FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

What are the rates for your rooms?
Weren't you originally the Power Station?
What are your rooms like?
What kind of music do you record at Avatar?
What if we need an engineer for our session?
What if we are a band just starting out?
Do you have ISDN?
What if we want to film / videotape in your studio?
What if we need space for a showcase / album release party?
What if we are coming from outside of New York City?
How can I get on your mailing list?

Q: What are the rates for your rooms?
A: Although we have card rates, we prefer to talk to you directly to find out what your needs are and try to work with you to help you stay within your budget. We are pretty flexible so don't hesitate to contact us and let us know what you require.

Q: Weren't you originally the Power Station?
A: Yes. Avatar Studios took over the building, equipment and assets of Power Station in 1996. The original recording rooms were kept intact and have been well maintained over the years. They are still the great sounding rooms they were designed to be.

Q: What are your rooms like?
A: Studio A and Studio C are large size rooms best suited for tracking. Studio A is known for its great drum sounds. Studio B is an intimate room that can be used for both tracking and mixing. Studio G is designed for overdubs and mixing. Studio E is a Pro Tools editing suite. Studio R is a penthouse mixing room. We also provide mastering services.

Q: What kind of music do you record at Avatar?
A: We are primarily known for rock & roll and jazz. Classic albums such as Madonna's Like a Virgin, Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA, David Bowie's Let's Dance, Roxy Music's Avalon were all recorded in this building. More recent works include Sheryl Crow's C'mon C'mon, John Mayer's Heavier Things, Norah Jones' Feels Like Home, and Franz Ferdinand's You Could Have It So Much Better. In terms of jazz, we are very well known among the fantastic studio musicians that New York is known for. Avatar has been the home to such artists as Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Donald Fagen, Diana Krall, John Scofield, Dave Holland and many others too long to mention here. For a more complete list, take a look at our Clients page. That doesn't mean we are exclusively rock or jazz. We have hosted Broadway cast recordings, 67-piece orchestral dates, opera singers, string quartets and chanting Tibetan monks. The point is that we are very versatile and whatever the genre of music, we will make a great recording of it.

Q: What if we need an engineer for our session?
A: No problem. We have many experienced & capable in-house engineers who know the rooms & equipment intimately and can help you put together a great sounding recording. We also have independent engineers who are based in our building that can help you. If you need Pro Tools help, we have an in-house expert / operator that can help you. Our very capable in-house engineers such as Roy Hendrickson and Anthony Ruotolo can help you track and mix. We also have engineers who we have worked with over the years who consider Avatar their home base. They include James Farber, Joe Ferla, Kevin Killen, Jim Anderson, Michael O'Reilly and many others. Just let us know what your needs are and we can match you up with the right person to help you get the job done properly.

Q: What if we are a band just starting out?
A: We have a New Artist Friendly Program where we make rooms available to unsigned bands just starting out at a discounted rate on a last minute basis. If you are interested in this program, please mention it when you are making booking arrangements.

Q: Do you have ISDN?
A: All four of our rooms (Studios A through G) are equipped with four ISDN lines per room (in case you want to do video as well). We use DolbyFax but we can accommodate other formats with EDNet bridging. We have done many ISDN sessions so our experienced staff can have a session set up for you in a moment's notice.

Q: What if we want to film / videotape in your studio?
A: Avatar has served as locations for filming or videotaping music videos / live performances (Sessions@AOL, Yahoo, Stripped, iTunes), TV shows, documentaries and films. The nice atmosphere makes the studio a great location. We understand what is involved and our staff will work with your crew to get the job done.

Q: What if we need space for a showcase or an album release party?
A: No problem. Depending on how large a space you require and room availability, we can provide a venue for your event. We have hosted many such events in the past. The great sound and rich vibe of our rooms will impress your guests & invitees.

Q: What if we are coming from outside of New York City?
A: Avatar can help you make arrangements and transportation should you require it. Check out our accommodations page. Let us know what your needs are.

Q: How can I get on your mailing list?
A: You can get on our Avatar Tracksheet Newsletter mailing list by subscribing.