live webcast. The webcast is interactive and webcast viewers are encouraged to email the show their comments.

Samantha Foggle is ten years old and lives in Madison . She began playing piano at age three, and composing at age eight. She currently sings with the Academy Division of the Elm City Girls’ Choir in New Haven . Samantha is thrilled and honored to be a participant in this important event.

Proceeds from the GINA Singer/Songwriter Contest for the Missing support GINA for Missing Persons FOUNDation, an organization dedicated to providing media attention, awareness, assistance and resources for families, friends and communities of the missing. The live webcast of the finals will take place on Saturday, May 17th at 9 pm EST. To view the webcast, log onto www.411gina.org and click on the “webcast” tab on the left of the screen. Remember to email your comments of support and well wishes to our home town girl. Donations are welcome and can be made online by clicking on the donation button on the www.411Gina.org website.

GINA has been featured on the Grammy awards show in 2003 and 2006. Nearly 300 missing people profiled by GINA have been found since the organization was founded in 2001.

Discovery Channel Man Vs. Wild spots

2008-04-25T11:52:00.003-04:00

Tucker Smith was here at Tapeworks this morning to record tags for the Discovery Channel's "Man Vs. Wild" starring Bear Grylls. New episodes of the show are airing, despite past controversy over the autheticity of Bear's adventures. A new disclaimer warns audiences that Bear is being assisted at times by crew members while shooting. Tucker's rich voice intones the feel needed for advertising the show, and our cooperation with Star Trax Studios in NYC provided a great take!

Samantha Foggle

2008-04-25T10:50:00.001-04:00

Samantha Foggle was back in the studio this week recording some of her latest works, “Anywhere but Here” and “Who I Am.” “Anywhere” was written for a friend whose family moved to CT as a result of Hurricane Katrina. A talented pianist and singer, she writes beautiful melodies with insightful lyrics considering her young age. Sam frequently records her compositions for voice and piano here at the Tapeworks, and we love having her!

Voice Workshop in the Hartford Area

2008-04-23T15:25:00.002-04:00

Workshop notification:

A character voices workshop with Bob Bergen (the voice of Porky Pig) will be held next month, 17-18 May in Hartford.
Details are here.

Lighting the way to catchy jingles

2008-04-23T11:25:00.001-04:00

Connecticut Lighting Center has a new theme song ringing in their ears… their Tapeworks-created jingle! Our creative team came up with a catchy new radio tune to promote Connecticut Lighting Center’s great line of products. Featuring a well known Manhattan singer and a bevy of musicians, the tune gets the message to consumers that lighting can be designed and installed right by the crew at CLC.

New England Baptist College releases "Songs from the Heart"

2008-04-23T11:22:00.004-04:00

New England Baptist College, affiliated with Central Baptist Church in Southington, has been filling Tapeworks with uplifting music! The 26-member group recorded a 10 song album here at the studio. In addition to full group songs, tracks have been laid down for trios, quartets, and other smaller ensemble numbers. The album was duplicated at DiscMakers, a studio partner, and released in the past week or two. "Songs from the Heart" is a great project with some excellent singing!

Mars Mission from LEGO Denmark

2008-04-18T14:35:00.001-04:00

We're not actually going to Mars, but we did some out of this world (haha, get it??) work for LEGO recently. LEGO recorded a series of commercials promoting the news “Mars Mission” play sets through Tapeworks. A three way patch between the US, Denmark and the voice talent allowed for an international collaboration on the project.

Roll out the red carpet...

2008-04-18T14:32:00.001-04:00

Tapeworks has been a hub of Hollywood activity! Two Automatic Dialogue Replacement sessions took place for diverse clients around the country and the continent. Post Modern Sound, a production company in British Columbia, booked Chad Allen for ADR on Ice Blues and On The Other Hand, Death. Chad is a well-known film and stage actor, having starred in numerous television series and movies since childhood. Another ADR session was for Doppler Studios in Atlanta, adding dialogue to the popular TBS show Tyler Perry’s House of Payne.

Richard Thomas drives Mercedes into Tapeworks

2008-04-18T14:30:00.002-04:00

Richard Thomas, renowned TV and stage actor visited Hartford Tapeworks recording studios Tuesday to record voiceover tracks for Mercedes-Benz latest radio and TV spots. The session was recorded using ISDN technology, which allowed Thomas to voice the spots in Hartford while being recorded by a production team in NYC. An in-studio monitor screen provided a video reference for the TV spots, giving Thomas the feel and attitude needed for his delivery.

Television and movie actors are often chosen to voice commercials even though their voices aren't always recognized by the average viewer when their face isn't shown on-screen.Mercedes-Benz chose Thomas as the voice of their new campaign, much of which promotes the Certified Pre-Owned sector of their dealerships. Thomas's warm and soothing voice credibly amplifies Mercedes pride in their cars and engineering skills while affirmatively answering the old chestnut; Would you buy a used car from this man?

Thomas is in Hartford this week performing 12 Angry Men at the Bushnell. The show went on tour in February, and opened Tuesday night in Hartford and will run through Sunnday March 30th.Tapeworks is celebrating it 33rd year as a Hartford mainstay. The studio is regularly the temporary home of TV and movie celebrities when their voices are needed elsewhere.

Welcome!

2008-04-18T11:38:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Tapeworks Inc recording studio's official blog. Here we will post updates and news regarding our own work as well as other items we think you'll find interesting. Thanks for reading!