This month's studio profile features a rockin little studio in Northern Iowa, Rancho Bizarro Studios in Osage. Here's what owner/engineer John Steiert shared with the Iowa Entertainer:

IE: John, Give us an overview history of how "Rancho Bizarro Studios" was conceived?

JS: I opened the studio in 1991. Before that I was working in St Louis Park with Rob Genadek at Lakecity Studios. That was an excellent place to record; I used some of the features of that space when designing the layout of my own studio. At first, I thought of locating the studio in the Twin Cities/metro area, but then realized there was more of a need for recording services right here in Northern Iowa! The location is great... we're eighty minutes drive from the Cedar Fall/Waterloo area and less than an hour from Mason City, IA. and Rochester MN.

We first opened under the name of Ravenwood Productions. Back then, we offered many different services. We wrote and produced radio ads, recorded 8 track demos and later on, 16 track recordings, rented back- line and P.A. equipment for live sound and also did video production and even location management.

The studio went through a major overhaul in 2001. We decided to specialize in multi-track audio recording and changed the name to Rancho Bizarro Studios. We made some serious equipment up-grades as well. We sold the old Neotek Series I and installed a Trident T24 (36x24x2) in the control room and also went to a 24 track digital format. I still have the MCI JH110 (1" 8 track) and an ADAT lying around here. The 1" sounds so amazing and it's great for smaller projects and clients that want that analog warmth. Now we mainly cater to the singer/songwriter types and local bands in the Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa areas.

IE: What is the mission of the studio, and what type of services do you provide now?

JS: Our mission at Rancho Bizarro is to give our clients the best sounding recordings for their hard earned dollar. A lot of our customers are up -and-coming musicians that have yet to be signed or independent artists that are working with-in a budget. We give them a creative environment to work in and a wide selection of new and vintage gear to experiment with. As far as services offered, we handle 24 track studio recordings as well as 8, 16, and 24 track on-site/location recording services. We also do acoustical consultations for churches, schools, and other large venues. We have gotten out of video production and live sound, but still rent some back-line gear from time to time. Mainly tube amps, mics, and other hard to find vintage items. If someone needs live sound or P.A. equipment, I usually refer them to Ed Smerud at Zero Sound. He does great work and has some of the best sounding cabinets around!

IE: Tell us about a few of the Iowa based artists you are currently working with?

JS: We've recorded with many different artists from Iowa and Minnesota. Heath Alan recorded most of the vocals for his first CD here. I've demo-ed a couple of songs for Larry Myer on the 1" and recorded singer/songwriters Jim Birkes & Roger Bernard with the MCI as well. We've done demos for Iowa bands like "First Amendment", a band based out of my hometown of Osage. "Bound" from Mason City & "Satyre" from as far away as Independence. Currently we're busy with four different projects. "Pyretta" just finished tracking a five song EP that will be released on March 20th. At the "Jungle" in Owatonna, MN. We just finished mixing our first live album with Dave Lambert, "Live at Piggy Blues". Dave's a dynamite bottleneck slide player from Ellendale, MN. He's planning to record a follow-up studio album here later this year. "LyinHeart" is currently putting the finishing touches on their first CD "Good Twisted American Fun". And Brent and Todd's Band, X-Factor-J, is soon to release their studio project.

IE: Tell us a bit about your recording process and the typical projects you work on?

JS: Our recording process is quite simple. Make whatever it is that you're recording sound as good as possible "before" you record! For example, changing drumheads and guitar strings before you come in to the studio. I can't tell you how important this is there's no piece of gear in the world that can fix a bad sounding instrument! Microphone selection and placement is also critical. I try not to EQ to tape if possible. You can usually get the sound you're looking for just by moving the mic around and finding the "sweet" spot. I try and do all of my tracking this way. If you have a great sounding kick drum or vocal with no EQ, or effects... just imagine how it'll sound after you mix! There is no such thing as "fixing it in the mix"; if a track sounds bad... no amount of EQ or reverb is going to help it later on.

As far as "typical" projects, I have yet to record one. Every artist and band is unique. I try and capture the sound and energy that makes them special. I've recorded a variety of different styles of music here in the last thirteen plus years, from blues and jazz to rock and country; I've even recorded a few polka bands! My recording methods often have to change with my clients, I try to be as accommodating to their needs as possible.

IE: What do you feel is unique about "Rancho Bizarro Studios" and the projects you work on?

JS: There are a few things that make us unique. One is our location. We have a rural setting that seems to help the recording process, it's quiet here and there are very few distractions! The studio seems to have a very creative feel to it also. Our clients often comment on how comfortable they feel when they are here working on their projects. I think what makes our projects unique is the attention we give to the artist's needs. There is a lot of pressure on musicians when they have to record. If you can get them to relax and enjoy the recording process, you usually end up with a great performance and a great sounding recording!

IE: The studio has a very unique name, how did you arrive at "Rancho Bizarro"?

JS: Due to our rural location, people started to call this place the "Ranch". A friend of mine, Keith Low, more or less came up with the "Bizarro" part. He started referring to the studio as "Rancho Bizarro" and it kind-of stuck... I started using the name in 2001 when we went from 16 to 24 tracks.

IE: What do you feel is the goal of the studio over the next few years?

JS: There are lots of things I'd like to see happen here. I'd like to see a few more upgrades as far as equipment and software. And more recording space to accommodate our clients would be great. But most of all, we just want to stay busy! There are a lot of talented musicians out there, writing great material. Helping them get that material recorded is what makes us happy. Being a part of that creative process, it's a very cool thing!

IE: What is your philosophy on recording, and how has this attributed to the success of your studio?

JS: We try to capture an artist's performance in its purest form. There's a lot of emotion in music, if you can convey that emotion to the listener's ear, then you're doing something right. A lot of people seem to get hung up on the technical side of the recording process, and with today's technology, that's a very easy thing to do. You can spend a lot of time and money trying to stay current with the latest software and upgrades. When I find myself going down that path I stop and remind myself, "Sgt. Pepper was recorded on a four-track!" I love all the new stuff that's out there now, but we have to remember, it's not about the equipment... it's about the music! The equipment is just a tool to help you do your job. Find the things that work well in your recording process and use them as often as you can. On the other hand, don't be afraid to experiment as well. I've been known to record guitar tracks in bathrooms, stairways and even outside! You'll never know what something will sound like until you try!

My other philosophy on recording is to keep learning. I started my recording career taking classes with Mike Lawyer back in 1988. After that, I went to Full Sail Center for the Recording Arts from 1989 to 1990. But I've probably learned more in the last fourteen years just by reading trade magazines and networking with other engineers and musicians, listening to their stories and experiences. Don't get me wrong; if someone wants to start off in this business, they should definitely seek some type of formal training. But don't let your education stop there. It's only the tip of the iceberg!

I think the success of this studio will rely on the people who work here, the clients we can attract and the music we can produce. As I've said before, there are a lot of talented musicians out there just waiting to be heard... We're here to help them anyway we can.

Rancho Bizarro Staff
John Steiert....... owner/engineer
Mark Dopkins....... tech support/maintenance

For more information about
RANCHO BIZARRO STUDIOS
Contact John Steiert at 641-983-4445
or E-mail: ranchobizarro@yahoo.com