STUDIO A

Studio A

Studio A is home to a recently renovated control room, unveiled in 2024, and equipped with a 72-channel Neve 88RS console, providing unparalleled capabilities for modern music production.

Since 1971, Studio A has been One of the two original studios at Ardent’s Madison Avenue location, having hosted many legendary clients, it has become a hub of musical creativity.

The live room, Ardent’s largest at 25’ 6” x 39’ 5” with a ceiling height of 18′ 5″, is a spacious, acoustically refined environment, boasting high ceilings and three large isolation booths, Studio A provides ample space and excellent sightlines for musicians and producers alike.

In 1989, legendary producer Tom Dowd, alongside Ardent’s founder John Fry, meticulously tuned the acoustics of the live room to Dowd’s exacting standards, elevating it to an audio engineering masterpiece.

Beyond its technical features, Studio A is designed with elegance and inspiration in mind. The space boasts stunning tiger maple and mahogany woodwork, complemented by Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired lighting. For moments of relaxation during intense sessions, the studio includes a comfortable indoor lounge and a tranquil outdoor patio, offering artists the perfect environment to recharge and return to the creative process.

Mixing Console

Multitrack Digital and Analogue

Monitoring

Mains: Bowers and Wilkins 800 Diamond
Mains amplification: McIntosh MC601 Dual Monoblock
Near Fields: ATC SCM 25, Neumann 310 w sub, Auratone, Yamaha NS10, Quested
Near field amplification: Bryston, Crown
Live room playback: Quested HQ 410’s
Cue mix: Wolff Audio Designs Me More 12-channel mix stations

Dynamics

(1) Fairchild 670
(2) Herchild 660 (Custom ARDENT Editions By Heritage Audio)
(1) Manley Vari Mu
(1) Neve 33609 5:1 Buss Limiter
(2) Universal Audio 1176 REV D
(1) UREI 1178
(3) DBX 165
(2) Chandler LTD 1 Limiters
(1) ADR COMPEX F760
(2) Empirical Labs Distressors
(1) Universal Audio/RETRO 175B Valve
(2) Purple Audio MC77
(1) Manley/Langevin 2 channel ELOP
(5) DBX 903 Mono Limiters
(4) DBX 902 DeEssers

EQ & Mic Pres

Equalisation
(2) Pultec EQP 1A3
(1) Chandler Curve Bender
(1) Dangerous BAX EQ
(4) Lang PEQ 2A
Microphone Pre-Amplifiers
(2) Avalon V55 Class A Mic Amps
(2) Neve 1073
Refer to Floating list for many additonal microphone amplifiers

Reverbs/Delays

(1) Lexicon 480 L
(1) AMS RMX 16
(1) AMS 1580 Delay/Harmonizer
(1) Lexicon Prime Time 93
(1) Lexicon PCM 41
(1) Lexicon PCM 80
(1) Eventide H3000 Harmonizer
(2) Eventide H-949 Harmonizer
(1) Yamaha REV 7
(1) Yamaha SPX 990
(1) Yamaha SPX 1000

Reverbs (Reservation Required)

Floating Gear

Please request in advance these items are subject to availability.
*All Items listed are in addition to what is stocked in control rooms.*
Floating Microphone Pre Amps
(3) Coil Audio CA70 Valve Mic Amplifiers
(3) Coil Audio CA286 Valve Mic Amplifiers
(6) CAPI VP 26 Mic Pre-Amplifiers
(1) Millennia 2 Channel Mic Amplifier
(2) Sytek MXP4A 4 Channel Mic Pre Amplifiers
Floating Reverb/Delay/Harmonisers
(1) EMT 251 R2D2
(1) Yamaha REV 1 W/Remote
(1) AMS SDMX 1580
(1) Master Room Spring Reverb
(1) Eventide 949
(2) Yamaha SPX 90
(1) Roland 201 Space Echo

Floor Plan

Microphones

(2) – AKG – 414 eb/CK12
(4) – AKG – 414 b uls/CK12
(1) – AKG – c 422/Stereo
(2) – AKG – 451 e
(1) – AKG – 451 eb
(2) – AKG – 460 b
(2) – AKG – 452 eb
(1) – AKG – D12
(5) – AKG – D112
(1) – AKG – D160E
(1) – AEA – A440
(1) – AEA – R88
(1) – AEA – R84
(1) – Altec – 21B
(2) – Altec – 195A
(1) – Altec – 682A
(1) – Beyerdynamic – CK707
(2) – Beyerdynamic – M160
(3) – Beyerdynamic – M201
(2) – Beyerdynamic – M69 TG
(2) – Bock/Soundelux – U95 (Valve)
(2) – Cascade – Fathead
(2) – Crown – PZM-30GBP
(4) – Crown – PZM-30RB
(2) – Earthworks – TC 30
(4) – Electro-Voice – RE 20
(1) – Electro-Voice – PL 20
(1) – Innertube Audio – Stereo Mag/CK12
(4) – Josephson – E22/High SPL
(2) – Lauten – Snare Mic
(8) – Lauten – Tom Mic
(2) – Lawson – LM 47 (Valve)
(3) – Lewitt – DTP340
(1) – Lewitt – DTP640
(2) – Lewitt – LCT140
(2) – Lewitt – LCT440
(2) – Lewitt – LCT640TS
(2) – Lewitt – MTP440
(2) – Manley – Ref LDC (Valve)
(1) – Neumann – BCM705
(2) – Neumann – U47 (Valve)
(2) – Neumann – U67 (Valve)
(2) – Neumann – M149 (Valve)
(1) – Neumann – U47 Fet
(2) – Neumann – UM 57 (Valve)
(3) – Neumann – U64 (Valve)
(4) – Neumann – U 87
(1) – Neumann – U 87i
(4) – Neumann – KM 86
(2) – Neumann – KM 84
(3) – Neumann – KM 84i
(2) – Neumann – MCM 114
(4) – Oktava – Mk012 (Soviet-84)
(1) – Oktava – MK319
(2) – RCA – 77
(1) – RCA – 44
(1) – RCA – 74
(1) – Rode – Rode Classic
(2) – Royer – 121
(2) – Royer – 112 (Valve)
(2) – Sanken – CU 44
(1) – Sanken – CMS-7S (ST/MS)
(3) – Sony – C38
(1) – Sony – C37
(22) – Shure – SM 57
(10) – Shure – SM 58
(4) – Shure – Beta 52
(1) – Shure – SM7
(20) – Sennheiser – 421
(4) – Sennheiser – 441
(2) – Sennheiser – 409
(2) – Stam – SA-87
(2) – Upton – 251 (Valve)
(1) – Wunder – CM 12 (Valve)
(6) – Wunder – CM7 Fet (U47Fet)
(8) – Wunder – CM7 (Valve) (U47)
(2) – Wunder – CM 67 (Valve)
Availability is subject to change based on studio bookings and current inventory. We recommend contacting us in advance to reserve your preferred gear for your session.

DI Boxes

(2) – Avalon – U5
(6) – BAE – PD1
(10) – Countryman – 85
(2) – Retrospec – Juicebox
Various Others
Availability is subject to change based on studio bookings and current inventory. We recommend contacting us in advance to reserve your preferred gear for your session.

Amps

Ampeg BA 15 (Solid State) Combo
Ampeg Gemini II (Vintage) Combo
Ampeg SVT (Vintage) Head
Ampeg SVT Pro (Solid State) Head
Ampeg V4B (Vintage) Head
Ampeg VT-22 (Vintage) Combo
Baldwin (Vintage) Combo
Fender Bandmaster 1966 (Vintage) Head
Fender Bassman 1965 (Vintage) Head
Fender Deluxe Combo
Fender Super Reverb 1967 (Vintage) Combo
Fender Twin 1972 (Vintage) Combo (Silverface)
Fender Vibrolux 1965 (Vintage) Combo
Gallien Kruger 400 RB Head
Gibson Falcon 1960 (Vintage) Combo
Hiwatt Custom 100 1972 (Vintage) Head
King Tone (Vintage, Solid State) Combo
Marshall 1959 Plexi 1968 (Vintage) Head
Marshall 1987 Plexi 1969 (Vintage) Head
Marshall 3203 1989 Head
Marshall JTM 45 1964/5 (Vintage) Head
Roland Jazz Chorus Combo
Sovtek Mig 50 Head
Vox AC 30 1966 (Vintage) Combo
Availability is subject to change based on studio bookings and current inventory. We recommend contacting us in advance to reserve your preferred gear for your session.

Synths

CMI FAIRLIGHT IIX - With SD Drives full Libraries and SMPTE
Roland Jupiter
Roland Juno 60 with Midi Upgrade
Moog One
Mini Moog D
Sequential Circuits Prophet 10
Linn Drum LM2 (EPROM burner for custom samples)
Linn Drum 9000
Groove Synthesis Wave Table
Roland MPU 101 MIDI to CV Converter
Yamaha DX7
Roland D50
Korg DDD 1
Garfield Electronics Mini DOC CV SYNC
Roland Cloud Plug-in (Entire Collection)
Arturia Plug-in (Entire Collection)
Cherrylabs Plug-in (Memory Mode)
Aly James Lab Plug-in (Simmons/Linn Drum)
Rental fees may apply to physical synthesizers and hardware. All synthesizer plug-ins are included with your session

Pianos and Keys

Hammond A100 with 147 Leslie (Hot Rodded)
Hohner Clavinet D6
Wurlitzer 200
Fender Rhodes MKI Suitcase Seventy-Three
(2) Mellotron M400
Baldwin Electric Harpsichord (with Baldwin Amp)
Farfisa Combo
Farfisa Fast 3
Pianos and harpsichord may be subject to tuning fees.
Rental fees may apply to physical hardware.

Drums

Drum Kits
Ludwig John Bonham Green Sparkle - Kick: 26” - Toms: 14”, 16”, 18” (2 floor toms)
Fortune Custom Drum Kit - Kick: 24” - Toms: 13”, 14”, 16”, 18” (2 floor toms)
Yamaha Recording Custom - Kick: 20x16” - Toms: 10x9”, 12x10”, 14x12”
DW Collectors Series - Kick: 22x18” - Toms: 10x8”, 12x9”, 14x11”, 16x16”
Snares
Ludwig Black Beauty
Noble and Cooley
DW Maple
Fortune Brass
Slingerland Radio King
Tama Star Classic
Yamaha Dave Weckl
Ayotte Maple
Cymbals
Paiste 2002 Full Set
Zildjian A Custom Full Set
Zildjian K Custom Dark Full Set
Sabian Paragon Full Set
Various Other Single Cymbals
Percussion Available
Shakers
Tambourines
Glockenspiel & Toy Glockenspiel
Wave Drum
Availability is subject to change based on current bookings and studio demand.
Rental charges may apply for drum kits and percussion gear.
If you require a specific kit not currently in our inventory, we are happy to source it for you.

STUDIO A

Studio A

WHERE ARTISTS ENTER AND ICONS EMERGE.