Flashpoint Post Control Room Is Online!

Control Surface: Digidesign
Mic Pre's: Chandler
EQ's: Chandler and Waves TDM Plugins
Compression: Chandler and Waves TDM Plugins
Effects: Waves Plugins
Monitors: Set up for 5.1 surround - Barefoot Near fields with an Adam sub
Recorders: Protools HD, Alesis Masterlink

Flashpoint Recording Arts Strategies

Friday September 28th, Michael Santucci spoke to the Recording Arts Program at Flashpoint about hearing conservation and preservation.

Michael inspected my ears - turns out my left ear is perfect, my right ear had wax buildup over the ear drum! I immediately took care of this issue.

Michael Santucci (M.S., F-AAA) is the founder and president of Sensaphonics Hearing Conservation Inc., based in Chicago, Illinois. As a fully credentialed audiologist and ardent music lover, Michael has made it his life's work to help preserve the sense of hearing for those whose professions involve exposure to high sound pressure levels.

As president of Sensaphonics, Michael provides audiological consultation and customized earphones to many of today's top music performers. His articles on hearing health have been published in over 40 periodicals and he has been featured in Crain's Chicago Business, the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, and a wide variety of music industry publications. As an advocate for hearing conservation, Michael has been featured on a variety of electronic media as well, both in Chicago and nationally.

Also George Luif was introduced to the Recording Arts student body. George is Flashpoint's Audio Technician and Acoustic Designer. He will be teaching the "Science of Acoustics" and "Trouble Shooting and Studio Maintenance" courses for the Recording Arts program.

John Murray (Chair of Recording Arts) introducing George Luif:

Artist -Nick Bognar - Scheduled to record at Flashpoint

His music is infectious, his lyrics are honest, and you'll find yourself singing along after the first listen! - Radiokonline.com

Nick Bognar - International Pop Overthrow

Flashpoint Music Control Room

Digidesign D-Control has been installed:

The Houndz Tracking Continues - Lead and Backing Vocals

Steve on lead vocals:





Ike and Jeff on backing vocals:





Steve and Ken on backing vocals:

Flashpoint Opening Day!

An experience that will always be remembered:


Flashpoint Student Body:





Dean Paula Froehle introducing the faculty:

Houndz Tracking Continues - Guitar Solos

Ike completed all guitar solos:

Royer 122 Ribbon about a foot away, into an API 512 Mic Pre and compressed with an Empirical Labs Distressor:




Royer 122 about 1 foot away facing the center cone:

One of Flashpoint's Post Control Rooms

Digidesign HD with Control Surface, Chandler Mic Pre's/Compression and Barefoot Monitors:

Houndz Tracking Continued - Keys and Horns

Tracking Continues on the Latest Houndz Record:

Nick on keys - Recorded DI (stereo) with API 512 Pre's / EMI TGR 1 Compressors:





Don on Trumpet with a 414 (silver) - API 512 Pre / 1178 Compressor:





Pete on Trumpet with a Telefunken RFT M16 - API 512 Pre / 1178 Compressor:




Another Shot of Pete:




Bob on Baritone Sax with a Neumann U87 - UA610 Pre / 1178 Compressor:



Bob also did additional overdubs on Alto Sax with a Neumann U87 - UA610 PRE / 1178 COMPRESSOR

Flashpoint Post Control Room

This will house a Digidesign Control Surface for a
Protools HD system.

Flashpoint Music Control Room

More Gear Has Arrived!


Wunder Mic Pre With Eq (Qty 4):




Purple Audio MC77 (Qty 2):




Great River Mic Pre and EQ (Qty 2):




Helios 69 - 2 Channel Mic Pre and EQ (Qty 2):

API 512 Mic Pre (Qty 4):

Chandler LTD 2 Compressor (Qty 4):

Tequila Salmon with Salad

New Creation: Grilled Tequila Salmon with Salad

Flank Steak Salsa Verda

A New Dish: Flank Steak with Salsa Verda

"Everyone must eat, so why not eat well?"

Flank Steak Salsa Verda with Rice

Attempted Theft On The Roadmaster

This occurred overnight - right in my driveway. The car was not stolen due to the GM "Pass Key" system. There is no excuse for this - this situation angers me.

This car is a 1994 Buick Roadmaster Limited in mint condition - stock with a 5.7 liter LT1 350 Corvette engine. Its my pride and joy! It is currently at Buick getting repaired.

See damage below:

Recently Added to My Collection: A Vintage EV 502B Matching Transformer

Part #531496 Electro Voice - Buchanan, Michigan
Lo-Z to Hi-Z Transformer

Flashpoint Faculty Meetings

Left to Right: Peter, John, Myself, Paula, Perry, Brad, Charles and Simeon

Flashpoint - Music Control Room

Gear is starting to arrive! Below is a Crane Song STC-8
Discrete Class A - Stereo Compressor / Limiter (Qty 2):

"The Repellents" on VML - still being sold!

"The Repellents" on the VML label (#053) is still for sale on "Interpunk.com."
I had tracked this album over a decade ago. One of the band members recently contacted me saying "Can you believe it, the record is still for sale?"


"The Repellents" #053
V.M.L. Records
Recorded by Bernie Mack at SoundHouse Studio
Mixed by Joey Vindictive at Uber Studio
All Rights Reserved BMI/ASCAP

Here is the link - please buy!

http://www.interpunk.com/item.cfm?Item=3317&

"The Houndz" Tracking Session - The Rhythms

"The Houndz" and I have been working together since 1997. Below are pictures from our current project at Gallery Of Carpet Recording in Villa Park. On Sunday I tracked the rhythm section - see below. The horns, keys and vocals are scheduled to be recorded during September and October.

Microphone placement on drums

D112 and EV 664 in the kick

414 (silver) and 57 on guitar

Left: Tom Holler - Guitar
Right: Steve Wyrostek - Guitar

Jeff Plettau - Bass

Ken White - Drums

Trident Console

Outboard pre's and compression

Right: Steve Wyrostek

Center: Ken White

Left: Bob Reed

The Houndz previous releases:

"2nd Adulthood"

Tracked, mixed and mastered by Bernie Mack
Produced by The Houndz

Published by Sterita Publishing (ASCAP)

"These Guys"

Tracked, mixed and mastered by Bernie Mack and Jeff Luif
Produced by The Houndz

Horn Arrangements by Bob Reed

Published by Sterita Publishing (ASCAP)

"Work Songs"

Tracked, mixed and mastered by Bernie Mack

Produced by The Houndz

Horn Arrangements by Bob Reed

The Houndz Next Gig:

8-11-07 Lake Michigan Yacht Club Party- New Buffalo, MI


Old Photos of the Houndz tracking with me at Star Trax Recording in Crestwood, Il

Pictures by Classic Photo - www.classicphoto.com