Hi! My name is Hunter, I'm owner of Compass Recordings and I love making records.

For the last decade or so this studio space, which has gone through many moves, orientations and names, has been the result of my desire to craft a workstation to make killer records for recording artists affordably with minimal hassle or gatekeeping. I want all artists who come through the Compass studio to feel free to ask any question, use any piece of equipment, and propose any idea without the worry of being shot down or schooled by a producer, studio manager or engineer with something to prove. Over the course of learning what I've learned, nothing has turned me off from actualizing creatively more than condescension and mogging in creative musical spaces where, in my opinion, your ego should be left at the doorstep. 

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Communication, as is the case with any relationship, is the key to success in the studio. Before I embark on a creative project with anyone, making sure I have a firm grasp on their goals and vision ensures there is a mutual understanding of roles, the needs of the artist, and the energy of the project. If a dim, candlelit seance is the vibe, let's take it there! If we just want to shoot shit and be loud in between takes, I'm game for that too. However, the common thread I've found is almost always levity. Sometimes it might take an hour or two until we get there, and that's ok. If we take ourselves too seriously, odds are we'll perceive our work through the same stern lens. Capturing great memories is important too!

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When I first got into the game, I thought I wanted to bypass the interpersonal element and get straight to the science behind the noise. I still loved making records, but directing people around sounded like a nightmare. When I began working with bands, I learned quickly that you can do everything right when capturing a performance -- the microphone placement, gain staging and phase may be perfect -- but it's not worth it if the vibe is off and the performance is bad!

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So let's work together to harness the right energy and lay it down to tape (or hard drive). See you in the studio!