Ice Cream Factory Studio

09/03/2024

KUTX song of the day, whipped up right here at ICF! https://kutx.org/song-of-the-day/parker-woodland-ladder-at-your-window/?

The Austin rockers share their debut LP 'There's No Such Thing as Time' this Friday alongside a release show at Mohawk that same night.

08/05/2024

Happy belated from Grundig, intrepid rebranders of the magical Sennheiser MD408, baby brother of the revered MD409 that everyone loves on guitar. These little dudes are basically the same idea with a little less low frequency response, which is often a good thing. Also, they lock together to make stereo pair with a center or 90° detent OR snap apart and mount on separate stands. They’re pretty versatile as dynamic cardioid mics go, I’ve used their Sennheiser branded twins on guitar, horns, vocals, snare, toms, bass, and percussion. This pair got shorter cords (the original leads were absurdly long and flimsy) and nice Neutrik XLR jacks to replace the funky kleine tuchel connectors, along with a 3/8” to 5/8” adapter for western mic stands. If you’re in the market, this pair is up for sale, I’ll be listing them soon for like 185 bucks or something, which is like the price for one MD408, so, pretty good deal!

08/02/2024

Have you been down on your luck? Commiserate with the Texas String Assembly fellas in their new video, featuring Sabrina Ellis (who was absolutely amazing in their vocal session that we tracked one fine evening) taking this tune to the stratosphere.

07/29/2024

This happens to be my mom’s birthday too. Among her many artistic skills she’s a highly accomplished seamstress and quilter, so when I asked for covers for my microphones, she stepped up big time, making very nice, durable covers with custom embroidered lettering, one large bag with a drawstring. She also designed custom music stand covers for the Manhasset stands that are normally noisy and reflective when they’re too close to a vocalist’s mic. I asked, she measured one and came up with a Velcro closure for the back, so they’re easy to slip off and wash. She’s a gem and I’m a lucky guy to have such a talented, kind-hearted mom. She’s not an online kind of person, so if you have nice stuff to say about her I’ll pass it along manually when I talk to her. If you want to buy custom music stand or mic covers for your studio, school, orchestra, or whatever, hit me up and we’ll figure something out!

07/22/2024

Sony C-37P! The FET version of one of the greatest microphones ever made in Japan. This I get to show off the newest mic that made a full weekend of sessions delightful. We tracked drums, two acoustic guitars, vocals, piano, vibraphone, and percussion with this beauty and it was amazing on everything. The only spot where I didn’t love it was on the 1956 Supro Spectator cranked up to 10. The RCA BK-5B was the better choice for that sound. This relatively small bodied large diaphragm cardioid (or omni) mic has a -8dB pad switch, low frequency rolloff options in settings from M (unfiltered) through V2. It was one of the first transistorized microphones, and is a little darker with slightly lower output than the later C-38B, but on most sources it’s still very flattering and clear. Looking forward to putting it through the paces on more piano and drum sessions soon!

07/15/2024

We’re back to Japan for another with a sequential serial number pair of 80’s C-535P cardioid pencil condensers! Some folks say they’re KM84 killers, but I think they have a slightly different character, more in line with Sony’s other high end condenser mics of the time. They sound phenomenal on vibraphone, acoustic, and drum overheads, and I’ll be trying them on snare and piano soon as well. The -10dB pad is handy for loud sources, though they handle a lot of spl before noticeable distortion. These ones are the end address version, the 536P is the side address. Standard +48V power gets them running.

07/08/2024

Happy from good old and this beat up, beautiful, perfect sounding MD409 U3 from the 80’s. When the capsule in this mic is healthy, it’s very full range, and sounds like a high end voice-over dynamic. They tend to go thin with age and use, but this one still sounds great. Covered in tour markings, bumps, scrapes, engraved, it’s just a bunch of personality in my opinion. If you want the classic 409 sound without the price tag, my shootout against the new e906 has the two sitting sonically in very close proximity. The newer ones miss a bit of the top end of the older ones, but they also have a high boost/cut switch so it’s possible to make up some of that high end in the mic.

07/01/2024

Happy from the DM6, a new supercardioid condenser mic that is making my life easier every time I track with it. Clear, detailed, “realistic” in a way that’s more of what I want to hear in a finished kick sound and less of the boxy, unvarnished sound of the kick. I find that as an inside mic paired with the TUL F47 I favor for the outside, I’m getting everything I need out of the vintage walnut kick that’s been on deck most often these days. I put it up against a large selection of kick and kick-related mics for a shootout and it was at the top of the list beside the sE V Kick for inside kick mic duties. The mount is a super elegant swivel that I now want for every mic in the collection. It makes positioning simple and very quick. This one’s a keeper!

06/27/2024

We made this super fun track with Nakia, and the video just dropped! If you want to know what a Texas cowboy bear drag fever dream feels like, hit play. Lots of 80's influences in the music too, so if that's your jam, well, this is likely to be your jam!

Official Music Video for "Signal" by NakiaStream "Signal" - https://ffm.to/nakia_signalNakia's Website: https://nakia.net/Nakia on Instagram: https://instagr...

06/24/2024

Happy courtesy of a little known company called MBHO. We’ve featured the MB 301 before, which is a unidirectional ribbon in the same vein as the Beyerdynamic M260, but with a different magnet setup. This is one of their condenser offerings, named the Authensis AXIS CS, which obviously describes the swivel head capsule. There is essentially no information about these mics other than that they were custom made for a German company called Sonos, and are marketed as high end conference mics, but even stranger is that there’s no manufacturer marks on these, nor any info beyond what can be gleaned from MBHO’s site (they sell the swivel as an accessory to their capsule-body line, like the Neumann KM100 series, but these are fixed and unremovable). MBHO has some shared DNA with Beyerdynamic and Schoeps, and sonically there are similarities. Wide cardioid condensers with a super sleek looking swivel head, very nice full range sound, and they’re fantastic on piano, acoustic, and other sources where an SDC makes sense. Hard to pin down an age on these, but it seems like maybe 80’s. This is also the debut of my sweet new light box for photos (happy birthday to me!). Things are getting profesh around here!

05/31/2024

We are Nané, and for those of you who dont know us here's a taste. Give it a listen, and come dance with us next time. See you soon. 👊🏽How to find us:https...

05/14/2024

We had a lot of fun pitting the vintage against the new with Vanguard Audio Labs - check out the shootout!

👂We recently got to take our V24 Stereo Tube Condenser to a friendly competition with the most revered stereo mic of all time (and even threw in a vintage 251 for good measure!) https://www.vanguardaudiolabs.com/listening-new-v24-files-on-soundcloud/

I combined the files into some blind shootouts and added some thoughts in a blog post on our site. If you'd like to nerd out about Mylar thickness and capacitor dielectrics (or just hear the mics), it's the post for you!

Thanks to JML Studios and Ice Cream Factory Studio for letting us come in and do some recording!

Two More Things:
1) We've got a GIVEAWAY in conjunction with Cranborne Audio live on our site, and you've got until May 31 to enter!
2) The cosmos-black ECLIPSE EDITIONS of the V4 are now shipping. I've got a few left so feel free to punch in your order on our shop or call your favorite dealer.

05/06/2024

Happy from Buchanan, Michigan, where the ElectroVoice plant ran way back in the day. Today’s microphones are a pair of super clean RE16s that showed up at the studio this morning. Variable D super-cardioid means it doesn’t color the off axis bleed. Built like tanks with a humbucking coil, these are fantastic mics for adverse conditions. The most bizarre thing about this particular pair is that they have the same serial number (0114). Looking forward to putting these to work!

04/29/2024

There isn’t a lot that’s new to be said about the classic RCA 77-DX ribbon, I’m just showing off my nice new pair for - These have been room mics for some live tracking and I’m pretty pleased with how great they sound as a wide spaced pair as well as in a blumlein configuration. I usually like them best in figure 8 mode, but I think it’s pretty cool that sliding a little piece of metal partially over the back of the ribbon gives you cardiod and fully over the back gives an omni pattern. Props to for a stand that can hold a pair of these beasts without sagging or falling over!

04/24/2024

We’ll be recording and mixing this show! Come hang out and sink into the vibes!

04/22/2024

Happy once again from Japan! The fantastic company Sanken made this omnidirectional dynamic mic named MS-7C back in the 70’s. This one was engraved with “Daiki” (Bright shining according to translation). This one came with the optional windscreen, which doesn’t seem to change tone or directionality noticeably, though it scratched up the body a bit. When testing it on a guitar amp that didn’t need to be isolated, I found a sound that I expected to lack some bottom end due to the nature of omni mics was in fact perfect for some country pickin’ when paired with last week’s Sony C-38B. These relatively inexpensive mics are pretty stunning on a lot of sources, and sure to be in use a lot near drums, guitars, and perhaps even a vocal or two.

04/15/2024

Happy from one of my new favorite mics, the 1970’s-80’s Sony C-38B. These, unlike the 38A, will run on standard +48V or a 9V battery. They have a three position low frequency rolloff controlled by the sneakiest little rotating ring around the cable, a small flathead screwdriver switches from cardioid to omnidirectional mode, and the battery compartment pops open to reveal a high cut switch alongside a -8dB pad switch, which is generally unneeded. These are relatively low output for condenser mics, but they just give sweet, natural sound on anything you put them in front of. They’ve shone on acoustic guitar, vocals, percussion, drum kit, piano, Wurly, and electric guitar so far, and I’m certain they’ll be excellent on bass amp, upright bass, and whatever other sources I find to put them in front of. I expected to like them, but I seriously triple heart eye emoji these brilliant, classy looking little Japanese condensers!

04/08/2024

What time is it? It’s reverb time! Finally got a sweet enclosure to house the EMT 140 damper control. Huge thanks to my brother for the enclosure and custom cutouts. Looking pro-fresh-ional y’all.

04/01/2024

I dont really have an post today, but I do have a hyper-rare post for you. This meatball logo RCA BK-5B is one of the very few I’ve found with both the (huge!) windscreen and shockmount. Since it arrived I’ve used it on guitars for a couple days of sessions alongside an RCA 77D, and it sounds as nice as you’d hope a ‘50s-60s unidirectional ribbon mic would.

03/23/2024

Feeling pretty special to have a feature in Tape Op Magazine after so many years of reading it and seeing so many friends and colleagues featured in the past. It’s a magical publication that’s done a lot for the recording community. I can’t thank Lisa Machac or Larry Crane enough for this! Special thanks to Laura J. Khalil for the 📸

https://tapeop.com/interviews/160/matt-parmenter/

03/23/2024

Newest episode of Sound On featuring our delightful friends Moving Panoramas is out now!

A collaboration between ATXN, Ice Cream Factory Studio and the City's Music & Entertainment Division, "Sound ON!" reflects the city's commitment to nurturing...

03/20/2024

03/16/2024

Premiering now! Fyi, if you have a system with subwoofers, they make the kick hit hard on this one. Enjoy!

A collaboration between ATXN, Ice Cream Factory Studio and the City's Music & Entertainment Division, "Sound ON!" reflects the city's commitment to nurturing...

03/10/2024

The first episode of a new series from ATXN and Ice Cream Factory Studio just hit the internet! Check out the smoking hot performances from Chief Cleopatra and drop the video a like!

Hailing from Corsicana, this Texas girl is blazing is coloring vibrational soundwaves in the world of Hip-Hop/Funk/R&B – much of the foundation of her music....

02/26/2024

Thanks and for throwing a fun get together for all my music friends and handing out all these nice awards. Excited to be a part of the vibrant Austin music scene!

02/22/2024

I’m absolutely thrilled to announce that you, friends and colleagues and family, have put your votes in and chosen me as the best studio in Austin! Thank you for the nomination! It’s so nice to be recognized as one of the best places to capture music in a city full of really fantastic studios. See you at the awards show at this Sunday 🏆🥳🥰

01/22/2024

Once more before they close voting, please throw my little studio a vote for best recording studio in Austin! I’m proud to have been nominated, up against some big money spots and some classic spaces. We do great work with great people and it would be lovely to win an award from the Austin Chronicle for doing what we do!

Vote for your favorite bands, venues, and music

01/04/2024

Thrilled, delighted, and honored that Ice Cream Factory Studio is nominated for Best Recording Studio in the Austin Chronicle music awards! Also, Harvest Thieves in Best Country, Font in Rock, F**k Money in Punk - good to see so many friends being nominated this year! Go do the voting, please!

https://vote.austinchronicle.com

Vote for your favorite bands, venues, and music

07/29/2023

Sweet first single from the lovely Don Denham and the Cutoffs! If you’ve ever fallen in nerd love, this is your tune.

The first Don Denham & The Cutoffs single- our full band version of "The Doctor" is out now on whatever streamin platform your heart desires!

This track was originally recorded to just have as a live version, but out of the new recordings we did at Ice Cream Factory Studio we felt it was so dang positive, energetic and upbeat that it deserved it's own release!

We figured it would be a fine addition to any summer vacation- be it hangin on the beach, a long road trip to said beach, falling in love, travelin through time and space to inexplicably find your soulmate in an infinite amount of dimensions and timelines, or whatever.

If ya got a moment, please like and follow our new song on Spotify (we'll be releasing music as Don Denham & The Cutoffs for the foreseeable future!)

https://open.spotify.com/track/3piBnUeIdqiAG2jFUN8ACE?si=0dbfec96c4d549e3

07/29/2023

Super excited for this release! Check out what we started before the end of the world. It’s truly beautiful! First single streaming now on all platforms!