Orion said he will also rent out the studio for those who prefer to use their own personnel to record music. “We’re also wired for SDTV and HDTV and can also be converted into a TV studio,” he said.
BY BOBBY COMMAND
WEST HAWAII TODAY
bcommand@westhawaiitoday.com
Totally wired
Orion opens new recording studio in Kailua-Kona
What started as a home studio in a garage has blossomed into one of the most complete recording studios on the Big Island.
In fact, Seti Orion said he believes his Island Vortex Studio in Kailua-Kona, which opened about three weeks ago, is on par with anything of its size worldwide.
But Island Vortex is not just about laying down the latest in Hawaiian, jazz, rap or gut-splitting rock ‘n’ roll. Orion said his new studio is wired for audio, video and graphics. In addition, Island Vortex also does CD and DVD duplication, and can offer live event production as well as consulting and training.
That being said, Orion said Island Vortex grew out a bunch of friends jamming in the garage of his home about 10 years ago.
“I invested some money and began to amass this gear,” said Orion, 29, who grew up in West Hawaii but graduated from high school on the mainland. “But it was still in a garage, so I figured that I would have to have a good studio if I wanted better sound.”
The studio is beyond good, designed by Orion through the consultation of acoustical design and consulting firm Lawrence P. Swist Designs, which is so proud of the work that Island Vortex is featured on the company’s Web site.
Island Vortex Studio, which was built by Orion’s father, Tom Migliori, includes a control room for engineering and production, a studio complete with instruments, and an isolation room for vocals or musicians. The room is insulated with four layers of sheet rock and a floating floor. There are three miles of cable behind the studio walls.
“There’s a lady who works in an office right behind this wall,” said Orion, who points to the area in back of his drum set. “We’ve cranked it up in here, and the lady said she thought she might have barely heard something.”
The mixing console is a collection of modular units designed by ToneLux, which has among its credits the Dixie Chicks and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
“This is a revolutionary design,” he said. “With this system, you get what you want and use what you need.”
In addition to his decade of practical experience, Orion said he traveled to Nashville, Tenn., and WireWorld Studio to study with Michael Wagener, a well-known producer, engineer and mixer in the music industry. Wagener’s works have sold more than 50 million albums worldwide. Wagener has worked with, to name a few, Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Janet Jackson and Megadeath.
At about $100 an hour, time in a studio such as Island Vortex may seem to be out of the question for most local bands. Orion suggests musicians on a budget set down their ideas at home before coming to the studio to perfect the project.
“At that point you can come to me with a demo, and we can discuss the project,” said Orion. “People sometimes think they did a good job at home, but we have the equipment to show them how they really sound.”
From there, Orion can consult with a band on how long it will take to complete a project, “And if I can’t do it, then I’ll refer you to someone who can.”
Orion said he will also rent out the studio for those who prefer to use their own personnel to record music. “We’re also wired for SDTV and HDTV and can also be converted into a TV studio,” he said.