Rupert Neve's Portico Modules Key to Blue Rock Studios Design Concept

A nineteenth century garrison near Austin has been reborn as Blue Rock Studios, a retreat and recording facility for selected producers specializing in Texas folk artists and music for film. Blue Rock’s integrated hybrid digital/analog control room combines sixteen Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5032 Mic Pre/EQ modules with a digital audio workstation and controller.

According to owner Billy Crockett, “Plus, we just like the Rupert Neve Designs team. Everybody over there is qualified, kind, and extremely diligent to deliver what they promise.”

As Crockett explains, the forthcoming summing mixer from Rupert Neve Designs is also key to his facility concept, which surrounds digital control and recording capabilities both physically and electronically with discrete analog components and the simple purity of Mr. Rupert Neve’s designs. “The restrictions of an old school console are clear enough now that we decided to go with the Digidesign ICON D-Command controller and Pro Tools|HD3, integrated with an analog, Rupert Neve-designed front and back end.”

A highly respected recording artist with nine albums already under his belt, Crockett observes, “In music production, simple elegance is what speaks to me, which is why I love the simplicity of the Portico modules. There are no soft knobs; they all do something dedicated and wonderful. Part of making music is decision-making and reducing options, selecting something wonderful and saying ‘no’ to everything else. Part of what I love about Rupert’s modules is the ability to say ‘yes’ to something great and not worry about the rest.”

Located on nearly 20 acres overlooking the Blanco River near Austin in the Texas Hill Country, Blue Rock Studios offers 4,000 sq. ft. of production space, including two large live rooms — one with a vaulted ceiling and large beams — constructed of native rock and woods. Architectural design was by Lou Kimball of Austin, with the control and iso rooms designed and built by Michael Cronin of Acoustic Construction, Nashville.

A total of 100 tie lines interconnect the recording spaces with the 32-input, 40-output Pro Tools system. Patching is available for alternative recorders such as RADAR and two-inch tape machines.

The facility, which will be a retreat not just for musical artists but also for those creating visual arts and the written word, will be available by invitation only. “We have an expanding circle of creative folks that will be invited to participate,” offers Crockett.

During the past two decades, Mr. Rupert Neve, revered for his vintage mixing console designs, put his audio design talents to work for a number of manufacturers under the ARN Consultants LLC moniker, including Amek, Legendary Audio Masterpiece Mastering, Summit Audio and Taylor Guitars. Now trading as Rupert Neve Designs, the company recently expanded its staff roster and moved into larger premises in Wimberley, TX to prepare for the increasing demand for products embodying the principles of very high musical quality that have become synonymous with Mr. Rupert Neve’s name over the years.

Media Contacts:
Steve Harvey
Media Medium
Tel: (323) 665-2455
Email: mediamed@pacbell.net 

Rupert Neve Designs
PO Box 1969
Wimberley, TX 78676
Tel: (512) 847-3013
Fax: (512) 847-8869