Chris Thompson
- Music Producer & Owner of Martin St. Studios
Chris has worked with some of music's biggest names during an illustrious 25 year career. Artists as diverse as Paul Kelly, Augie March, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Silverchair and others the world over have relied on Chris's incredible skills to capture their sonic artforms, making him one of Australia's most in-demand music producer/engineers.
As a budding drummer in a high school band inspired by the sounds of The Beatles and Pink Floyd, Chris began experimenting with Tascam four-tracks and a handful of ageing microphones in his garage - with none other than his now equally renowned 'mate-next-door' Tony Cohen.
Starting out with the ABC, Chris made his break into audio engineering in 1978, recording albums for Dead Can Dance and Dave Graney's first band The Moodists. His first introduction to live recording came with capturing The Birthday Party's infamous stage perfomance at the Astor Theatre.
With his work on Paul Kelly's "Manila", Chris became a freelance engineer in the early 80s, lending his skills to an ever increasing roster of clients, including Men At Work on their multi platinum-selling "Business As Usual", and Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds' "Tender Prey". During this time he would also act as a director for The Australian Film Theatre. Later Chris would become a founding member of The Mirabel Foundation - which assists disadvantaged children - and is also a Patron of the Kool Schools Initiative.
Chris returned to the ABC in 1990, as the State Coordinator for the ABC's new youth radio network Triple J. He also assumed the role of Live Music Producer, recording live radio and television broadcasts for stellar international acts such as Metallica, Sonic Youth, Nirvana and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, as well as virtually every major Australian group, including Midnight Oil and Rocket Science. Chris was also instrumental in several highly successful projects, including the now-famous "Unearthed" project, responsible for kickstarting the careers of Grinspoon and Killing Heidi, to name but two.
While Chris's studio prowess is unquestioned, he has also garned a reputation for incredible live recordings, with a string of great live albums and Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound DVDs to his credit.
Chris's work has not gone unnoticed by the Australian Music fraternity, bestowing him with many awards, most recently an ARIA for Sound Engineer Of The Year for his work with Augie March.
In 2001 Chris opened Martin Street Studios, growing from its humble beginnings as his personal mixdown space to a professional recording environment, boasting 24 tracks of analog 2" tape recording augmented by 128 tracks of digital Mackie HDR/MDR and ProTools recording, analog and digital desks, 5.1 Surround Sound mixdown and monitoring, world-class outboard gear plus a wide selection of classic vintage and contemporary microphones. Before its first birthday, the sound of artists such as The Waifs, John Butler Trio, Paul Dempsy and Matt Walker have already graced its walls.
Chris drives a big old Merc, dresses in any t-shirt as long as it's black, and in his rare spare time enjoys the odd spot of fly fishing.
Tony Cohen
- Music Engineer/Producer
One of Australia's foremost producer/engineers. Tony is best known for his work with Nick Cave and The Cruel Sea. Recently returned from the UK, Tony is based in Melbourne. Tony's Martin Street Studio mixes includes the Resheads, The Devastations (formerly Luxedo), Pete Cornelius and Cashcow.
Steven Schram
-
Sound Engineer Steven's engineering credits include
- Silverchair, Powderfinger, Public Enemy, the Dandy Warhols, TISM,
the Devastations, Rowland S. Howard, the Sinking Citizenship, Annika
Trost(Cobra Killer), the Waifs, Oneironaut, Custom Kings, the Sneaker
Trio.
He also has gained experience as a contractor for the ABC and Triple
J as a live music recording engineer.
Tim Millikan
- Live Sound Engineer
Tim is one of Australia's most sought after live sound engineers. The past two years have seen him on tour with Paul Kelly and Midnight Oil. Based in Melbourne, Tim is looking forward to spending more time in the studio and less time on the road. He has already recorded several projects at Martin Street Studios including Tripod Jimmy and Never Eleven.
'Wes'
- Studio Kat
In his short and illustrious career as Martin Street Studio's cuddly mascot, Wes has rubbed legs, shed fur and dug his claws into some of Australia's greatest talent. With an ear for tone matched only by his appetite, Wes ensures that all visitors to Martin Street Studios give him the attention a true studio kat deserves.
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Martin St. Studios
info@martinst.com.au