Big Rude Studio is a professional recording facility situated on the banks of the historic Cape Fear River – just minutes from downtown Wilmington, North Carolina. Owned, designed and operated by Chase O’Neal, Big Rude Studio strives to offer its select clients a comfortable and inspiring environment in which to record and develop their music.
Featuring a spacious control room and live room, as well as a lounge and additional storage areas, Big Rude Studio is all about vibe and comfort. Our control room is centered around the all-analog Allen & Heath GS-R24M console which directly and intuitively interfaces with Pro Tools.
Our live room has a sound – a vibe – that is intentional. There was a desire in the design process to have a beautiful sounding room with a unique sonic signature that is warm and has a weightiness about it. With carefully planned treatment, a variety of ambiances are achieved using different placements throughout the space.
We are the only facility in southeastern North Carolina to feature a Steinway & Sons grand piano on-site. Our 1927 Steinway & Sons Model M Studio Grand (5’7″) has a rich and alluring sound that is prized by all those who have played and experienced the character of this rare piano. We also have an original Fender Rhodes Mark I Stage 73 and a vintage Yamaha DX7s synthesizer to round out our options for keyed instruments.
*For clients wishing to use our Steinway piano, a tuning charge will be applied to your session to cover the costs of having the piano tuned and ready for your project. Please allow at least 2 weeks notice before your session to allow for scheduling with our piano technician.
Our amp selection is ever-growing, featuring a late 1980’s Marshall JCM800 2205, Peavey 5150, Orange Union Jack Rockerverb Mk II, 1968 Fender Super Reverb, 1977 Fender Deluxe Reverb, Fractal Audio AxeFX 2, and more things constantly coming down the pipeline. We also have a nice selection of cabinets, including a late 1980’s Marshall 1960 Classic 4×12 with Celestion Greenback 25’s, an Orange PPC212 and PPC412 featuring Celestion Vintage 30’s, and a Mesa Boogie Traditional 4×12 with Celestion Vintage 30’s.
On-site, we also have a Tama Starclassic Performer birch drum kit (24, 12, 16), a Sakae The Almighty Birch drum kit (22, 10, 12, 14, 16) and a variety of snares that includes a Tama Starclassic Copper 5.5×14, Tama Starclassic Birch 5.5×14, Tama Starclassic Birch 6.5×14 with wood hoops, DW Collector’s Series Black Nickel over Brass 6.5×14, and a vintage Yamaha marching snare.