Today we’d like to introduce you to Oz Amaro.
Oz, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve been a musician all my life. Mostly as a drummer/percussionist in many statewide bands. I started in recording and sound engineering when I was about 19 with the purchase of some recording equipment and some live PA systems. As I continued to play in bands and be in recording studios myself I collected a lot of good information of how I would like to see recording done and the things I could bring to the table. It became a side business by the time I was 29 or so.
I started to record other bands and also doing sound engineering for other bands and events. All this time I held a full-time job and was in school. By the time I was in my late 40’s I had worked many years as a senior software engineer while also playing in bands and doing the recording thing. Around 2011 I had gotten to the point where I could afford the great equipment and lease the space I desired to build my studio. In 2012 I opened up Soundhammer Studios I DeKalb, IL. All the while still working a full-time job. I worked as an independent software consultant on many projects during the day and did the music/recording business at night. I rarely went to bed before 2 am for many years. LOL.
It’s been 5 years now and we’ve grown and worked on so many projects with bands and artists from IL and many other states. Being located close to the airport, we’ve even had bands fly into Soundhammer Studios from word of mouth about the fun experience and quality of work we do here. I’m very proud of being able to accomplish a long-desired dream of offering incredible recording quality, vintage gear, and a special dedication to detail to bands and artists in IL that I know they would not be getting at the prices we are offering. Our works are proudly on display at https://soundcloud.com/soundhammerstudio.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Nothing is ever perfect, but I’ve never let my passion be robbed by a little bit of struggle. I’ve not been tripped up yet. In the early years there were build-outs that needed to be done, equipment that needed to be purchased and advertisement that needed to be done. It took time since I was financing and doing most all of it myself. It’s worked out in the end.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Soundhammer Studios – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Soundhammer Studio is a recording studio/facility that does professional digital audio recordings for bands, artists and broadcasting. We also do live mobile recording and professional sound rental. It’s mostly a one-man operation run by myself. We have some of the greatest microphones, preamps, guitars, and amplifiers ever made, on hand and available for our clients. We’re different in the sense that we are not 100% clock-watchers here. When we contract a client, our #1 goal is to achieve success. If that means a little more time on our part, we’ll do it.
While it is a business and we do have to have some boundaries, I have many times given my time away because I truly believed in that artist or band and wanted the product to be something special. That’s one of the things that makes us different….we care. I’m a musician too, I get it. Sometimes things take time to make great, I’m not against that nor am I going to let a client end up with substandard quality because he or she cannot afford an extra hour. I’m doing this because I love music and I love seeing bands and artists succeed. Yes, I need to turn a profit to keep the doors open, but I’m still passionate about what I do to the point of not being afraid to give the client more than they asked or paid for…if its THAT good.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Our future is to contract more clients and get the word out that there is a studio here in IL that has a LOT of bang for the buck and can turn out incredible quality. We have all the gear we need, we just want to get more people to experience what we can do with it all.
Pricing:
- Band demo (special) package – 4-hrs tracking, 2-hours overdubs, and 2hrs mixing for 500.00. Includes mastering
- Rates are usually around 50.00 hr
Contact Info:
- Address: Soundhammer Studios
1500 E. Lincoln Hwy STE 4
DeKalb, IL 60115 - Website: www.soundhammerstudio.com
- Phone: (815) 761-6440
- Email: ozamaro@soundhammerstudio.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoundhammerStudio/
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
