Milestones: Sound Foundry Studios, Kingsville

Biz X magazine is now in its 25th year of publishing and since our success is due to the support of area businesses and organizations — and of course our readers, advertisers and suppliers — we want to celebrate with others also achieving this amazing milestone. This column features a local business, biz pro or organization, recognizing 25 years of operation in 2022. The April issue kicked off the festivities with The Bloomin’ Gardener, followed by International Art Designs, and Daniel Hofgartner of Buckingham Realty. Now the July/August installment features Sound Foundry Studios. The grand finale wraps up in the 25th annual November/December Biz X Awards edition.

Sound Foundry Studios . . . Bringing Music To Life Since 1997

By Dave Hall

While admitting that time creeps up on you, Sound Foundry Studios owner Brett Humber is nevertheless proud of the fact that his company is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

“It’s been very, very rewarding over the years,” expresses Humber. “We’ve managed to grow a great deal, thanks in large part to our clients and musicians across the region.”

The studio was established by business partners Chris Pistagnesi and John Riolo in 1997.

“Interestingly, the studio started because John wanted somebody to record his music for him,” recalls Pistagnesi, whose brother Jon was also a business partner from 1998 to 1999. “John went and bought some equipment and asked me to record it. While doing this, the idea was sparked for putting together a larger scale studio.”

Humber and Pistagnesi were studying Music Industry Arts at Fanshawe College in London at the time, and during the many bus rides up and down Highway 401, they decided the Windsor area needed a first-class, modern sound studio.

“I was too busy working on my own projects at the time to become involved from the beginning,” explains Humber. “But I joined Chris and John in 2000, since I was there every day anyway.”

As a result, Humber’s studio, Cucumber Records merged with Sound Foundry Studios and he was brought in as a full partner. He became sole owner of the business in 2010.

“We recognized there was, and still is, an immense pool of talent in this area and we wanted to give all these artists and bands a place to produce quality recorded products,” Humber states.

In addition to producing musical recordings, the studio handles just about any type of audio work, including children’s musical CDs, voice-over work for commercial and documentary applications.

Humber is the studio’s sole employee, but occasionally provides co-op opportunities for area high school students in order to provide them with a first-hand look at how a professional sound studio operates.

“They’re always bringing in new music, which helps keep me up-todate, so it’s helpful for all of us,” says Humber.

Given the isolated nature of the work with engineers and musicians on separate sides of the glass, COVID restrictions didn’t place any undue hardship on the studio, until the final few months of the pandemic.

“In the beginning, we were super busy because musicians had nowhere to play since most of the venues were closed to live music,” he indicates. “Our work slowly shifted to solo performers and songwriters because bands couldn’t gather in groups to rehearse.”

Humber mentions that work slowed down near the end of the pandemic as budgets dried up because musicians couldn’t make any money performing.

Brett Humber, Producer, Engineer, Consultant and Owner of Sound Foundry Studios, is photographed inside his new Kingsville location. While his studio may be set in a pastoral setting, don’t let that fool you! Humber’s services are state-of-the-art and designed to complete an entire project from idea to final manufactured project. Photo by Rod Denis.

“It’s picking back up again as musicians attempt to get back out into the public and there’s a pent-up demand for recording new music,” he notes.

In addition to providing recording space for musicians, their engineers and producers, Humber also offers up his own services as a producer.

“It allows me to feed my creative and artistic side,” says Humber, a musician himself. “Instead of just turning the studio over to clients, I can work alongside them in helping produce their music.”

He adds that there’s a huge amount of satisfaction in hearing the end result of hours in the studio and realizing it came together as the result of teamwork.

The 18 foot-by-14 foot studio has a full range of recording equipment, from well-known manufacturers such as Mackie, Audio-Technica, Cascade, Telefunken, Sennheiser, Yamaha, Shure, Marshall, Fender, Fostex, Panasonic and many others.

With 25 years and counting already in the record books, Humber recently moved his studio to a new, more modern, purpose-built location at 1965 Birch Avenue in Kingsville.

The new studio is just across the driveway from his home.

“In the past, we’ve operated out of our parents’ basements — first Chris’s and then mine — and it’s time now to establish our own place,” Humber comments.

For more information and a complete list of available recording equipment, visit: SoundFoundryStudios.com.