Citizen Studios – A Celebration of Analog Craftsmanship
- March 14, 2023 -
Citizen Studios is a professional recording studio, and the creative hub of Citizen Vinyl. It is located in the historic WWNC radio station studio in the Citizen Times building in downtown Asheville.
A timeless space for classic and modern sounds, the historic studio space (built in 1939) consists of Studio A – a large control room and the former live performance room of the station, and Studio B – an acoustically stunning recording and multipurpose room featuring 17-foot tall ceilings and an inviting mid-century lounge. Studio B is ideal for tracking, remote broadcasts, video shoots, online performances, podcasts, masterclasses and catered private events and meetings.
Beyond the studio’s historic significance, it features iconic vintage and modern recording gear.
Perhaps the finest example of our celebration of vintage analog equipment – and its irreplaceable role in the ongoing creation of new music – is our deeply loved pair of vintage Neumann U67 tube mics.
Handcrafted in 1964 and featuring consecutive serial numbers, these special U67s bring an unmatchable richness, smoothness and depth to any recording, and on any instrument.
“If I could only use one microphone – just one mic – it would be a Neumann U67” – Al Schmitt (23 time Grammy award winning producer)
The U67 records incredibly for almost every instrument and vocal, from Sir Paul McCartney on “Hey Jude” to Nirvana’s Nevermind album.
Citizen Studios is also home to a Rupert Neve Designs 5088 console. It is the culmination of its namesake’s analog circuitry knowledge.
The 5088 incorporates and improves upon many of the same analog concepts that made Neve’s original 80 series consoles so revered: single-sided, fully discrete amplification, bespoke audio transformers on every single input and output, bulletproof build quality, and unparalleled headroom and dynamic range.
Rupert Neve (1926-2021) was a British-American electronics engineer and pioneer of analog audio recording technology. Of the 5088 he said, “The first time I actually heard music played through a 5088, I just … relaxed. A wave of satisfaction swept over me – I didn’t have to measure, I just listened and thought, ‘Boy, I think we’ve actually achieved it.’”
For a full list of audio gear and recordings made at Citizen Studios, please visit the studio webpage.
