Fort Wayne, Indiana: The Recording Scene's Best-Kept Secret
Fort Wayne, Indiana, might not come to mind as a vital music industry hub, but it should. While cities like Nashville, LA, New York, and London soak up the spotlight, this small Midwestern city has quietly built a hidden network of professional-quality recording studios. Thanks in large part to Sweetwater.com, these Fort Wayne studios have access to some of the finest recording gear in existence and are out pacing some of the more larger and more well-known studios across the United States.
Located in Fort Wayne — and boasting a top-tier studio of its own — Sweetwater is one of the world’s largest online music equipment retailers. It’s also an employment powerhouse — currently with well over 2,000 highly trained, on-site employees.
Many of them, especially in their sales department, come to the city with deep résumés that include Grammy nominations, arena-level touring, and A-list studio credentials. Combine that with the city’s already healthy music scene, affordable cost of living, and access to Sweetwater’s massive warehouse, and you get a community of independent studios that rival any other market.
We recently connected with six of Fort Wayne’s studio owners who are adding their own spin to the city’s thriving scene. From transplanted Sweetwater employees to Fort Wayne natives, they detail their distinct studios, personal journeys, and the magic that makes this city a recording haven.
Cellar Door Recording ~ Mike Arango
Availability: Private but open to outside projects as time permits
Services: Music recording, editing, and mixing services
Website/socials: Facebook.com/CellarDoorRecording
Mike Arango, a Sweetwater sales engineer, brings a wealth of professional recording expertise from his roots in the Los Angeles music scene. And at his Cellar Door Recording studio, he channels that experience through a genuine API console.
Your audio & recording background
I started early on by bouncing tracks between two cassette decks through a DJ mixer, then graduated to a 4-track Portastudio, then a DA-38 and Mackie mixer. I went to school for audio production and moved to Los Angeles, where I got a lot of work as a Pro Tools operator and editor, then as an engineer.
The story behind your studio
I built this space just to see if I could challenge myself to build out a three-room facility from scratch. It took a while, as I studied proper studio construction technique each step of the way, but my fingerprints are on every inch of that build. I ended up with a good-sounding space with excellent isolation, and the results translate well!
A unique aspect of your studio
I was after a warm aesthetic where musicians could be comfortable and relaxed while creating their art. [So the] space [is] anything but sterile. I've become known for my attention to detail and for getting good results, and this is a comfortable space to make that happen. The word has gotten out, and I'm staying quite busy!
Notable gear & equipment
The studio is built around an API 1608-II console with Final Touch Automation. It’s loaded with API 550A and 500B EQs, as well as Purple Audio TAV graphic EQs. I’ve also accumulated a collection of great outboard gear over the years, but I’m especially excited about my newly acquired Undertone Audio UnFairchild compressor and Neumann U 67.
Fort Wayne's recording scene
Fort Wayne's scene is vibrant and varied. There are so many talented folks, both native to the city and those who have relocated here, like me. There's never a shortage of people to record or collaborate with.
