New Video – “Batteau Boy”

Ravensworth Studios presents:  James River Brewing Co. and ”Batteau Boy”  - Episode 1

Demo commercial…8 days from conception to completion!  Thanks to everyone for the tremendous collaborative effort; particularly Christopher Kyle, of James River Brewing, for directing/producing and Thomas Vinson for shooting all the video.  And special thanks to the star of the show…”Batteau Boy”, aka Erik “Red” Knierim – musician, craftsman, and James River enthusiast!

All video editing and audio post was completed at Ravensworth Studios in Scottsville. Every sound you hear (from birds chirping to foot steps) was added in post production by our talented lead audio engineer, Joey Vagus, with video editing by Greg Schoenborn, owner of Ravensworth Studios.  The excellent banjo soundtrack by local artist Steve Vargo and voiceover narration was recorded at the studio as well.

Stay tuned for the continuing adventures of  ”Batteau Boy” and the 2012 opening of James River Brewing Company in Scottsville, Virginia.  See below for a behind-the-scenes photo gallery…and the video link on YouTube.

NOTE:  Please click the “YouTube” icon in the lower right corner of the player to “Watch on YouTube”… so we can keep those views rolling like the James River…and help the video go viral…Scottsville and beyond!

Enjoy…and thanks to everyone who helped make this happen!

Shop Local/Support Local

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http://www.ravensworthstudios.com

434.286.7200


Studio News and Recording Tips

>>Studio News<<

Lots of great projects recently completed, in progress, and scheduled!!  We’ve had some awesome folks come out to record.  We thank everyone who has helped along the way.  Please help us spread the word about our space and our services.  If you care to write a review about Ravensworth Studios, you can visit Yelp! and add your comments.

We also welcome THREE new members to our engineering team.  So happy to have these guys on board(s). Bios, info, and demo reels coming soon!

And don’t forget about our “Raven Rewards” program…earn some free studio time for yourself when your fellow musicians book our space.  Get in contact, and we’ll be happy to send out a customized .pdf flyer to help you promote the program.  Maybe you’ll end up cutting your next album for free!  :)

>>Recording Tips<<

Don’t ever pay to have your whole production done in a studio!

Take advantage of today’s technology!

Track your guitar and bass at home, and then re-amp at a studio.

Employ a pro studio space for what’s important…AWESOME SOUND!

Use their great mics, superb pre-amps and sound-treated rooms for your final tracks.

Record your drums and lead vocals in a studio, using their high-end microphones.

Create and use MIDI files…and then tap into the vast sound library at a studio.

Guitar and bass licks, back-ups, crazy late-night sounds or whatever else, can all be recorded from home, at your convenience.

Timing is everything…use preset beats, MIDI beats and/or a metronome.

Want to learn more about how to maximize your home studio recordings…and save some bucks?

How about a FREE class, loaded with tips and techniques?

Raven Training Seminar

Ravensworth Studios is now offering a series of free classes, specifically geared towards home studio musicians.

SIGN UP NOW for “Raven Training” Seminar: “Come Home and Record”

Rock Your Recordings – Tips to Achieve Your Best Home Studio Sounds

Next Session:

• Saturday, March 24th – 2:00pm to 5:00pm

• Lecture Presentation and Demo

• Class Size Limited to 10 Participants

• Free Event!

• RSVP to media@ravensworthstudios.com or through our facebook event.

Snow Day!

"Snowmageddon" Walk

Ravensworth Studios is NOT blanketed in snow…yet!  In fact,  Scottsville, Virginia has been enjoying a very mild winter season so far.  However, it’s snowing like crazy right now…expecting 3-5 inches!

Who can forget “Snowmageddon” of February 2010?  It was our first winter here…and we were sorely unprepared!  We had to trek about three miles in deep drifts to our neighbor’s house to share their woodstove after our power went out.  AND…our Honda got stuck in the middle of our long driveway, while trying to avoid a fallen tree!

How Not to Drive a Honda

 

We’re happy that the winter weather bypassed the studio yesterday, the date of our very first “Raven Training” seminar!  Next one is scheduled for March 24th…

Meanwhile, stay warm and be safe!

 

 

Come “home” and record with

Ravensworth Studios!

434.286.7200


New Year News

So much happening around Ravensworth Studios!  

Help is on the way!

SIGN UP NOW for our first “Raven Training” Seminar:  “Rock Your Recordings - Tips to Achieve Your Best Home Studio Sounds”

  • Saturday, February 18th – 2:00pm to 5:00pm
  • Lecture Presentation and Demo
  • Class Size Limited to 15 Participants
  • Free Event!
  • RSVP to media@ravensworthstudios.com
  • Or call 434.286.7200

Hype Science in the Studio

Download the latest tracks from Hype Science…recorded and mixed at Ravensworth Studios!  Share the love!

        • Available on facebook or download through iTunes
        • Some of the best electronica and percussion sounds we’ve heard!

Practice, Practice"

“Music Lesson Mondays” are in full swing!  A few time slots are still available…make it happen in 2012!

  • Guitar, Bass, Drums
  • Classes for Tweens, Teens, and Adults
  • Half-Hour Private Session for only $30!
  • Your First Lesson is Free
  • Currently Seeking an On-Site Piano Instructor
  • Call 434.286.7200

Finally, as a New Year’s incentive, we are launching “Raven Rewards”, a new referral program to earn FREE studio time!  For every paid booking you send to Ravensworth Studios, we will reward you with a designated number of hours to use towards any of your own projects!  Whether it’s tracking and mixing, lessons or classes, audio-post production, photo shoots, or video work…all of our services are eligible for the program.  To learn more details and to sign up, please call 434.286.7200 or email media@ravensworthstudios.com.

Thanks to all of our clients, good friends, and the music/film community for your support.  Looking forward to a great year!  Give a call and stop by for a visit.

Session Musicians…

Ravensworth Studios has an updated roster of Session Musicians.  We’re excited to offer some great talent for your next project!!  It’s been really inspiring to listen to these folks perform… and that’s why we’re always singing the praises of “the rich music mine that is Central Virginia”!  There is a true wealth of gifted and passionate musicians in this area, some of whom we’ve been lucky to meet.  From a brilliant, young group of jazz instrumentalists from UVa in Charlottesville with the sounds of flute/sax/harmony vox, upright bass, guitar, and jazz drums… to a 2nd year UVa student who has literally traveled around the world in pursuit of the instrument of his passion, the unique sounds of the Halo drum… to the local drummer and vocalist who has many album credits to his name and is the “go-to” guy for both live and recorded performances… to the amazing improvisational sounds of a violin, cello, or upright bass… to an awesome lineup of guitarists and bass players for rounding out your mix.

Can you hear strings harmonizing with your acoustic guitar and vocals??  Or the sweet sound of a flute solo?  How about a monster guitar riff??  Or some kick-ass live beats??  If you can’t provide it yourself, we can provide it for you!

We use seasoned professionals who can improv; as well as, sight-read.  They own the mad skills and versatility to cover many genres and can aid in your arrangement.  Ravensworth Studios can work with you to decide the right sound to enhance your project…and find that missing element you’ve been searching for!

“What is a Session Musician?”  Read about it here in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  And a great article on “Why Use a Session Musician” here.

If you’re interested in joining our flock of Session Musicians, please contact Ravensworth Studios to schedule an in-person appointment and audition.  For your audition, please prepare a 15-minute performance showcasing your instrument or vocals.  You are welcome to include a variety of musical styles, so long as the complete content does not run more than 15 minutes.  The audition process usually takes about an hour, exclusive of any set-up time, i.e. for a drum kit.  There is no fee to you for recording your audition.  NOTE:  We also ask that you give us a short bio (250 words or less) and a photo, which we may use for promotional purposes, along with a sample of your audio demo.

If our client requires additional instrumentation, vocals, or accompaniment, you may be contacted to be a part of the session or to come into the studio at a later date to overdub a track.  Per our recording contract, our client will negotiate with you directly about bill rates.  Unless otherwise arranged, we ask our clients to pay our Session Musicians upon completion of the session.  We will gladly help negotiate rates.

Please call Ravensworth Studios at 434.286.7200 for more information.  Also visit our studio on facebook for special events, industry links, recording updates, and photos.

Enjoy those last days of fall…and have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Best Regards,

Gregory and Elizabeth Schoenborn
Ravensworth Studios, Owners
434.286.7200
mailto:media@RavensworthStudios.com
http://www.RavensworthStudios.com
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Recording Retreat

Recording Session at Ravensworth Studios

What a perfect fall day in Central Virginia!  Rocked out another great, late-night session with Will Thomas, Trip Faulconer,…and “friends” (subject of another post)…three folks stayed over.  These guys have been here before…hopefully it’s okay to say that Ravensworth Studios is recording and mixing Will’s next CD…  Anyway, gourmet breakfast…aka “Grand Slam” with pancakes (!) served around 2am…some kind of goodness!  Had an 11am wake-up call with lots of coffee…and sausage and eggs and grits and toast and bagels, served with our neighbor’s “Juba’s Jammin’ Jellies” special peach jam, with rum and cinnamon.  Back to the boards and tracking more vocals.  Halloween candy (the good kind, i.e. Twix and Reese’s Cups) in a bowl in the Control Room.  Beef Stew has been in the crock pot all day.  It’s a beautiful sunset now, looking over the bluff towards the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Time to light up the bonfire and eat some dinner before tracking into the night…

Ravensworth Studios offers recording retreat packages.  Relax and record with us!

434.286.7200

email:  RavensworthStudios

http://www.RavensworthStudios.com

http://www.facebook.com/RavensworthStudio

http://www.RavensworthStudios.wordpress.com

Sunset at the Studio

Welcome!

Welcome to Ravensworth Studios, a professional audio recording retreat and video post-production facility in beautiful Central Virginia.  After nearly 18 months of blood, sweat, and swears…the doors are open!  Thanks to all who were a part of the process.  We are proud to have locally sourced the majority of our project and focused on the use of environmentally friendly materials.

The custom-designed studio is a newly built, totally separate 1.5 story structure.  The main level features a fully loaded Control Room, complete with a handcrafted Console Workstation, by KK Audio of Los Angeles.  The spacious Live Room, with vaulted cathedral ceilings, is home to a gorgeous baby grand piano.  Rounding out the main level are the primary and secondary Sound Isolation Rooms.  The primary ISO has dual monitors to mirror (or control) the main console…perfect for visual cues while tracking.  The second level Loft has view windows overlooking the Live Room, and is accessible by an outside staircase and deck through a separate entrance.  The Loft is a multi-purpose recording space that can easily accommodate a full drum kit or function as a production suite.

Steps away from the main facility, “Studio B” is a comfortable, multifunctional area with couch, TV, fridge, bathroom…and even a place to crash after a late-night session.  In-home lodging includes a private guest room and adjacent full bath.  Deluxe “B&B” retreat packages are available…including country breakfast buffet and gourmet dinner choices.

The west side of the property features fantastic sunset views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  A large, covered outdoor pavilion is the ideal spot for your wrap-up barbecue.  Surrounded by over 16 acres of lush woodlands and scenic bluffs, Ravensworth Studios also offers plenty of options for camping, bonfires, etc.

Owners of Ravensworth Studios, Gregory and Elizabeth Schoenborn bought this picturesque property in July 2009 as the perfect spot to design and build a “dream studio”, dedicated to not only supporting the music community of Central Virginia, but also capable of producing top-notch audio recordings and providing HD film and video post-production services.  With the recent upgrade to a new generation Panasonic HPX-170P video camera, using P2 memory card technology, Ravensworth Studios can also film and edit your next event or project.

Only five miles from the historic town of Scottsville, Virginia, famous for its location on the Horseshoe Bend of the James River (and just 20 miles from downtown Charlottesville), Ravensworth Studios offers a unique multi-media environment in a tranquil setting, enhanced by gracious hospitality.  Be prepared to be pampered…and let your creative juices flow!

434.286.7200

media@ravensworthstudios.com

http://www.ravensworthstudios.com

http://www.facebook.com/ravensworthstudio

Record your Passion.  Transform your Vision.  Document your Life.