Prospectus

Issue date: 2/3/10 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: Courtesy of Pogo Studio

In downtown Champaign, a solid red door hides one of the most musically glorious treasures that this town has to offer. Unbeknownst to passer bys, this door opens up to Mark Rubel's recording studio, titled Pogo Studios, after a pet dog he had. Hiding behind this door is also a vast collection of mind blowing musical history. When I first walked through this red gateway I felt as though I were walking into my own personal Narnia. It took all the control that I had to not run around like a child in a candy shop and explore each item. Every object intrigued me, as did the producer and sound engineer himself. After about a minute in Pogo Studios, it became apparent to me that I had entered something special, and Mark, the mastermind behind it all, needed to be featured in my column. I was lucky enough to sit down with Mark and get to know a little more about the history behind his studio as well as a few of his opinions on how sound recording is changing and growing.

As I entered the familiar building through the red gateway, I wondered how many people had no idea that this studio existed, and then, how many great musicians have made the same journey through the doors with the excitement of recording on their mind? As always, Mark was warm and welcoming, excited to talk about his craft, which had started in 1980. When asking him how his interest in recording began, he said it was when he first stepped into a recording studio. This experience was his ray of light coming down and angels singing. It was the moment he seemingly fell in love with producing. Just being in a studio with a microphone and it recording so clearly, to the point that he could hear the clothing rustle, sparked an intense interest in the craft. It was more than his love of music that created this place that I now sit in, as Mark also has a passion for technology and tinkering with electronics. Using this passion and love, he created a recording studio with several other individuals for the service of music.

When asked about his first recording, Mark smiled as he recalled his eight-year-old self, messing around with a portable recorder or as he called it, random experimentation. Little did he know then that by the time he reached his twenties he would be part owner of a minimal commercial studio in a 100 year old house located in Urbana, Illinois. And although it was not located in an ideal location, as they had to work with commonly passing trains interrupting their sessions, this small studio became the start of Mark's creative endeavor. They did what they could with what they had and held the motivation to achieve their producing and recording dreams. This motivation to start and run a recording studio came from surrounding himself with the right people, who wanted to create something together, making it a rewarding team effort. Visibly rewarding too, as I interview him, I look around the room to see the product of a minimal start and tons of hard work and passion, rooms now full with endless gadgets, technological equipment and what seems like a never ending sea of musical instruments.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools