True Systems Audio Products

Recording engineer Marc Fuller, Grammy-nominated for Kanye West’s "College Dropout" in 2005, upgrades his studio with TRUE Systems Precision 8 mic pre.

ARGYLE, NEW YORK: Recording engineer Marc Fuller, owner of Edie Road Studios, enjoyed his moment in the limelight earlier this year when he received a Grammy nomination for a track that he recorded for producer-turned-artist Kanye West's multi-platinum debut, "College Dropout." Now Fuller is parlaying that exposure into an equipment upgrade at the studio with the installation of a TRUE Systems Precision 8 transformerless, eight-channel microphone preamplifier.

"It's very transparent sounding and very accurate," says Fuller. "It's an excellent piece of equipment." Having used it on a drum tracking session, he's eager to try it out on other instruments, he says. "I want to run bass through it, and vocals. I'll get to that. First, I'm taking it to a very large church to do a mobile recording of a very nice concert Steinway and a pipe organ. The Precision 8 is the only mic pre that I'm taking to do the recording."

Situated in the foothills of the Adirondacks in upstate New York, Edie Road Studios - formerly known as Sweetfish Studios - was designed by the Walters-Storyk Design Group. The studio, previously owned by Rees Shad, and originally home to the Sweetfish Records label, has produced records by a diverse client list that includes Mavis Staples and Mercury Rev.

The Grammy nod came about as the result of a longstanding relationship with the Boys Choir of Harlem, who performed on West's album, Fuller explains. "They do a big outdoor concert every year nearby at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and Skidmore College puts them up. Years ago, by chance, they had to do a recording session quickly. I'm the only studio in the area that can house 26 kids. We worked really well together, and they just kept coming back."

Back in 2002, Fuller continues, he got a phone call from West, who booked the studio to record the boys for his album project while they were in the area. "He came up with guide tracks in Pro Tools and flew them into my rig, then recorded choir parts on a bunch of different songs. A lot of the songs changed later, but he used everything we did in the studio on 'Two Words.'"

On some projects, notes Fuller, "If you have a small role on an album you can get left out, but he gave me a tremendous credit - I got a credit and the studio got a credit. He hooked me up!" As a result, Fuller received a Grammy certificate and medallion for his contribution to a nominated Album of the Year. West's "College Dropout" received a total of ten nominations for the 2004 Grammy Awards.

The Precision 8 is designed and built by Sunrise Engineering, a design and build manufacturer located in Tucson, Arizona. Neumann distributes TRUE Systems in the U.S.

Neumann's award-winning line of microphones has set the standard in the industry since 1928. In 1999, Neumann received the prestigious Technical Grammy(r) for their 70 years of innovation in microphone design and contribution to the music industry. A continuing commitment to provide innovative, technically refined products and engineering solutions of proven quality ensures that Neumann's stature will remain unassailable. Neumann USA is owned and distributed in the U.S. and Latin America by Sennheiser Electronic Corporation based in Old Lyme, Connecticut.