Brad Bensko

In addition to writing and performing music, Brad Bensko runs and operates Bearded Cat Studio out of Mystic, CT. Bearded Cat is a recording studio and production facility that specializes in analog, digital, and hybrid recording/mixing/production methods.

Here at Bearded Cat Studio, we love the process of analog recording. It has a tendency to provide great warmth to the sound, and has a unique workflow that we feel has an incredibly positive effect on the recording process. Even when we’re working digitally, we try to keep a workflow and mindset similar to when we work analog, as we’ve found it to be successful.

Bearded Cat Studio can work with Analog, Digital, and even hybrid methods. Whatever suits your needs and whatever you feel is the best way to present your music.

SERVICES BEARDED CAT CURRENTLY PROVIDES:

• Recording Engineering Utilizing Analog, Digital, and Hybrid Methods

• Record Production (Arranging, Performing various instruments, etc)

• Analog To Digital Transfers in multiple formats

• Mixing

• Run Your Mixes Through Analog Equipment, Tape Machines, Etc To Fatten Up Mixes

If you’re looking for a fun, chill, and welcoming place to record your next song, record, or simply transfer your old recordings to digital, we would love to be a part of it! Reach out today!

If interested, please contact: beardedcatproduction@gmail.com or call (860)-245-5557

EQUIPMENT LIST:

CONSOLE/MONITORS:

• Soundcraft Ghost 32 Channel/8 Bus Recording Console

• Focal Twin Monitors

• Auratone Monitors

RECORDERS:

• MCI JH24 2” 24 Track

• Otari MX70 1” 16 track (with additional 1” 8 track headstack)

• Otari MX5050-MKIII 1/2” 8 Track

• MCI JH110B 1/4” 2 track (with Mara Machines Transformer I/O Cards)

• Ampex 440B 1/2” 4 Track and 1/4” 2 track

• Antelope Audio Orion 32+ Gen 3 Audio Interface

PREAMPS:

• Seventh Circle Audio N72 (Neve Copy) x2

• Seventh Circle Audio C84 x2

• Seventh Circle Audio J99 x2

• Seventh Circle Audio T15

• Retro Audio 500 Tube Pre

• 32 Soundcraft Ghost Preamps

• Vintage Homemade Tube Preamp

• Audioscape Golden58 Stereo Tube Preamplifier

• Ampex AM-10 Mic Preamp/Mixer

EQ:

• BAE 73EQL 500 series (neve copy)

• Cartec Audio EQP1A Tube EQ x2

• Heritage Audio Motorcity EQ x2

• Vintage Altec 9061A Graphic EQ (1960s)

• 32 Channels of Console Parametric EQ

COMPRESSORS:

• Daking FET-III Stereo Compressor

• UREI LA4 (Stereo Linked Pair)

• Hairball Audio 1176 (Rev A)

• Stam Audio SA76ADG

• Audioscape Opto Comp

• DBX 160x (2)

• Wheatstone 1202A Stereo Compressor/Limiter/De-Esser

• Standard Audio Level-Or

• Empirical Labs Derresser

REVERB/ECHO:

• Demeter Real Spring Reverb (RV-1D)

• Korg DRV-3000

• Sony MU-R201

• Yamaha REV7

• TC Electronic M-One-XL

MICROPHONES:

• AEA R84 Ribbon Mic

• AKG D12

• AKG D12E (x3)

• AKG D19 (x2)

• AKG D24

• AKG D1000E (x2)

• AKG D120 (x2)

• Altec M11 Tube Microphone (21D Capsule)

• ALTEC 626A Electret Condenser

• Altec 689BX Dynamic

• BEAG MD-16N

• BEAG MD-14N

• Beyerdynamic MD422n (x2)

• Electrovoice 623

• Electrovoice 664

• Electrovoice 664a

• Electrovoice 660 (x3)

• Electrovoice Re11

• ELectrovoice RE200

• Lanier Dynamic

• Oktava Mk012 Stereo Condenser Pair (Omni, Cardioid, Hypercardioid capsules)

• Philips EL6033

• RCA 77DX

• RCA 47B

• RCA BK5

• SE VR1 Ribbon (x2)

• Sennheiser MD403

• Sennheiser MD408 (x2)

• Sennheiser MD421

• Shure 330 Ribbon

• Shure 51

• Shure 55

• Shure 545 (x2)

• Shure 547 (x2)

• Shure 566

• Shure SM56

• Shure SM76

• Shure PE575

• Shure Green Bullet

• Stager SR2 Stereo Ribbon Pair

• Telefunken TF47 Tube Condenser

• Turner CB Radio Microphone

GUITARS:

• 1962 Silvertone 1446 Semi Hollowbody

• Custom Build Telecaster

• Guild S-200

• 1958 Kay K6533 Electric Archtop

• Phantom Guitars Teardrop Electric 12 String

• Gibson J45

• Taylor GC4

• 1970s Yamaha FG-260 12 String

BASSES:

• Fender American Precision Bass

• Rickenbacker 4003

• 1970s Epiphone EA260/5120 Bass

KEYBOARDS:

• 1958 Hammond B3 Organ (With Built in Reverb and Leslie 122 Cabinet)

• 1962 Wurlitzer 140A Electric Piano (With Wurlitzer External Speaker)

• 1968 Farfisa FAST 5 Organ

• 1978 Fender Rhodes Electric Piano MK1

• Nord Stage 2ex

DRUMS/PERCUSSION:

• Ludwig Classic Maple Pro Beat

• 1970s Ludwig Snare

• 1970s Gretsch Snare

• Roland TR-08

• Various Percussion Instruments

AMPLIFIERS:

• 1960s Ampeg Reverberocket

• 1960s Ampeg B15N Bass Amp

• 1940s Gibson GA25

• 1951 Magnatone Varsity

• 1950s Gretsch 6161

• 1970s Guild Maverick

• Premier External Tube Spring Reverb

DIs:

• 2 Channels Seventh Circle Audio DI

• Audioscape DI

• Radial Passive PRO DI (x2)

• Sescom Sm-2

• Whirlwind DI

TRANSFER FORMATS:

• 2” 24 Track (MCI 2” 24 Track)

• 1” 16 and 8 Track (Otari MX-70 1”)

• 1/2” 4 and 8 track (Ampex 440B and Otari MX5050MKIII-8

• 1/4” Mono, Half Track, and Quarter Track (Ampex 440B and MCI JH110B)

• ADAT (Alesis)

• DAT (Fostex D5)

• DTRS (Tascam DA-38)

• MiniDisc

• Stereo Cassette

*If you have a format not listed above, feel free to reach out, we are always acquiring new formats!

Here are a few examples of Bearded Cat Productions: