Rancho Recordo
recording studio and creative space in the woods of Michigan
rancho m (plural ranchos) (Portugese)
1. a type of simple, austere rural dwelling
2. a group of people doing something together
recordo m (plural recordos) (Galacian)
1. stored record in one’s memory
2. item of sentimental value, to remember an event or location
"Also: your studio is like a magical treehouse in an alternate dimension, so like, great job on that.”
- Jenny Owen Youngs
The People
Recordist / Producer / Mixer / Musician
Recordist / Producer / Mixer / Tech
Adam Mercer
Film composer / Arranger / Musician
Billy Pettinger (Billy The Kid)
Songwriter / Musician / Producer
Session musician / Producer
Video / Photography
Dan Tittiger
Construction / Technologist / Robot Builder
The Space
Rancho Recordo has been active in its' current form since 2008,
The studio is constructed on a radiant heated, isolated slab floor with acoustically treated rooms
22'x24'+ tracking room with 16’ ceilings and 14'x23' control room
Individual headphone mixes
Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 immersive mixing system
post-production / audio for video
production music / film scoring
six bunk lodging area on site
video cameras & lighting available to document the recording process
local session musicians, gear techs, video crew & catering available
restaurants and retail within a short drive
The Gear
We have an inspiring assortment of musical instruments and recording equipment, including:
vintage AMEK 2500 console
outboard by Kush Audio, AudioScape, Daking, CAPI,
UA, Empirical Labs, DBX, Stam and more.
A large selection of guitars & basses by Nash, Fender, Gibson, Micro-Frets, Musicman, etc
Vintage and modern amps & cabs by Fender, Marshall, Bad Cat, Supro, Orange, Airline, Ampeg, Vox, Dr Z, & Sovtek.
Fender Rhodes • Hammond M3 • Yamaha CP80 • Hamilton upright piano • Arturia analog synths
DW, Rogers, Pearl, Tama, Ludwig, SJC, Yamaha, Sonor, Gretsch, and Slingerland drums
Full Gear List
Console
Amek 2500 24x24
SSL Big SIx
Outboard
AudioScape V Comp +
AudioScape D Comp
Phoenix Audio DRS-8 MkII (x3)
AEA RPQ500 (x4)
CAPI VP25 (x2)
CAPI VP26 (x2)
Daking MicPre500 (x2)
Daking Comp500
Daking EQ500
Daking Mic Pre One (x2)
Daking Fet III compressor
Rupert Neve Designs 511 Mic Pre
Kusk Audio UBK
Kush Audio Tweaker
Standard Audio Level-Or
Stam Audio SA-76ADG
Stam Audio 1073-5 (x2)
Universal Audio M610 pre (x2)
Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor (x2)
Empirical Labs Deresser (x2)
DBX 165 (x2)
DBX 165a (x2)
DBX 160a (x2)
DBX 160vu (x2)
Ocean Audio EQ1 (x4)
SPL Transient Desginer TD4
FMR Audio RNLA500 (x2)
Electrix Filter Factory
Electrix Warp Factory
Electrix MoFx
Klark Teknik Third Dimension
Line6 EchoPro
Arturia 8Pre
Monitoring
Atomic SixTen
Neumann KH120A (7.1.4 / Dolby Atmos)
Neumann KH750 Sub (x2)
JBL 4412
JBL 4408
Yamaha NS10
KRK VXT6
KRK V12 Sub
Mackie HR824
Aurotone 5c
SPL Volume 8
McOne passive monitor controller
Presonus Central Station
Software & Conversion
Pro Tools 2023
Arturia V Collection 9
Native Instruments Komplete Ultimate
Vienna Ensemble Pro
Presonus Studio One 5
Logic Pro
Mac Studio Max
MacBook Pro M1
Antelope Audio Orion 32+
RME UFX Plus
Control
Avid S1 (x2)
Avid Dock
RME ARC
Coffee Creation:
Nespresso Citiz
Ninja CFN601
French Press
AeroPress
Video / Photo
Nikon D3300 (x3)
Atem Mini Pro ISO Switcher
Final Cut Pro
Mics
Ribbon:
Royer 121
Royer R10
AEA R92 (x2)
AEA R88
AEA R84
Audio Technica 4080
Beyer M260DX (Sank modded)
Condenser:
Vanguard V44s Stereo
Audio Technica 4051 (x2)
Audio Technica 4050
Audio Technica 4047
Sage BovaBall
Oktava MK-012 (Michael Joly Mod) (x2)
Oktava MK-012 (x2)
Oktava MK219
AKG C414-XLS
Stam Audio Fet47
Blue Dragonfly (x2)
Blue Dragonfly Deluxe
Blue Blueberry
Blue Mouse
Avenson STO-2 (x2)
Groove Tubes 5SC
Earthworks M30
ElectroVoice Cardinal
Shure SM91
Shure Beta91
Shure SM98
Sennhesier e914 (x2)
Shure KSM137
Audio Technica Pro45
Audio Technica Pro44 (x2)
Audio Technica AT825
Tube:
Telefunken "Copperhead" TF39
Telefunken TF47
AKG C12 VR
Cascade V66 (x2)
Dynamic:
Sennheiser 441
Sennheiser 421 (x6)
Beyer M201 (x2)
Beyer M101
Beyer M88TG
Revox 3000
AKG D12E
ElectroVoice PL20
ElectroVoice PL10
ElectroVoice 635A (x3)
Shure sm57 (x8)
Shure SM58 (x4)
Shure 517SB (x2)
Shure SM7
Shure Beta52 (x2)
Sennheiser e902
Sennheiser e903 (x2)
Sennheiser e904 (x4)
Sennheiser e906 (x3)
Sennheiser e935 (x6)
Sennheiser e835 (x4)
Shure 520dx Green Bullet
Hohner Blues Blaster
Dukane 7A160
Audio Technica ATM25
AKG D130
Misc:
Solomon LoFreq
JB Custom 8" tom subkick
Custom 10" subkick
Zeppelin Cortado III
DIs
Avalon U5
Acme Audio Motown DI
Sansamp RBM
Sansamp Paradriver
Sansamp Bassdriver
MXR Bass DI +
Ampeg SCR DI
Radial J48 (x2)
Radial JDV 500 (x2)
Radial JDV Mk V (x2)
Radial SB-1 (x2)
Radial SB-2
Radial SB-4
Drum Kits
DW Classic Series 12 / 16 / 24
60s Rogers Holiday 12 / 16 / 22
60s Ludwig - 12 / 13 / 14 / 16 / 18 / 24x16
Gretsch 12 / 16 / 20
70s Tama Superstar Birch - 12 / 14 /16 / 18 / 22x16
Ludwig VistaLite 13 / 16 / 24
Additional Drums
Slingerland Kick 24x18
Sonor Kick 24x16
1930s Leedy Spartan Kick 28x14
70s Tama Superstar Birch Toms - 13 / 16
Snares
1960s Rogers Holiday 14
Pearl Chad Smith 14
Pearl Free Floating Brass 14x8
Pearl Eric Singer Maple 14x6
Tama SLP Bubinga 14x6
1960s Ludwig Duco 14x5
SJC 14x6
Legend 14x5
Tama Superstar Birch 14x8
Ludwig 14x10 marching
Ludwig 14x5 Black Beauty brass
Ludwig 14x6 brass
Ludwig 14x5 Acrolite aluminum
Pearl 14x6.5 Steve Ferrone
DW 14x5 Maple
Detroit Custom steam-bent 14x5 Maple
Cymbals
Zildjian:
14" K Mastersound hats
15" K Dark crash
16" K Custom Dark crash
17" A Custom crash
19" A Custom Projection crash (x2)
19" A Custom Medium crash
18" A vintage crash (x2)
19" A vintage rivet ride
21" A Sweet ride
22" A Medium ride
Sabian:
14" AA Light hats
14" HH Dark hats
18" HH Medium crash
18" B8 crash ride
22" Paragon ride
22" HHX Groove ride
22" HHX Legacy Heavy ride
22" AA Medium Ride
Keyboards / Synths / Samplers
Hammond M3 organ
Rhodes 73
Yamaha CP80 electric grand
Farfisa Compact Combo organ
Hamilton upright piano
Expressive E Osmose
Arturia MatrixBrute analog synth
Arturia PolyBrute analog polysynth
Arturia Drumbrute analog drum machine
Isla S2400 sampling drum machine
Native Instruments S88 MkIII
Multivox MX30
Korg Microkorg XL
Korg Monotron
Korg Duotron
Stradella accordian
Story and Clark Pump Organ
Kurzweil PC88
Eurorack FX
Arturia RackBrute
Strymon Starlab
Strymon Magneto
Erica Synths Black Hole DSP2
Erica Dual Drive
Cal Synths Typhoon
Intellijel SpringRayII
Intellijel Morgasmatron
Guitars
1970s Micro-Frets Signature
1970s Micro-Frets Swinger
Godin 5th Ave CW Kingpin II
Moses Graphite custom telecaster
MJT / Allparts custom Telecaster w/p90s+Bigsby
Allparts custom Nashville-Tuned Tele
Fender USA telecaster
Gibson Les Paul Studio
1963 Danelectro Convertible short scale
2007 Gibson Les Paul Standard p90
1978 Gibson L6S
1993 Gibson SG
Fender Squier Baritone
G&L USA Legacy Special
1970s Renaissance Acrylic
Epiphone Sheraton Japan
1970s Epiphone Crestwood
1971 Harmony Rocket
Taylor AD12e-SB acoustic
Wechter Nashville Tuned / High Strung Parlor acoustic
Recording King acoustic
Alvarez acoustic
Yamaha FG312 12 string acoustic
Basses
Nash PB63
1969 Gibson Les Paul Recording
Fender / MJT USA Precision PJ
Fender USA Jazz
Fender / Status Graphite Precision
Kubicki / Fender Fretless Jazz
1970s Microfrets Signature
Zon Sonus 4
Zon Sonus 4 fretless
1978 Music Man Stingray 4
Univox "Rickenbacher"
Shen upright bass
Guitar Amps
1973 Orange OR-120
1978 Marshall JMP 100 watt
Bad Cat Lynx 50
Vox AC30CCH
Supro BlackMagick 1696RTH
1960s Fender Showman
Orange Rocker 30
1960s Ampeg B-12x Fliptop
1960s Airline 1x8 combo
1960s Airline 1x10 combo
Dr Z Route 66
Sovtek Midget 50
Lab Series L5 2x12 combo
Peavey Classic 30 1x12 combo
Fender Pro Junior III
Guitar Cabs
BadCat S412
Badcat 2x12
Sonic / Weber 4x12
Hiwatt 4x12
Vox 2x12
Vintone 2x12
Dr Z 2x12
Leslie 825
Vox 110NT
Line6 1x12
Bass Amps
1962 Ampeg B15N
1969 Ampeg B15N
Ampeg V4B
Ampeg SVT6
Bass Cabs
Ampeg SVT-112 AV
Ampeg SVT -212 AV (x2)
Ampeg 8x10
Guitar & Bass FX
Akai Custom Shop Analog Delay
Adineko Tel-Ray oil can delay
Boss TR-2 Tremolo
Boss OC-2 Octave
Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive
Boss OD-1 Overdrive
Boss ODB-3 Bass Overdrive
Boss MT-2 MetalZone
Boss SYB-3 Bass Synth
Boss GE-7 Equalizer
Boss CS-3 Compressor Sustainer
Boss PH-1r Phaser
Bowman Audio Endeavors Fortune & Glory
Bowman Audio Endeavors BAE
Blackstone Appliances Mosfet Overdrive
Caroline Meteore
Caroline KiloByte
Caroline Wave Cannon II
Caroline Haymaker
Caroline Somersault
Ceriatone Centura Overdrive
DanElectro DanEcho DE-1
Danelectro Reel Echo
Danelectro FabTone
Darkglass Duality
Digitech Whammy
Digitech Synth Wah
Digitech HyperPhase
Digitech DigiVerb
Digitech Bad Monkey
Digitech X Multi Chorus
DOD Carcosa Fuzz
DOD FX-75B Chorus
DOD FX25 Envelope Filter
Dunlop RotoVibe
Earthquaker Plumes
eBow
Electro Harmonix Attack Decay
Electro Harmonix Voicebox
Electro Harmonix Holy Grail (x2)
Electro Harmonix PolyChorus (x2)
Electro Harmonix Small Stone (x2)
Electro Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress
Electro Harmonix Bass Balls (x2)
Electro Harmonix Doctor Q
Electro Harmonix Bass MicroSynth (x2)
Electro Harmonix Deluxe Bass Big Muff
Electro Harmonix Clone Theory
Electro Harmonix Super Ego
Electro Harmonix Frequency Analyzer ring mod
Electro Harmonix Metal Muff
Electro Harmonix Platform compressor
Electro Harmonix Soul Food
Electro Harmonix Bass Soul Food
Fender tube spring reverb (x2)
FMR Audio ARC
Fulltone Bass Drive
Fulltone Ultimate Octave
Fulltone Full Drive 2
Fulltone OctaFuzz
Fulltone OCD
Fulltone Tube Tape Echo
Heil Talkbox
Hughes & Kettner Tubeman
Ibanez Sonic Distortion SD9
Ibanez ES2 Echo Shifter
Keeley 4 knob Compressor
Keeley Bass Compressor
Klon KTR
Klones By Tone Klon Clone
Line6 Verbzilla
Line6 Echo Park
Line6 DL4 (x2)
Line6 MM4
Line 6 Bass Pod
Moog Murf
MXR Bass Fuzz Deluxe
MXR Bass Overdrive
MXR Phase 90
MXR MicroAmp
MXR Stereo Chorus
MXR Reverb
Palmer PGA-04 speaker sim (x3)
Prescription Electronics Depth Charge
Radial JD7 Splitter
Radial ToneBone Switcher
Realistic Electronic Reverb
Recovery Effect Motormatic
Roland Space Echo RE-201
Third Man TripleGraph
TomKat Day Dreamer
Ultraviolet Fuzzy
Walrus Luminary
WayHuge Swollen Pickle
WMD Geiger Counter
Xotic Effects BB Preamp
ZVex SHO
ZVex Probe