It’s never too late to follow your musical dream, and Myriad Media’s Warren Drake is a perfect example of that. After a long and successful career in the software business, he decided it was time to chase his real passion: music. Selecting a gorgeous location in the Smoky Mountain town of Franklin, North Carolina, he and his wife went to work building an audio and video recording studio that must be seen to be believed. Through it all, he relied on Sweetwater to supply the gear he needs.
Recently, Warren took time out to speak with us about what makes Myriad Media a unique studio, and why, in retirement, he’s busier than ever.
How did Myriad Media come to be?
About 40 years ago, I was accepted into some music schools but decided to go into the software business instead. I sort of laid those dreams aside until a few years ago. So it’s been a 40-year dream that’s just now coming to fruition.
What types of projects does the studio focus on?
It’s pretty varied. We have it equipped for both audio and video. The console that we chose was the Avid System 5 MC. It allows us to preserve the multitrack audio all the way to the end of a multi-camera edit.
A new 15,000-seat theater and venue is located across the street from our studio. It’s the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts. We’re connected to it by fiber, so we can capture multitrack audio and multi-cam video from the theater. That’s going to be another key focus for us.
Tell us about the gear you’ve chosen for the studio.
Right now, our monitors are JBL 4328s in the main control room. In the MIDI studio, we’re using 4326s. We love how natural they are. The mixes that we generate with them sound the same on our phones and in our cars. We love them. In the control room, one of our favorite pieces is the Universal Audio 1176. And one of the things that we have really grown to love is the Earthworks piano mic system with a matching Earthworks mic pre. We love the piano sounds that we’re getting out of it.
And the reason we picked all of it is because Patrick [Dennis, Sweetwater Sales Engineer] told me to [laughs]! Patrick’s recommendations are so crucial for us.
How did you first come to work with Patrick?
The first thing I ordered was 10 to 15 years ago. I just called Sweetwater, and Patrick’s the one who happened to answer the phone that day. So he’s been my Sales Engineer — and become a friend — ever since.
What is it about Sweetwater that’s kept you coming back for so long?
Relationships. That is the reason. I didn’t build the relationship because of Sweetwater. The relationships built, and that’s why I stayed with Sweetwater. Whether it’s Patrick or Mark Hornsby, Nathan Heironimus, or Julie Doust over in the studio, the idea that Sweetwater builds relationships, and then business comes with those relationships is a personal philosophy of mine, even with the software business.
Start your own relationship with Sweetwater and let us take care of your studio needs. Give us a call at (800) 222-4700.