Aura-Sonic, Ltd. (ASL) is a remote recording company based in Queens, New York, that specializes in mobile and location production, audio for video broadcasting,Peterson, George. The Secrets of Drum Miking: Remote Recording Engineers Speak Out. Mix Magazine, June 1989. pg. 33. video production, sound reinforcement and on-site automated dialogue replacement. ASL was founded in 1977 by recording engineer and producer Steve Remote. The company owns and utilizes a fleet of adaptable mobile vehicles and portable packages for its audio/production projects.
History In 1977, recording engineer Steve Remote partnered with Joel Schreiber to create Aura-Sonic, Ltd. Remote had been recording professionally at Max's Kansas CityCohen, Toby. On The Road With Steve Remote. Home & Studio Recording, 1990, p. 12. since 1976 while Schreiber, a graduate from the American Academy of the Dramatic Arts, was managing a children's clothing store in Flushing, Queens. Not content with operating a conventional recording studio, Steve decided to create a studio on wheels so they could go the client instead of the client going to them. From 1977 to 1983, Schreiber was the President of ASL with Remote acting as the Vice President and chief engineer. In 1983, Remote bought out Schreiber's stake in the company and became the sole owner.
Artists A company "in the forefront of mobile audio",Ciccarello, Joe. Mobile Church Audio. dB Magazine, September 1993. p. 6 ASL has worked with many artists including Aerosmith, Alabama Shakes, Alicia Keys, Allman Brothers Band, Bruce Springsteen, B-52's, Beck, Ben Harper, Bill Burr, Bill Frisell, Blink 182, Bon Jovi, Brandi Carlile, Branford Marsalis, Brittany Howard, Carlos Santana, Chick Corea, Coldplay, Counting Crows, Cro-Mags - Age of Quarrel, Crosby & Nash, Daryl Hall & Darius Rucker, Dave Brubeck, Dave Mathews & Tim Reynolds, Dawes, Denis Leary, Dolly Parton, Donald Harrison with Ron Carter & Billy Cobham, Eddie Palmieri, Elvin Jones, Elvis Costello, Esperanza Spalding, Frank Zappa, George Benson, Gil Evans & the Monday Night Orchestra, Green Day, Hall & Oates, Harry Connick Jr., Herbie Hancock, Hozier, Interpol, James Brown, James Blunt, James Taylor, Jeff Buckley, Jeff Tweedy, Jennifer Nettles, Jim James, Jimmy Eat World, Joe Jackson, Jon Batiste, John Hiatt, John Prine, Josh Groban, Joshua Redman Quartet, Kacey Musgraves, Kenny G, Lake Street Dive, Lee Konitz, Lenny Kravitz, Lucius, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Machine Head, Maggie Rogers, Marilyn Manson, Margo Price, Mavis Staples, McCoy Tyner, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Morrissey, My Morning Jacket, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Neil Young & Promise of the Real, Neville Brothers, Norah Jones, Odean Pope, Paquito D’Rivera, Puss N Boots, Queens of the Stone Age, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rob Thomas, Rod Steward, Roger Daltrey, Roger Waters, Ryan Adams, Sepultura, Sheryl Crow, Skid Row w/ Rob Halford, Slipknot, Sonic Youth, Soundgarden, Spyro Gyra, Stevie Wonder, Stone Temple Pilots, Sturgill Simpson, Talking Heads, The Avett Brothers, The Beach Boys, The Black Crowes, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, The Highwomen, The Police, The Roots, UB40, Van Dyke Parks, Warren Haynes, Wayne Shorter, Wilco, Wynton Marsalis, XTC, and Yo Yo Ma.
Mobile Units
The Bunker (1977-1984)
Specifications 1966 Ford 600 SeriesCohen, Toby. On The Road With Steve Remote. Home & Studio Recording, 1990, p. 15. 12’ X 7 ‘ X 7’ (body) control cabin Gross Vehicle Weight: 14,000 lbs Rear and Passenger side exits
Select Acts Recorded Artists include Black Uhuru, Chris Rush, Elvin Jones, Frank Zappa (Halloween ‘81), Howard Jones, Johnny Thunders, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam and Dave, The Buzzcocks, The Police, The Ramones, The Specials, and XTC.
GMC (1984 - 1987)
Specifications GMC ChevroletWalsh, Christopher. Remote Control. Pro Sound News, March 1998, p. 42. Gross Vehicle Weight: 18,000 lbs Power Requirements & information: 208 volts, single-phase, 50 amp service required Passenger side exit
Select Acts Recorded Artists include Allen Toussaint, Bad Brains, Bobby Hutcherson, Boy George,Video Track. Billboard, August 3, 1985. p. 39. Dr. John, Gill Evans and the Monday Night Orchestra, Lloyd Cole & the Commotions, Ron Carter, Rev. Timothy Wright, Randy Brecker, Sadao Watanabe, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Fleshtones, and The Neville Brothers.
Jethro (1987 – 2009)
Specifications Navistar International turbocharged Diesel truckRemote Recording & Sound Reinforcement. Mix Magazine, May 1989, p. 154 Gross Vehicle Weight: 33,000 lbs Outside truck dimensions: 30' 6" long X 8' 0" wide X 11' 6" high Control cabin dimensions: 17' 0" long X 7' 5" wide X 7' 10" high Ciccarello, Joe. Mobile Church Audio. dB Magazine, September 1993. p. 8 Power Requirements & information: 208 volts, single-phase, 50 amp service required Passenger side exit
Select Acts Recorded Artists include 24-7 Spyz, Aerosmith, Allman Brothers Band, Ben Harper, Branford Marsalis, Carlos Santana, David Matthews and Friends, Denis Leary,Walsh, Christopher. Aura Sonic Records Denis Leary. Pro Sound News, February, 1998, p. 41. Elliott Smith, Jeff Buckley, Laura Nyro, Lenny Kravitz, Living Colour,Cohen, Toby. On The Road With Steve Remote. Home & Studio Recording, 1990, p. 16. Outkast, Pat Benatar, Public Enemy, Roberta Flack, Red Hot Chili Peppers,Daley, Dan. State of Remote Recording: Few Changes but Costs Still Escalating. Pro Sound News, July 1992, p. 14. Sonic Youth, Soundgarden, The Beach Boys, and Tony Bennett.
Elroy (1999 – Present)
Specifications Mercedes-Benz 1419 Gross Vehicle Weight: 33,000 lbs Exterior Vehicle Dimensions: 33.0' L x 12.5' H x 102" W Exterior Dimensions with Rear Platform & Stairs: 40.0' L x 12.5' H x 102" W Exterior Expando Dimensions: 22.0' L x 11.5' H x 14.0' W Power Requirements & information: 208 volts, single-phase, 100 amp service required Elroy carries 200' of entertainment power cable with Cam-Lok E1016 connectors Rear side exit
Select Acts Recorded/Mixed Artists include Anat Cohen, Anthony Hamilton, Aretha Franklin, Chris Botti, Dave Holland, Esperanza Spalding, Herbie Hancock, Hey Guy, Hunters, Kenny Werner, Ledici, Los Gauchos, New York Dolls, Soulive and Wayne Shorter.
The Bread Mobile (2003 – Present)
Specifications GMC / Grumman Kurbmaster Stepvan Gross Vehicle Weight: 14,000 lbs Exterior Vehicle Dimensions: 25.5' L x 11.5' H x 96" W Power Requirements & information: 208 volts, single-phase, 50 amp service required TBM carries 200' of entertainment power cable with Cam-Lok E1016 & E1015 connectors Passenger side exit
Select Live Broadcasts NPR’s Toast of the Nation (2003-2007) J&R Downtown Music Festival (2003-2008) 88th PGA Tour (2006) Newport Folk Festival (2008-Present) Newport Jazz Festival (2008-Present)
Select Acts Recorded Artists include Alabama Shakes, Andrew Bird, Beck, Conor Oberst, Conrad Herwig, Dawes, Eddie Palmieri, Elvis Costello, Fleet Foxes, Herbie Hancock, Jim James, Joshua Redman Quartet, Marcus Miller, Michael Kiwanuka, My Morning Jacket, Patty Griffin, The Avett Brothers, The Decemberists, The Lumineers, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Wayne Shorter Quartet, Wilco and Wynton Marsalis.
Cosmo (2009 - Present)
Specifications Hino 268 A Gross Vehicle Weight: 25,950 lbs Exterior Vehicle Dimensions: 36.0' L x 11.5' H x 102" W Exterior Dimensions with Rear Platform & Stairs: 40.0' L x 11.5' H x 102" W Power Requirements & information: 208 volts, single-phase, 100 amp service required Cosmo carries 200' of entertainment power cable with Cam-Lok E1016 connectors Rear side exit
Tiny Big Mobile (2016 – Present)
Specifications 2015 Ford Transit / 350 HD Ecoboost Gross Vehicle Weight: 5,878 lbs Exterior Vehicle Dimensions: 22' L x 9.6' H x 86" W Power Requirements & information: 208 volts, single-phase, 50 amp service required TBM II carries 90' of entertainment power cable with Cam-Lok E1016 & E1015 connectors Passenger side exit
Select Live Broadcasts
WPLJ-FM Summer Kick-Off Broadcast (2016) WPLJ-FM Holiday Broadcast from Children's Specialized Hospital (2016) Newport Folk Festivals (2017 & 2018) Farm Aid Live Television Broadcast (2018) Live X The Greatest Day Ever Fest - Coney Island - Live Broadcast (2019)
Select Acts Recorded or Mixed Artists include Bon Iver, Brandi Carlile, Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds, Devon Gilfillian, Drive-By Truckers, Fleet Foxes, Harry Connick Jr., Hurray for the Riff Raff, Jade Bird, Jason Isbell, Jim James, John Paul White, John Prine, Jon Batiste, Jonathan Wilson, Kermit the Frog, Lake Street Dive, Lucius, Lukas Nelson, Margo Price, Marlon Williams, Nathaniel Rateliff, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Neil Young & Promise of the Real, Pinegrove, Sturgill Simpson, The War and Treaty, The Wild Reeds, Roger Waters, Shovels & Rope, Warren Haynes, Wilco, and Yebba.
Awards and Accolades
Remote Recording Facility for Grammy Award winning album in the category of Best Jazz Large Ensemble Album in 2011; Mingus Big Band Live at Jazz Standard. TEC Award winner in the category of Remote Production / Recording or Broadcast in 2009; JVC Newport Jazz Festival Remote Recording Facility for Grammy Award winning album in the category of Best Latin Jazz Album in 2001; Paquito D'Rivera Quintet - Live at the Blue Note Remote Recording Facility for Grammy Award winning album in the category of Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band in 1989; Gil Evans and the Monday Night Orchestra – Bud and Bird Nominee 1987, 1991, 2002, 2013 TEC Award Remote Recording Facility
References
External links