Sacramento State students looking to record their own music no longer have to go far to find a recording studio to meet their needs. Weston House Recording is opening in a new location near the Sac State campus and will provide special rates for students.

Weston Ray, the owner and audio engineer at Weston House Recording, said he wants to use the new location to cater specifically to Sac State students in the music scene. The studio will offer student rates, flexible hours and weekend recording time.

Although there are several music recording options available on campus at Sac State, they are limited to academic-related work, said Ernie Hills, chair of the music department.

“We have some recording capability in Capistrano Hall but it is not an elaborate recording studio,” Hills said. “We don’t have the facilities or the staff to allow students to do outside work.”

That is why Ray encourages students to take advantage of what his studio has to offer.

Located less than a mile from the Sac State campus, just off of Howe Avenue, Weston House Recording is housed in a seemingly small, unmarked building. Once inside, however, the studio opens up into a 2,100 square foot high-tech recording studio, equipped with a small kitchen area and lobby.

The recording studio features top-of-the-line equipment from unique brands not available everywhere else.

“One of the features that I like a lot is all the equipment they have to offer. Everything they own is top quality,” said Boris Karpuk, senior piano performance and music education major.

Typically, recording rates start at $500 for 10 hours. However, Ray plans to offer Sac State students the first 20 hours of recording time for $500. The price includes the use of the recording studio, help of an audio engineer and the use of studio equipment and instruments.

“I really appreciate that when studios offer student discount,” Karpuk said. “That just shows they understand how hard it is to be a music major.”

Ray also points out on his website that genre doesn’t matter when it comes to producing good quality songs.

Weston House Recording holds a history of recording artists from every genre, including rap, R&B, hardcore metal, blues, rock and acoustic. The studio even recorded local big names such as Quette Daddie, a rap artist who recently opened for Snoop Dogg in South Lake Tahoe and local World Extreme Cagefighter Urijah Faber for a video game voice-over.

Just as Weston House Recording is open to different genres, it is also open to teaching and learning. Ray offers training to anyone who wants to become an audio engineer.

Weston House Recording is located at 955 Venture Court and is available by appointment only. For more information visit the website at www.westonhouserecording.com/ or follow them on Twitter at twitter.com/WesHouseRec.

Christina Hayes can be reached at [email protected]

Inna Gritsak can be reached at [email protected]