I bought my first ADAT machine back in the early 90’s and set up a makeshift studio in my basement. Having just finished my studies at the Hartford Conservatory with Dave Santoro, I was busy teaching and playing and would record just for myself, my friends and very occasionally some other people I wanted to work with. I taught at The National Guitar Workshop, wrote 3 bass books for Alfred Publishing, played on a bunch of session work, and released 3 solo albums.

Over the years I upgraded from the ADATs and the MIDI reverb to Pro Tools and a bunch of great gear you can check out here. In 2013, I decided the time was right to come out of the basement and build a real studio, so I enlisted my carpenter brother and we went to work designing the space I had always wanted. When all was said and done, we now had the most important ingredient to a good recording - the room.

I worked with artists from all over New England helping them materialize their projects, all while tinkering and experimenting to get the best possible sound out of everything I owned. It was around this time I got a call from someone looking for a place to record their first album named Julia Autumn Ford. Little did I know this would spark a decade long friendship and musical partnership that coalesced into the national touring act Belle of the Fall. When we weren’t on the road, Julia started expanding the studio’s video and photo capabilities and undeniably helped shape the “one stop shop” attitude we have become known for. Check out our “Live at On Deck” series to see some artists we have hosted.

After the pandemic, I settled into a booking schedule that really allowed for me to “zoom in” with the artist. It was like I was back in the basement, taking the extra few minutes to get the sound just right or sitting down and reworking a whole idea. This new slow roast tactic proved to be very impactful on new records, and has since become an essential part of my procedure.

In 2023 I hired an intern named Eddie Dahill, who called me one summer afternoon looking for a foot in the door of a passion he had. After a year of hard work and intimidating side quests, I hired him as our studio assistant based on the fact that he will always say yes - even if he doesn’t really know how to do it. With the intern space now void, I was able to welcome a very talented songwriter named Sam Plourd to our team. I met Sam the same way I met Julia when she called about recording a few songs she had one summer. Our team’s laid back and welcoming nature will be on full display whenever you’re here, and watch out for our studio cat Beans who may be looking to jump on your shoulders.

I have had the great pleasure of working on so many amazing albums over the years. We have really dialed in the sound and created an A-team of players called “The Decking Crew” that have added to the overall sound and vibe of the studio. On any given day you will find Glen Nelson here tracking an organ part, Andy Stack and Rich Hinman laying down some killer guitar, Steve Peck crushing a drum track, Ben Dean, Pete Adams, Jeff Chen, etc. I am blessed with some extremely talented friends.

We look forward to helping you make your next masterpiece!

Tracy Walton