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James McLaughlin
Recording Engineer. Producer. Drummer.
I began recording music in Charlottesville, VA in late 2001 after learning from the pros in London. I love this town. I'm especially grateful for both the diversity and unique generosity of spirit that resides within the music and arts community here in this beautiful place. Also, Fuck Nazis.
Mountainside is situated within an old forest, located in Central Virginia just minutes from downtown Charlottesville and the University of Virginia. It was designed by renowned acoustic architect John H Brandt, and I personally built the tracking and control rooms to his exacting, world class specifications.
The result is a highly creative, relaxed, and inspiring space for professional audio and video production. Built not just for myself, my intent is to provide a quality location to help elevate artists, producers, voice actors, and other creatives based both here in Central Virginia - from across the country - and across the world. This is a recording studio of the finest quality.
Credits | Audio Books
The Coal Miner's Daughter by Loretta Lynn | NY Times Bestseller
Narrated by Sissy Spacek for Penguin Random House
Sparring Partners by John Grisham | NY Times Bestseller
Introduction Recorded by John Grisham for Random House
Thrill of the Hunt by Rita Mae Brown | NY Times Bestseller
Narrated by Rita Mae Brown for Recorded Books
Heroes Proved by Oliver North | NY Times Bestseller
American Heroes by Oliver North | NY Times Bestseller
for Simon and Schuster
Commercials and Voiceover Production
National Radio and TV Ads for Coca Cola | United Healthcare
Client list includes Apple | Amazon |Google |Square | Freakonomics Radio | Pushkin Industries | The Atlantic | Audible | 160over90 | UVA | Windy Films | Catchfire |Mountain High Media
Engineering |Mixing |Producing |Drumming
Over 20 years experience. Too many to list but inquire within.
Experience
Mountainside.
GEAR
Universal Audio Apollo x8 + Apollo Twin X
Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Luna
Apple Silicon M1 Mac Based Recording System
Analog
Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5024 (4 Channel)
(2) Universal Audio 4-710d (w/1176 comps x8 channels)
Revive Audio M12 mk2 (API 312 Style Preamp x4) (Cinemag x4)
Revive Audio Modded Warm Audio WA-412 (Cinemag x4)
Universal Audio Unison Preamps (x6)
Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5033 EQ (Pair)
Revive Audio Modded ART PRO-VLA2 Compressor (x4 channels)
Revive Audio Modded EQP-KT (pair) (Genalex Gold Lion Tubes)(EQP-1A)
Aphex 204 Exciter (2 Channels) (Thanks Ryan Hewitt)
dbx 160x (pair)
dbx 160A
Midas Pro Preamps - M32R, MR18 rehearsal and live sound
Monitoring
Adam Audio a77x monitors (soffit mounted)
Yamaha NS-10M (originals) (Hafler P3000 Amp)
KRK VXT4 with 10S Sub in Lounge
Solid State Logic UF8 Controller
Headphones
Behringer Powerplay 16 Monitoring System
Audio Technica ATH-M40x (x4)
AKG K553 MKII (x2)
Grado PS-500
6 pairs "other decent" headphones
Drum Kits and Percussion
DW 2004 Collectors Series Drum Kit (10", 12", 16", 20" kick w/lift)
Ludwig 1971 Jazz Fusion kit (12", 13", 16", 20" kick)
Gretsch 2012 Catalina Club kit (12", 14", 18" kick w/lift)
Ludwig Black Beauty Snare, Paiste 24" JR Robinson Deep Ride
Various Zildjian Cymbals, Percussion and Trash Sounds
Native Instruments Maschine Mikro
Big Fat Snare Drum Cheese Cloth, Snare Weight M1, M80
Piano and Keyboards
Kimball Grand Scale Upright (1894) (vibes)
Hammond M3 Organ, Tour Series Leslie 760 cabinet
Kurzweil SP3X Stage Piano (fully weighted keys)
Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S49 MK2
Korg MicroKorg Synth
Bass
Ampeg V4B Bass Amp with Cabinet
Tech21 SansAmp
Fender Mustang with flatwounds
1978 Gibson The Ripper
Quest Black Magic
Guitar
Fender Princeton Reverb Amp
Fender Blues Jr Amp
Fender Bronco Amp
Premier 90 Reverb Tank
2019 Fender Player Telecaster
Epiphone Coronet
Ovation Nylon String Acoustic Guitar
DI Boxes
Warm Audio WA-DI-A x4
Tech21 SansAmp
Radial Engineering SGI Guitar Interface
RadiaL Pro DI x5
Cloudlifter CL-2
DW
N
Mics
Neumann TLM 103
Neumann KM 184 Matched Pair
AKG C414
Warm Audio WA67 tube
Warm Audio WA251 tube
Warm Audio WA87 R2 Matched Pair
Warm Audio WA14
JZ Black Hole 2 Matched Pair
Stager SR2N Matched Pair (Coles)
Slate VMS-ML-1 Modeling LDC w/
Blackbird and Classic Tubes 3
Sennheiser 441 (x3)
Sennheiser 421 (x3)
*Michael Joly Mods:
*Rode NT1-A (87 vibes)
*Oktava MC 012 Matched Pair
*MXL Ribbon Mod
Rode NTK Tube
Warm Audio WA47 Jr Matched Pair
AKG C451
Heil PR-40
Rode NT4 stereo (x/y)
Blue Hummingbird
Sennheiser e 906
Electro-Voice 635A
AKG d112
Lewitt LCT140 Air Matched Pair
Shure Beta 52A
Shure Beta 58 Wireless (x2)
Shure SM58s (x4)
Blue Encore 100 (x4)
Shure SM57s (x4)
Sennheiser e 604 (x3)
Tascam TM-80
CAD Equitek E200 (oldie/goodie)
Audix F15 (x2)
Cloudlifter CL-2
Plugins
UA Heritage Bundle
Waves Horizon, Restoration, Saphira, NLS
Waves Abbey Road Suite, Various Producers Plugs
iZotope Music Production Suite 4
Native Instruments - Komplete Ultimate 12
Slate Digital VBC, VMR, VTM, Blackbird VMS, Trigger 2
PSP (full suite, Vintage Warmer)
Celemony - Melodyne
Soundtoys - EchoBoy, LIttle AlterBoy
FabFilter - Saturn
Oekound - Soothe2
Liquid Sonics - Seventh Heaven
Digital Transfer Service:
Alesis ADAT
Sony DAT
Cassette
TEAC Reel to Reel Tape Machine
Alesis Masterlink ML-9600
Vinyl
CD
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