Recording at the sanctuary
The Gear | The Philosophy | The Experience
Equipment & Space
Microphones: Neumann U87, Neumann TLM 183, Neumann KM 184 (Stereo Pair), AKG C414 Gold (Stereo Pair), SE Electronics SE8 (Stereo Pair), SE Electronics V7 (6), Shure SM57 (6)
Preamps: Rupert Neve (8 Channels), SSL (8 Channels), Univeral Audio (8 Channels), Audient (8 Channels)
Processing: Ferrofish A32-Pro AD/DA, RME Optical MADI Interface
The Space: The Sanctuary includes a live room (shown), control room (below), three isolation booths, and a green room with kitchenette. Our instrument collection includes a variety of guitars and basses, Yamaha organ, Kohler & Campbell piano, synths, cellos and violins, and an MPC 2000XL for remix work..
Our Approach & Creative Philosophy
Our founder cut his teeth in some of the top studios on the West Coast, working alongside Grammy-, Oscar-, and platinum-level producers, and that experience shapes how we approach every session. While many studios operate with a near-religious devotion to the structured “recording school” method — click tracks, headphones, isolated overdubs, and heavily stacked performances — we prefer not to pull artists out of their natural creative environments unless there’s a clear reason to do so. We love working with well-rehearsed bands and capturing performances live, prioritizing thoughtful mic placement, premium gear, clean signal paths, and—most importantly—the psychology of a relaxed room where creativity isn’t strangled by a ticking clock. We’re absolutely happy to use click tracks, headphones, and multi-tracking when it serves the artist’s vision, and we’ve done so many times. But our core belief is simple: if technical perfection comes at the cost of feel, we’d rather protect the soul of the song.
Keyboard Corner: A Place For Creative Exploration
As James Rhodes famously said, "there are eighty-eight keys on a piano and, within that, an entire universe." From our Kohler & Campbell upright piano and Yamaha organ to a rotating cast of random synthesizers, MIDI keyboards for virtual instruments, and a classic Akai MPC2000XL sequencer — we’ve built a setup that invites both classic songwriting and experimental remix work. Whether someone wants a warm piano part, a strange synth layer, a live-sampled realtime remix, or a beat built from scratch, there’s always something here to spark an idea.
String Theory: The Right Tool for the Right Tone
From a Fender Stratocaster to a Gibson Les Paul, a Taylor semi-hollow body 12-string to the legendary Tacoma “Thunder Chief” acoustic bass, the Sanctuary’s guitar collection gives our artists the right tool for every job. Every instrument brings its own voice, character, and feel, and having that range on hand helps turn good ideas into great recordings. Some might call it overkill but, as Benjamin Franklin once said, “The best investment is in the tools of one’s own trade.” At Minnesota Songwriter Sanctuary, we believe the right instrument can open the door to the right performance, and we are invested in making sure that you always have the key.
Meet Our Mix and Master Dream Team!
The Minnesota Songwriter Sanctuary is proud to connect our artists with three elite mix and master engineers who support our nonprofit mission at accessible rates. Cookie Marenco (left) is internationally respected for her innovative recordings and work in high-resolution audio. A producer, engineer, and label executive, she has worked with Grammy-winning artists and built a catalog celebrated for its sonic depth and clarity; her mixes are used as reference material in hi-fi circles. David "D-Sane" Severance (center) brings decades of experience, having produced thousands of releases, worked with Macklemore, Sean Price, Eightball & MJG, and contributed to mixes that have generated over a billion combined streams. Sean Beresford (right) brings deep cross-genre experience and a reputation for thoughtful, artist-centered work, including albums produced for Third Eye Blind and Stevie Nicks.
