Polar Productions
Polar Productions is a full-service audio production facility. We offer the following:
Audiobook Production
We have recorded audiobooks for Live Oak Media, Penguin Random House Audio, etc. [Sample HERE ]
In regards to various production/direction scenarios, we can…
Additionally, we feature the below audiobook/voice-over facilities & equipment.
In regards to various production/direction scenarios, we can…
- Provide audiobook direction in-house, if you are not working with your own director.
- Accommodate your director onsite. There is space in our comfortable control room for the studio’s engineer plus your director and a few additional personnel.
- We can recommend post-production/editing houses if you are not already working with one.
- We typically deliver audio files to your post house and/or editor as WAV files at the sample rate & bit depth of your choosing (i.e. 44.1 kHz/16 bit or 48 kHz/24 bit, etc.).
Additionally, we feature the below audiobook/voice-over facilities & equipment.
Acoustically treated voice-over station within its own comfortable sound-isolated room.
- Features industry-standard Neumann TLM-103 studio microphone, Audio-Technica headphones, personal monitor mixer, etc.
- Can accommodate up to two voice actors.
Separate treated & isolated control room
Other amenities
- Eliminates background noise (hard drives, computer fans, conversation, etc.) from the actual recording environment.
- Features Audient ASP 8024 console and RADAR Nyquist-V digital recorder.
- Can accommodate up to six personnel.
Other amenities
- Kitchenette with fridge, microwave, coffee maker, etc.
- Complimentary sodas, coffee, bottled water, snacks, etc.
- Clean restroom facility.
- Comfortable, furnished, covered outdoor patio area for breaks, eating, etc.
Full-Band Recording
With a spacious, comfortable live room, separate isolated control room, separate isolated vocal booth and other iso areas available, we can accommodate full band audio recording. (See complete list of equipment and amenities below.) We specialize in tracking real musicians playing real music on real instruments in real time (whether separately overdubbed or live-in-studio or any combination thereof) including drums, guitars, bass, vocals, horns, piano, keyboards, percussion, etc.
We typically deliver your finished audio files to you as 48 kHz/24 bit WAV files for distribution or replication (either sent to you electronically via file transfer service or on DVD-R, etc.) or as a 44.1 kHz/16 bit audio CD if requested. High resolution MP3s are also available (320 kbps) if that is your intended final format.
*NOTE: Since we use RADAR as our recording format—via a large-format analog console and a wide selection of analog and digital outboard processors—we do not provide auto-tune, sound-replacement, lock-to-grid, or many other DAW-centric options. Consider RADAR as a digital version of a 2” 24-track tape machine—with all the sonic benefits thereof—except having highly useful editing capabilities such as cut; copy; paste; trim; nudge; gain-fade; etc. If you are looking to build machine-based tracks inside the computer—with programmed beats, virtual synths, and everything “timed and tuned” to perfection—that’s perfectly fine… but Polar Productions is probably not the studio for you.
We typically deliver your finished audio files to you as 48 kHz/24 bit WAV files for distribution or replication (either sent to you electronically via file transfer service or on DVD-R, etc.) or as a 44.1 kHz/16 bit audio CD if requested. High resolution MP3s are also available (320 kbps) if that is your intended final format.
*NOTE: Since we use RADAR as our recording format—via a large-format analog console and a wide selection of analog and digital outboard processors—we do not provide auto-tune, sound-replacement, lock-to-grid, or many other DAW-centric options. Consider RADAR as a digital version of a 2” 24-track tape machine—with all the sonic benefits thereof—except having highly useful editing capabilities such as cut; copy; paste; trim; nudge; gain-fade; etc. If you are looking to build machine-based tracks inside the computer—with programmed beats, virtual synths, and everything “timed and tuned” to perfection—that’s perfectly fine… but Polar Productions is probably not the studio for you.
Additional Audio Production (Overdubs, Mixing, Mastering, etc.)
We’re happy to have you bring in your basic tracks and add vocals, solos, percussion, sweetening, etc. here. Or cut your basic rhythm tracks here and take them home to finish. (We specialize in recording big, slammin' drum tracks!)
We also specialize in mixing music projects. We prefer working with tracks we’ve recorded, but we also mix tracks recorded elsewhere if provided in a suitable format—typically 24/48 WAV files. (No PT sessions; total track count limited to 24 or less.)
Additionally, we offer basic audio mastering (compression, limiting, equalization, level matching, etc.) for your audio projects—whether recorded here or elsewhere—in order to make them sound like a cohesive, finished product. If you require the use of a full-service post-production facility, we can recommend those.
We also specialize in mixing music projects. We prefer working with tracks we’ve recorded, but we also mix tracks recorded elsewhere if provided in a suitable format—typically 24/48 WAV files. (No PT sessions; total track count limited to 24 or less.)
Additionally, we offer basic audio mastering (compression, limiting, equalization, level matching, etc.) for your audio projects—whether recorded here or elsewhere—in order to make them sound like a cohesive, finished product. If you require the use of a full-service post-production facility, we can recommend those.
Equipment
Console
- Audient ASP 8024 large-format console.
- British analog design manufactured by the former makers of DD&R, known for quiet mic pres, musical eq, flexible routing, SSL-type buss compression, and great sound.
- RADAR Nyquist V digital audio recorder.
- Considered the most “tape-like” of all digital recorders, this format has been used by acts such as U2, The Rolling Stones, Pete Townshend, Daniel Lanois, Neil Young, Alice in Chains, Emmylou Harris, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, The Black Keys, etc. Famous for its top-quality converters, RADAR is also known for its big, warm sound and rock-solid stability.
- Otari MX-5050 BII half-track analog mixdown tape recorder (“the sound of the 70’s”) available upon request.
- Event Studio Precision 8 powered monitors.
- Yamaha NS-10 passive monitors (original 80’s vintage) available on request.
- Avantone MixCube active monitor for checking limited bandwidth/mono.
- Audix Studio 1A monitors in live room for playback.
Outboard signal processing
- Our control room features a large rack of outboard gear (analog and digital) including equipment from Lexicon, dbx, Roland, HHB, Alesis, AMR, Chameleon Labs, ART, etc. All connected via comprehensive patchbay.
Microphones
- We feature a wide variety of studio-quality condenser, ribbon, and dynamic microphones, including Neumann, AKG, Audix, Shure, Cascade, Heil, Sennheiser, etc.
Instruments (available to clients w/no extra charge)
Drums
- Noble & Cooley all maple drumset (tuned, miked, ready to record).
- Zildjian cymbals (primarily K Custom and A Custom).
- Various snare drums available. (N&C, Ludwig, Pork Pie, etc.)
- Variety of cajons and hand percussion available (including the best rain stick ever!).
- Yamaha C3 studio grand piano. (Tuned, working perfectly, great sound.)
- Fender Special Edition Deluxe PJ bass.
- A Designs REDDI tube direct box.
- Marshall Vintage Modern 2266 50 watt half-stack.
- Fender Blues Jr. tube combo amp.
- Fender Rumble 350 bass amp.
- Rehearsal P.A. set up and available for pre-production.
Studio Amenities
- Kitchenette with fridge, microwave, coffee maker, etc.
- Complimentary soft drinks, coffee, bottled water, snacks, etc.
- Clean restroom facility.
- Comfortable, furnished, covered outdoor patio area for breaks, meals, etc.
Locale
We are conveniently located on the Central Coast of California—midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco—in the "Classic California Beach Town" of Pismo Beach. San Luis Obispo County is well-known for perfect weather, friendly people, and gorgeous scenery. (Polar Productions is less than a mile from the water’s edge.) This area is a great “destination location” with many activities nearby (including wine tasting, hiking & biking trails, fine dining, etc.). Several lodging options are available to visitors, from beach-front resorts to nice chain hotels to B&Bs to economy motels.
Rates/Contact/Etc.
Polar Productions is available by appointment only. Rates available upon request. We’re available on a per-hour basis (which works well for smaller, one-off projects) and on a per-project basis. We’ve found the latter is helpful for more involved band projects as clock-watching can hinder creativity in the studio, and having great sounding recordings and satisfied clients is our top priority.
Audiobooks can be recorded on an hourly basis or PFH (Per Finished Hour). As above, smaller voice-over projects are usually hourly, while longer (book length) are typically PFH.
All Polar Productions sessions include a knowledgeable and friendly recording engineer.
Contact: [email protected]
Audiobooks can be recorded on an hourly basis or PFH (Per Finished Hour). As above, smaller voice-over projects are usually hourly, while longer (book length) are typically PFH.
All Polar Productions sessions include a knowledgeable and friendly recording engineer.
Contact: [email protected]