I've been thinking about this a lot lately...  Sure, we have a few amazing studios in this town.  It used to be full of amazing studios, but even back in the day, it was hard to get time in these places.  Now a days, it's hard to get these places booked up, I hear.  So what if we could build the perfect recording studio, or even studio complex, and it was so amazing, that it'd bring us back to the days of old, where Nashville would once again become the mecca for recording it once was.  I'm not saying the 80's or 90's, but even back to the 50's, 60's and 70's where records for artists from all over the US and even the world were recorded right here by our own musicians, because we had (and still do have, I believe) the best musicians, engineers, producers and facilities in the world.  

But just isolating the facility it's self, and not arguing the "talent" issue, which we ALL KNOW is really what makes a great recording (including the talent of the songwriters, most fundamentally), I'd like to respectfully ask that on this discussion, WE LIMIT THE DISCUSSION TO THE STUDIO FACILITY, EQUIPMENT, LOCATION or OTHER FACTORS THAT GO INTO THE FACILITY IT'S SELF.  Perhaps even talk about staffing as well.  For example, one of the things that may have made Abby Road so great was the way they ran the facility, with dedicated engineers, or even the fact that the guys in there were in button down shirt and tie?  Eh, You won't sell me on that concept, actually, but hey, we can argue that here.  But let's keep away from the ones we all know, which is that the most important piece of gear are the ears and the rack between the ears.  Duh, we all that that, ok?  

So, my questions would be, where would it be located?  How big of a room(s)?  How many rooms? Who would design the room(s)?  What console(s)? Microphones?  Gear?  Piano(s)?  Treatments?  Design styles?  Machines?  Decor?  How simple or extravagant?  What's your personal dream?  Who would manage it?  How would it be funded?  How would it be kept alive?  How would it be viable as a business it today's market where other fantastic studios struggle?  What would set it apart?  How would it attract out of towers?  Major artists from around the world?  

I'll be glad to share my thoughts, of which I have many on this concept, but I'd rather hear yours.  

Thank you kindly!  

Cheers!

Peter Kendall Warren
www.internationalmanofmusic.com