STUDIOS
The most important equipment in a recording studio is the room. Studio acoustics in the live room and mixing room are paramount for a superior sound. What the engineer is perceiving and how the artists and musicians are listening within the room advises on song content and performance adjustments that may need to be made in order to yield the best results. The demands of an accurately designed recording room and listening environment become even more critical when the channel count rises.
Lonnies Farm is built from the ground up. All crucial sound acoustics, room dimensions and material compositions have been carefully chosen and factored in for quality. The entire building was completely gutted and painstakingly rebuilt. No detail has been overlooked in our efforts to produce one of the finest quality rooms constructed. The design and build process took over three years . The outside surrounding walls are two and a half feet thick. The control room front and back walls are five feet thick. We did not just add speakers to an existing room and hang consumer grade foam. We started from scratch with a meticulous plan and long-driven focus to accommodate a variety of music genres.
The main studio incorporates natural wood selected for musical resonances and diffusions that include Pine, Maple, Oak, Cedar and Bamboo. Two-hundred-forty gallons of noise proofing compounds are set between layers of masonry, sheetrock and natural wood to isolate sounds. Seven-thousand pounds of bass trapping is strategically and uniquely set throughout the walls, floors and ceilings to provide consistency to density and reflections. The ceiling incorporates tiered multilayered panels with our exclusive design floating wood lattice diffusers. All woods were hand selected, cut, shaped, and polished where needed before set on exacting angles.
The control room speakers are backed by fourteen inches of concrete masonry wall. The walls and ceiling are a combination of absorbent and reflective materials set in harmony to achieve a very direct presentation with outstanding imaging, localization and performance. All of these and many other factors are what separates Lonnie's Farm from an ordinary room.
We have been making records in the St Louis area since 1990. We have had multiple locations moving to our current address and starting construction July 2018. We completed Studio A in November 2021. We are currently working on Studio B which will include 24 tracks of tie lines to studio A.
The studio is equipped with professional quality tape machines, classic vacuum tube and solid state gear, top tier speaker systems and advanced modern digital equipment along with coveted and rare microphones known for their great tone throughout history. The custom 36 channel Rupert Neve 5088 recording console at the heart of the studio is the culmination of decades of vast analog circuitry knowledge incorporating unparalleled headroom and dynamic range. Featured formats include 8, 16 and 24 tracks on two inch tape along with modern multitrack Pro Tools and Logic Pro platforms.
The facility focuses on music and provides an artist friendly atmosphere of elevated quality in an inspiring and relaxed setting capturing vibe, excitement, heart, soul and the energy of music and songs.
The studio was founded by Don Bailey, a life-long musician, engineer, venue owner and promoter.
meet Don Bailey:
Don Bailey started playing music at age four after receiving a Sears Roebuck organ for Christmas. He played trombone in school from fourth grade through high school and starting taking guitar lessons at age ten. Don opened a recording studio in an abandoned train station in Millstadt, Illinois after graduating high-school and made records with hundreds of indie bands touring the states 1989-1997. The name of the studio was Bird Records located at 420 S Jackson. Don officially registered the recording studio in 1992. In 1997 he discovered a building for lease on East Main in Belleville, Illinois. He remodeled the place and opened the Three-1-Three Club, November 4th, 1997. Don moved into a second floor room across the street from the venue and lived without electricity, taking showers at the YMCA the first few years to keep the venue open. Don booked 2-3 original music acts every night, 7 nights a week. All genres. Don refused to allow cover bands on the stage. The venue turned to good success gaining National recognition in Billboard and various college music magazines. The venue hosted shows by bands such as the Verve Pipe, Old 97's, Fragile Porcelain Mice, Kim Lenz and Her Jaguars, Drive By Truckers, MTV, Hum, Matchbox Twenty, Sponge, and Bill Kirchen to name a few. During the days of three-1-three being opened Don also remodeled a building and opened a music lounge at 1216 Washington Ave in St Louis, Missouri in 2002. On August 23rd, 2006 Don closed the Three-1-Three Club a few months before its ten year anniversary. Don remained touring with The Bob Band and opened a food joint named EurOrleans Bistro in Millstadt, Illinois in late 2006. Don opened a small music club/diner named Locovores in 2009 on West Main Street in the Old Brewery District of Belleville, Illinois. Also in 2009, Don reopened his recording studio in Millstadt Illinois following many requests from bands asking him to engineer and mix their records. In 2013 Don opened Evangeline's Bistro and Music House at 512 North Euclid in the Central West End of St. Louis Missouri hosting live music nightly. In 2018 Don purchased the buildings 901, 907, 1001 & 1003 West Main Belleville Illinois and opened a multi-function recording facility. Don has toured the world with his own bands, engineered, produced and mixed records with bands around the world, engineered sound for clubs, arenas, designed multiple music venues and recording studios, and booked thousands of shows supporting independent and major label award winning artists.
Don Bailey
Owner and Founder: Evangeline's Bistro & Music House. 2013-present
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Musician: The Bob Band (St. Louis,MO/Millstadt,IL). 1994-present
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Owner & founder: Lonnie's Farm Recording Studio. 2016-present
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Former owner and founder: Three-1-Three Music Club. 1997-2006
Former owner and founder: EurOrleans Bistro. 2006-2013
Former owner and founder: Bird Records. 1989-1997
Musician: The Viduals. 1985-1989
RECORDERS
ANALOG TAPE MACHINES:
Sony/MCI 24 Track / 2" tape
Tascam 8516 16 Track
Otari MX5050lll 8 Track
Tascam MSR16 16 Track
Fostex 8 Track 1/4" tape.
Ampex AG440 2 track - 15/30ips with Lundahl transformers.
Mara Machines/MCI JH-110 2 Track
Tascam 122 MKIII cassette
DIGITAL MACHINES:
32 In / 32 out Apogee Symphony ThunderBridge.
Mac 3.3 Ghz / 8 core / 32G RAM.
Tascam DA-30.
M-Audio Mac Syncman.
STUDIO A
NEVE 5088 Console.
Custom 36 Channel.
672 Point Patch-bay.
STUDIO B
D&R ORION Console.
Custom 40 Channel.
540 Point Patch-bay.
Studio wired with Mogami Cable.
Mobile Recording Set-up:
Allen & Heath ML3000 48 Channel Console.
Modified Soundcraft 16 Channel Console.
Yamaha M508 mixer.
Allen & Heath 16 analog in /16 analog out Digital Recorder.
Mogami splitter snake
1- AEA R88 Stereo ribbon.
2- AKG C414.
2- AKG C451 E + CK1 capsules.
1- AKG D12 (vintage 1960’s).
1- AKG D-112.
1- American B204 Dynamic.
2- Ampex 1101 Dynamic.
1- Astatic 335H Dynamic..
2- Audio Technica AT4051.
2- Audio Technica AT4033.
1- Audio Technica ATM25.
3- Audio Technica MB-5k.
1- Audio Technica MB-6k.
1- Audio Technica U855QL.
2- Beyerdynamic M160 ribbon.
2- Beyerdynamic M201.
1- Beyerdynamic MM-1.
2- Coles 4038 ribbon.
2- Crown PZM30D.
1- Electro-Voice RE20.
1- Electro-Voice 676.
1- Lauten Audio EDEN LT-386 (tube).
1- MXL R144 ribbon (modified).
4- Neumann KM84 (vintage 1971).
1- Neumann M49 (tube).
1- Neumann U47 FET.
1- Neumann U67 (tube).
2- Neumann U87 (vintage 1973).
2- Peavey PSM2.
2 - Peluso 2247 (tube).
2- Peluso P12 (tube).
1- Placid Audio Copperphone.
1- Placid Audio Resonator B.
2- RCA 74 JR Velocity ribbon.
1- Recovery ExMic Deluxe Telephone.
1- Rode NT-2.
2- Royer R-121 ribbon.
3- Sennheiser E-604.
1- Sennheiser E-902.
7- Sennheiser MD-421.
1- Sennheiser MD-421(white model from David Roback/Mazzy Star).
1- Sennheiser MD-441
1- Shure 275S Ceramic (vintage 1961).
1- Shure Beta 52.
1- Shure Beta 91A.
3- Shure BG 4.0.
1- Shure MX412/S.
3- Shure SM-7.
5- Shure SM-57.
5- Shure SM-58.
2- Shure SM-81.
1- Shure SM-98 with RPM626 Pre.
2- Shure Unidyne III 545 (vintage 1960's)
1- Stedman N90.
2- Telefunken AR-51 (tube) TK51D Capsule/GE 12AT7 Tube.
MICROPHONE PRE AMPS:
Neve 1073 (x2).
Rupert Neve Designs 5052 (x25)
Telefunken V72 (x2) (tube).
API 312 (x2) early 70’s.
Capi VP28 / Gar 2520 & 1731 ops (x4).
EMI REDD-47 by David Hinson (tube).
Universal Audio/UREI 1108 from Sunset Sound (x2)
Trident S40.
Joe Meek Brick Voice Channel (x2).
Altec 1591A.
Universal Audio LA-610(tube) SiIverface (x2).
Demeter VTMP w/ Electro-Harmonix Gold Tubes (x2).
Ampex 440 with Lundahl Transformers (x2).
Sebatron VMP-1000E w/ Genalex Gold Lion tubes.
D&R Orion Class A (x32).
Lindell Audio 6X-500.
Recovery Effects ExMic preamp.
Fishman Platinum
Countryman Type 85
COMPRESSORS / DYNAMICS:
Teletronix LA2A (Tube) (x2).
Tube Tech CL1B (Tube).
Manley Stereo Variable MU w/T-Bar & High Pass Side Chain mods.
Neve 33609.
Solid State Logic G Series.
Federal AM-864 U Tube Compressor.
TK Audio BC1-S Buss Comp.
IGS Audio One LA (x2).
Retro Sta Level with RCA 6386.
Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5043.
Rupert Neve Designs Portico Master Buss Compressor.
LA3A (x2).
1176 Rev LN (x2).
1176 Blackface (x2).
1176 Blue Stripe.
Electrodyne CA 700.
Summit Audio DCL-200.
DBX 160 (x3).
DBX 161.
DBX 163.
Empirical Labs Fatso EL7x.
Altec 1591A.
Valley Dynamite (x2).
Valley Kepex II (x2).
Bellari RP583 (modified)
Trident S40 Compressor.
Universal Audio 610-T4.
Aphex Easyrider 106.
Art Pro VLA Model 212.
Alesis 3630 (modified).
EQ/EFFECTS:
Pultec EQP-1A3 (x2)(Tube).
Neve 1073EQ (x2).
Rupert Neve Designs 5052 EQ (x25).
Rupert Neve Designs 5033 EQ (x2).
Shop modded Pultec EQP-1A clones (x2)(Tube).
Dangerous BAX EQ.
Trident S40 Parametric EQ.
D&R Orion 4 Band parametric with high pass(x40).
DOD SR231 Graphic.
Klark Teknik DN370 Dual Graphic EQ
Eventide H3000
Bricasti M7 Reverb with Remote.
Lexicon 300L with Larc Remote
MOOG Analog Delay 500 Series.
Aphex 204 Aural Exciter.
Aphex 104 Aural Exciter.
DeltaLab Effectron ADM1024.
Digitech RDS Delay.
Ecoplate l Plate Reverb. (original).
Alesis Midiverbs II, III, & IV.
Chandler Industries Tube Driver.
Various Guitar Pedals.
CONSOLE
MICROPHONES
OUTBOARD GEAR
MONITORING
INSTRUMENTS
Avantone MixCubes powered by Yamaha P2200. (studio A & studio B)
FOCAL SM9 Pair. (studio A)
UREI 813B Pair powered by Yamaha P2200. (studio A)
UREI 809A Pair powered by Yamaha P2200. (studio B)
YAMAHA NS-10M (x4) powered by Yamaha P2200 (studio A & studio B)
Modified JBL LSR308 Active (x3).
KRK 12S Subwoofer 240watts. (studio A)
ProCo Switch Witch.
HEADPHONES:
FURMAN HDS-16 headphone distribution system with eight independent 16 channel mix stations for up to 16 musicians. (studio A & studio B)
DOD SR 460H 6 Channel Headphone Amp. (studio B)
AKG K701 Open Reference.
AKG K240. (x2).
Audeze LCD-X Open Reference.
Audio Technica ATH-D40fs. (x2).
Audio Technica ATH-M50x. (x2).
Direct Sound Extreme Isolation EX-29.
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro. (x3).
Sony MDR 7506. (x4)
Baldwin SF10 Grand Piano.
Baldwin Hamilton Piano.
1973 Hammond B3 Organ with matching Leslie 122.
1971 Fender Rhodes.
1981 Wurlitzer 200a.
Conn Slide Trombone.
Olds Trumpet.
Nikolaus Amatus German Violin.
Fender Princeton Reverb Blackface 1967.
Fender Blues Deluxe vintage tube amp.
Fender Blues Junior III tube amp.
Fender Squier Modified Vintage Bass VI.
Fender Super Twin tube guitar amp(vintage).
Fender Sidekick Reverb 30 guitar amp.
Fender Frontman 25R.
Orange Crush 20LDX guitar amp.
Danelectro Nifty Fifty guitar amp.
Danelectro Nifty Seventy bass amp.
VOX AC4TV (tube) guitar amp.
Pignose 7100 guitar amp x 2
Ampeg B-15N bass amp early 70’s.
Ampeg BA-210v2 bass amp.
Electro Voice 15” bass cab.
Morley ABY Selector/Combiner.
Eventide Ultratap.
Eventide TimeFactor.
Fulltone OCD Pedal.
ProCo RAT Pedal.
MXR Compressor Pedal.
Danelectro FAB Delay Pedal.
Boss Digital Reverb Pedal.
DigiTech Digital Reverb Pedal.
Electro-Harmonix B9 Organ Machine Pedal.
Tech 21 Sans Amp GT2 Pedal.
Sioux Guitars Dakota County Delay Pedal.
Fishman Platinum Analog PreAmp.
Slingerland vintage big wood marching snare.
Slingerland vintage wood snare.
Slingerland brass snare vintage.
Excel cheap metal chrome snare.
Ludwig Supraphonic LM402 Snare.
Sears Snare 5 x 14.
Yamaha DGX 500 Portable Grand Piano.
Pearl EX five piece drum kit with cymbals.
..and more stuff laying around.
Lonnie's Farm Urei 1108 Mic Pres
are rare iconic Universal Audio 1108 Mic Preamps from the early Universal Audio console at the legendary Sunset Sound studios. These mic preamps date to the 1960s and recorded many well known records. Bands who have recorded through these transformers include "Van Halen, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Led Zeppelin and The Eagles. They are known for their clear, dynamic, present, and punchy sound. As one might expect.
The two Neumann U87 Microphones, at Lonnie's Farm, are vintage 1973 models purchased from Olympic Studios London when it closed in 2009. Although we cannot verify these microphones were used on any of the following recordings, here is a list of some bands and soundtracks that recorded 1973 and on, they may have been used on.
Led Zeppelin, Queen, David Bowie, Traffic, Hawkwind, the Seekers, the Moody Blues, Deep Purple, Procol Harum, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Life of Brian.
The two Joe Meek ‘the Brick’ Channel Strips at Lonnie’s Farm are unique, as only 55 were ever made. These units were hand-built non-production models that have the original transformers (which is why these are sought over the newer model, or so we hear). Engineer/Producer Jack Joseph Puig is known to have used these units on vocal tracks recorded by Cold Play. The channel strips have the famous Joe Meek flavor and optical compression circuit. It is an LED based optical unit not a EL panel like the Urei units. They have a British transformer input which adds a nice Neve like color. Line inputs are on these as well to run signals like keyboards,
beat machines, or synths.
Don's first Recording Studio Business License from 1992.
an analog reel to reel tape studio.
