PRODUCE

The Koop Studio

Sammy Wags and studio partner, Matt Graff built The Koop to be a home base for their creative endeavors, and a place to help realize the vision of a diverse spectrum of musical artists and clientele.

The playlist here gives a snapshot into the diversity of clients and projects Sam has Recorded and Produced. Check out the Discography page for more detailed information and an extensive list of Sam’s Recording and Production work for both his own creations, and the eclectic blend of artists and collaborators.

The Studio:
The Koop is a large, three room studio featuring a plethora of vintage and modern instruments and recording equipment. Whether we're tracking a full big band, doing vocal overdubs for an EDM record, or mixing down a slamming rock tune, our flexible space can be easily configured to meet the needs of nearly any type of session.

Our Philosophy:
With the advent of digital recording, many aspects of record-making have changed over the last twenty years. What used to require hundreds of thousands of dollars of tape machines, recording consoles and outboard gear can now be done with an interface the size of a textbook plugged into a laptop. While most people agree that this expensive analog equipment sounds better, no one disputes that the possibilities afforded by digital recording have had a massive impact on how songs are written, tracked, mixed and mastered.

And yet, while some of these methods of capturing a performance have changed, the fundamentals of making a great record really haven't. A good song performed by good musicians, and an engineer who knows how to capture the essence and emotion of a moment. That's what matters. No amount of expensive vintage microphones, sweet sounding rack equipment, high end computers and pristine converters are going to make a lick of difference if the song isn't ready, the artist isn't happy, or the engineer isn't prepared.

At the Koop, we understand that a successful session relies more on these fundamentals than having a lot of flashy equipment. Sure, we have plenty of boutique, high end gear that will add richness and character to a performance, but we also understand that all of it is the icing on the cake. Is the song finished? Is the moment right? Are the musicians comfortable and confident that their unique sound and vibe is being captured? These are the questions that matter, and are what we ask ourselves every time we press record.