>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

Justin Mai, standing, and Jesse Jones at work in Groth Recording Studio at EOU. ().

EOU'S HIDDEN STUDIO

SHEDDING UNKNOWN IMAGE

Three years ago, the only thing that Eastern Oregon University's Loso Hall's Room 125 was known for was as storage space.

The room, designed as a small recording booth within the EOU Music Department, lay dormant due to a lack of funding and direction.

Since then, a transformation has taken place. The room is now Groth Recording Studio — an up-to-date, fully functioning digital recording studio with several successful projects under its belt.

The studio evolved through the combined efforts of EOU music professors John McKinnon and Matt Cooper and former student Justin Mai, who currently is the director of the new facility.

Mai was instrumental in designing and creating a studio that could be used for training (students can take a recording techniques class for credit) and recording. The studio has two 24-track systems and soon will be able to do on-site recordings with the use of portable digital equipment.

"There's no one who can record at this level in this area unless you go to Boise," Mai said. "Interest has grown. I stay super busy just by word of mouth."

One of the most exciting projects, completed this summer by Mai, features two EOU students — Jesse Jones and Isaac Callender. The CD, "Here

Comes the Rain," features original and traditional songs in a country/bluegrass style.

"The closest studios are in Portland or Boise," Jones said. "There are a few home studios in town, but none like this. It is amazing it's here at EOU and nobody knows about it. This studio could bring EOU into the (commercial) musical scene."

Other projects have included recordings for La Grande High School, Wallowa High School, several church groups, the Grande Ronde Symphony and the Oregon East Symphony.

Students, faculty and community members may have access to the studio for recording projects at rates well below the standard price found at other studios.

"A recording studio is now a vitally important component to any music department," McKinnon said. "We are lucky to have been allowed to grow slowly and get to where we are today. We hope in the near future to be able to record all concerts that take place in McKenzie Theatre from the little recording studio in the music department area, by way of video camera and digital lines."