Our new studio facility,
under construction since 5/23/08,
is
now OPEN!

Did you miss the OPEN HOUSE  on Oct. 11th?
No fear, a no-strings-attached tour of the facility can be arranged with a   
quick phone call.

(See pictures below!)

In the planning phase for over two years, construction of
a vastly improved Baked Beans Recording Studio is now completed.

Because Rob decided to retire,
Alan gladly bought out Rob's share of the business.
The new facility is located on Alan's property (3 miles from the prior location),
which is on a dead-end road on a mountain top
with panoramic views of the western mountains.

A great deal of research went into the acoustic design of this building...

There are:
-a main room measuring 26' x 30' with a 13' 6" vaulted ceiling,
-two isolation rooms, each measuring 7' x 13',
-a fourth 17' x 18' room housing the 1930 Mason & Hamlin grand piano.
-and, a 14' x 20' waiting room with bathroom. Note: even the waiting room
is pre-wired for recording, if necessary.

All interior walls are natural wood, non-parallel,
but symmetric and fully treated acoustically.
All rooms are networked and hard-wired
with audio, CAT6, headphone sends & mic returns.
There is radiant heat in the floor, which is not only efficient
and comfortable, but silent.

"ICF" construction -- ever heard of it?  Don't be embarrassed.  Most
Americans have no idea what this is, but it has been prevalent in Canada
for over 15 years.  ICF stands for "insulated concrete forms".
Nudura is the company that makes this product, which is essentially
12" thick hollow styrofoam blocks.  The entire studio
assembles using these  interlocking Lego-like blocks which are then
reinforced with rebar and, finally, filled with concrete
to make a single, solid concrete wall structure
with 3" of foam insulation both inside and out and 6" of concrete in the middle.

The benefits of this construction include:
- great insulation properties (>R50!! -- Green!)
-unmatched soundproofing with an STC rating of 53 (a standard
2" x 6" wall has an STC rating of 25).
 

The sound system has been upgraded to a
JBL LSR4328 series 5.1 surround sound system with LSR4312 sub,
acoustically matched to the room to assure the best mixes possible.

Scroll down to see the pictures below of the construction process from start to final product.
 

Google Map link here.

From Portland area/points south:

-Go north on Rt. 302 to Naples, turn right (north) on Rt. 35 (by Rite Aid) to Harrison.  In Harrison, turn right (north) onto Rt. 117 and go 2.7 miles.  Turn right onto Summit Hill Road (you'll see the signs for BBRS) and go another 2.7 miles (Summit Hill Road becomes Weston Farm Road) -- you're there!

From Oxford Hills area/points north:

-From Lake Penneseewassee in Norway, take the "Harrison Road", Rt. 117 south.  Go 7.5 miles from the lake (where Rt 117 and Rt 118 split), then, turn left onto Summit Hill Road (you'll see the signs for BBRS) and go 2.7 miles (Summit Hill Road becomes Weston Farm Road) -- you're there!
 
 

-- Baked Beans Recording Studio, Inc.

This shows "Henry's Concrete" crew applying bracing to the Nudura styrofoam blocks as they erect the hollow walls.

Here is the "Northeast Concrete Pumping" truck pouring the concrete into the
hollow Nurdura "lego's" after they have had rebar put in place.
Note:  articulating arm is high than the trees!!!

This fellow has a RF remote control unit around his waist to control the
pumper arm movement and to regulate the flow of concrete.
(I bet he is good at video games!)

 
 
 

Here is the poured floor with the radiant heat embedded.
Note:  pipes under the floor to carry electrical, audio cables, CAT6 (headphones) and telephone cables.

Finished concrete work.

Setting the trusses on the main room and raftering the lounge and bathroom.
Note:  13' high cathedral ceiling with scizzor trusses in main room.

The outside was totally finished by the end of August.

Now a few interior pictures...

  Alan and Rusty, the official studio cat.

 

 Close up of the mixing workstation

 

a view of the Roland TD-20S kit.

 

 note the symmetric isolation rooms on either side of the workstation,
each with a mountain view.

 

all rooms are acoustically treated

 

Yeah, that's a Suhr Badger -- a real tone monster!

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