Recently, we have been very busy with video and film work at THUMP.

Working with video friends, Agon Creative, we wrote, recorded, and edited the music and sound design for Related Luxury Development commercial spot.

We have also been busy with film post production, including ADR for Rugged Beauty Picture’s “Happy Birthday Rita”, editing and mixing for David Brooks’ short “Favor”, and editing and mixing for Steven Tanebaum’s “PRE”.

Over at THUMP we are finishing up work on the Friends Academy new EP and couldn’t be more excited. These guys put in a ton of work, dedication, and love into these songs and we think it shows.

THUMP Credits include:

Drums: Richard Levengood
Tracking: Richard Levengood, Coleman Wenner
Editing, Mixing: Richard Levengood
Final Mix/Mastering: Stephen Schappler

As you can see, this was truly a THUMP team project.

Check out one of the songs, Windfall, in the audio section at the top of the page.

Here is a picture of darlin’ Andrew Bishop, Friends Academy, holding my new born Neumann U48.

I just wanted to take a moment and say that this is a huge moment for myself and the studio. I never thought to acquire such a great mic so early on for THUMP. The U48 is identical to the U47 minus two differences. The U48 has an altered power supply so that it can crank out figure of eight as well as cardioid, while the U47 offers cardioid and omni. The U48 also has slightly more noise (1.6db roughly) but since this mic has a refurbished modern BLUE power supply this particular model does not suffer from an inferior s/n ratio. Conclusion - this mic is da’bomb

Some other notes:

Friends Academy has been working with me since around mid october. Its been a delightful experience working with a group of people who actually want to take the time in order to tweak tweak tweak until 100% satisfaction. Keep an ear out as we are nearing completion of the first six tracks. (I hope they decide to do a few more and make this a full length in the months to come)

Zach Hurd has also been a regular over at THUMP and I must say this boy can sing and is an absolute pleasure to work with. I’m really excited to hear his next set of tracks completed.

THUMP has acquired quite a few new toys over the last 10 weeks or so. There will be some pictures updated to the studio section of the website. I wanted to take a moment to call attention to my favorite addition, the all original Roland Space Echo RE-201. This tape echo is beautiful and in full working condition.

THUMP has also purchased:

Universal Audio 610
Peavey Delta Blues
Deluxe Reverb Reissue
Tape Op Ribbon Mics (2)
Big Muff
Pro Co Rat
Boss TU-2 Tuner

THUMP is now on myspace, so head on over and join our digital friends brigade.

http://www.myspace.com/thumpstudios

Microphones

• Neumann U48 (1)
• Custom Neumann U47 Clone (1)
• BLUE Mouse (1)
• Royer 121 (1)
• Coles 4038 (2)
• Schoeps MK4 Cardiod (2)
• AKG C414 (2)
• Sennheiser MD421 (3)
• Shure beta 98 (2)
• Shure SM81 (3)
• Shure Beta52 (1)
• Audix D6 (1)
• Shure SM57 (5)
• Tape Deck Recording

Console

• Toft ATB 16 channel console

Monitoring

• Genelec 1030a
• Sony MD7506
• Sony MDR V600

Interface

• Pro tools HD2 accel (16 channel I/O)
• Digi SYNC HD
• Command 8
• Digi 002 (1)

Computers

• Mac Pro Tower (4GB RAM)
• iMac 24’’ Intel Core 2 Duo (2GB RAM)
• Samsung 22’’ displays (3)
• Plugins:
• Waves Gold Bundle
• TL Space Convolution Reverb
• Melodyne Studio 3
• Izotope Restoration Pack
• Native Instruments
• SoundFX library

Talkback/Hearback

• Personalized Headphone Cue Mixer(2)
• Computer Display for client’s use

Outboard Compression

• Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor (2ch)
• Empirical Labs EL Fatso (2ch)
• LA2A (3ch)
• Urei 1176 (2ch)
• SSL Stereo Bus Compressor (2ch)
• Drawmer DL241 (2ch)
• Pico 500series Compressor (8ch)
• Api 525 500 series Compressor (2ch)
• Purple Audio MC77 (1ch)

Outboard EQ

• Pultec EQP1A (2ch)
• Pultec EQP1A Coya Costa Revision (1ch)
• Custom Pultec (2ch)
• Sontec Mastering Parametric EQ (2ch)

Outboard Effects

• Original Roland Space Echo RE201
• Lexicon MPX550

Outboard Preamps

• Fearn VT-1
• Neve 1290 (2ch)
• Chandler Germanium (3ch)
• Universal Audio Solo 610
• Focusrite RED8 (2ch)
• Green Pre (4ch)
• JLM Audio Baby Animal (4ch)
• Gyraf Audio G9 tube preamp (2ch)

Film Production

• Sound Devices 702T Field Recorder
• Sound Devices 442 Field Mixer
• Lemo-5 connection for Syncing Audio
• Tascam DA-P1 DAT Machine
• Sennheiser MKH 416 shotgun w/ Accessories
• Sennheiser G2 Series Lavalier (3)

Pianos/Synth

• Fender Rhodes Mark2 (76 key)
• Yamaha Motif 88 (88 key)
• Hammond XK2
• Moog Opus 3
• Roland SH101
• Italian Spaghetti Western Organ

Guitars

• Gibson Les Paul Custom
• Taylor 412 CE acoustic
• Fender Telecaster American
• Fender Stratocaster American
• Fender Baritone Bass VI
• Washburn Mandolin

Guitar Amps

• Orange Rocker 30
• BadCat lil’ 15
• Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue
• Peavey Classic 50 and cab 4×10 – custom
• Peavey Delta Blues Combo 1×15
• Fender Bassman Blackface series
• Ampeg Ba-115 Bass Cabinet

Guitar Effects

• Electro Harmonix Hog
• Electro Harmonix Holy Stain
• Electro Harmonix Big Muff
• Electro Harmonix Micro Bass Synth
• Ibanez AD-9 Keeley Modded
• Pro Co Rat
• Line6 DL4 Delay
• Roland GP-8
• SansAmp Bass Driver DI
• Boss Hi-Band Flanger HF-2
• Boss Bass Equalizer GEB-7
• Boss Tuner TU-2 Tuner

Drums

• Pearl Session Custom 5 piece
• Gretsch 4 piece
• A plethora of Zildjan cymbals

Music Production

• Multitrack
• Mixing
• Mastering
• Composition
• Musicians for Hire
• Gear Rental

Audio Production

• ADR
• Foley
• Sound Design
• Field Recording

Richard didn’t build a studio because he wanted to make your record. Richard built a studio because he wanted to make his own record, all the time. Extensive time in bands yielded an early appreciation for the quality of a recording, and an education rooted in electrical engineering lead to a supreme understanding of what it takes to achieve it. Richard buys and builds gear at a rate that would do a modernized John Henry proud, and has equipped his studio with enough audio toys to do any job, for anyone, and he is more than willing to prove it to you.

Richard says “I own”

Born into a house of music in Richmond, Virginia, he couldn’t have been just a fan. Built from the blues, raised on rock, into the heavy, high on the lows. Cole now lives somewhere between 4 and 16 Db of classless compression. Someday soon, very soon, he will make your record.

Cole says “Moderation kills the spirit!”

Stephen grew up playing classical music and touring with indie rock bands until one day he decided to make records on his own. After studying music and production at Indiana University and working with the best at Electric Lady and Dubway Studios, he has stepped out to pioneer new sounds and rock new worlds.

Stephen says “I create”