Strategic Alliances
ENAK repairs ribbon mics and ribbon mics only. This focus has allowed ENAK to have earned some relationships with highly respected companies with complementary offerings. We are proud to be associated with:
It’s a very small world. While Curt was earning his electrical engineering degree, he put himself through college working various jobs. Yet he also found time to become an intern at Doug Fearn’s Veritable Studios in Philadelphia. Curt was blown away by Doug’s technical and musical wisdom along with his practical approach to recording. Curt sat at Doug’s feet until he was recruited to a paid job as a 2nd Engineer at Chestnut Sound under the talented Chief Engineer Chris Gately. Decades later, after having purchased a D.W. Fearn VT-2, Curt finally put two and two together and realized D.W. Fearn was Doug Fearn. Stunned! Reconnecting and reestablishing the friendship, Doug, a huge fan of ribbon mics, responded positively to the suggestion that we build a relationship, as Doug was very familiar with Clarence and ENAK. In my mind, there is no better gear on the planet than the bright red DW Fearn gear.
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And, if you need further proof that Doug is an audio genius, sign up for his podcast My Take on Music Recording which is available on Spotify, Apple, Buzzsprout & many other podcast providers.
One idea, two companies:
At times it is hard to tell where D.W. Fearn ends and Hazelrigg Industries begins.
You can’t make this stuff up. It turns out that Curt lives in the very same town where D.W. Fearn gear is assembled by the equally talented George and Geoff Hazelrigg who have their own line of gear they co-developed with Doug Fearn. Amazing musicians in their own right, the brothers have both an ear for music as well as a knack for the recording arts.
And when it comes to theory, be it music or electronics, these guys have it nailed. Their gear is nothing less than stellar. In fact, Curt owns a VLC and treasures its contributions to recordings.
Extinct Microphones
ENAK’s journey with Extinct Microphones is just getting started. Curt was introduced to Stewart Tavener, Principal /Founder at Extinct, by mutual friend Martin Mitchell, a freelance sound engineer & Lecturer in Music Technology in the UK. Martin told me that nobody knew ribbon mics like Stewart.
I found this to be 100% true. Stewart has a Ph.D. in "physical chemistry" and worked in academia at a university before deciding he wanted to pursue a career in ribbon microphones. His love of music and being a musician drew him in like a tractor beam! So I reached out to Stewart as I was having problems measuring ribbon resonance in reaction to tension. Not only was Stewart willing to teach me, but I also discovered he is one of the nicest people I have ever met. So I bought a Valkyr Blumlein stereo microphone from him.
While not as well known in this country as it should be, the Extinct Microphone is amazing and I have taken it on many trips to recording sessions in Nashville, where it has been met with great respect. This company needs more exposure in the USA and North America. ENAK plans to help. We are also proud to announce that Stewart and Adam, owners of Extinct Microphones, have informed us that we have been selected as a USA dealer! This is exciting; details will follow.
Long before CJ moved back to Pennsylvania, he used to make the trek from his home in Connecticut to the town of Nazareth, PA. Nazareth is the home of Martin Guitar and Curt would visit the factory once a year and pay the premium for a Behind the Scenes tour. One of Curt’s hobbies is visiting recording studios so each trip would include exploring a different studio. At the time, Jason Wegfahrt was managing a studio in Bethlehem, the next town over. The two went to lunch following the studio tour and the rest is history. While there is a large age difference, they are two peas in a pod and share many similar beliefs and interests.
Fast forward about 10 years. Although commercial studios are closing left and right, Jason and his business partner, Justen Blackstone, have decided to take on the challenge of opening one. Bethlehem, PA has a rich history of music and the arts, but has never had a so-called “hub” for musicians to gather, network and create. With the vision of “Access, Community and Education”, Jason and Justen set out to build The Foundry Recording Studio, a 6,000 sqft world-class commercial recording studio for the Lehigh Valley Music community and beyond. After CJ’s move back to PA, being only 50 minutes away from Bethlehem, CJ stayed close to the studio build.
One day over lunch, Jason, Justen and CJ developed a plan where the Foundry would use ENAK mics. Watch this space for developments!