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Minimum Blue Studios is a complete production & composition suite, designed & streamlined for economy without the least compromise in quality. Evolving since 1999, the studio today is at the cutting edge of audio technology, yet our signature sound still retains the warmth & clarity of the analog era. We specialize in what broadband internet has made possible: a full spectrum of studio services for independent audio & video artists around the globe — reliable, professional & affordable, with interactive & cooperative feedback between the artist & the engineer even though an ocean may separate them. We invite you to listen to our production sampler - see this page for more information.

The Stuff

The studio is capable of importing and producing audio up to 32bit/96KHz SACD or DVD, in channel configurations up to 7.1 surround in any encoding. For video, we can import and work with any of the popular source formats, from VCR to DV, and can render to video ranging from WMV or Qucktime to theatre-quality, widescreen HDV. Our preferred audio system is Sonar Producer rewired with Propellerheads Reason. We also maintain a ProTools rig and can easily import and work with your ProTools projects. Our preferred video NLE is Sony Vegas, yet as with ProTools for audio, we can easily work with your Avid or FinalCut projects as well. Our workstations are maintained at the razor's edge of state-of-the-art, and the studio is linked to the Internet over a fast and secure broadband pipe.

For mastering, the primary tool is, of course, the ear of the engineer, but some of our favorite helpers are iZotope Ozone, T-Racks24, Waves Diamond, and Sony SoundForge. For CD/DVD rendering and multimedia, we prefer Sony DVD Architect, Sony CD Architect, Adobe Illustrator CS, Adobe Photoshop CS and Macromedia Fireworks MX. For sampling and loops, we maintain one of the largest libraries anywhere of samples, loops, sound effects and foley — both original and off-the-shelf. Some of our favorite tools in this area are Native Instruments Kontakt & Battery, Propellerhead ReCycle and Spectrasonics StylusRMX. We also maintain a large collection of softsynths, from the likes of Native Instuments, VirSYN, Korg, Applied Acoustics, Arturia, Cakewalk, Spectrasonics and many others.

In short, the studio is thoroughly equipped. However, if we don't have something that is required for your project, we'll obtain it post-haste — Tom loves an excuse to acquire a new toy.

The Crew

Minimum Blue is the deep cover, secret-agent name for Oklahoma City guitarist, composer and sound engineer Tom Hunt. For 30 years, Tom has performed and composed music for a wide of variety of venues, and his recent CD release of vintage electronica "Exit Now" is a popular title on the web. Most recently focusing on film music and sound engineering, he has rejoined with long-time musical partner, C. Miles Cody, and together they have a number of films making the festival circuit rounds. Firmly rooted in the traditions of jazz and folk, yet always adaptive to the needs of the filmmaker, Tom's musical style has been described as eclectic and texture-centered — uniquely blending modern tonal elements with traditional instrumentation.

C.Miles Cody has written music for performance, film, commercials, and therapy for 35 years. He composed pieces for Apocalyse and Light Gravity and later a variety of music for commercials, dance performances and other productions at TMDG. Eventually he focused on piano and lyric composition. He, in partnership with long-time fellow inmate, Tom Hunt, has recently written the scores for several films ("Moonlight, "Dukkha", "Emociones") currently making the festival circuit. His style adapts to the circumstances, but it always is intent on leading the listener on an intimate walk through the story's emotional landscape. A consummate pianist and composer, Chris is a welcome partner at Minimum Blue Studios.

An up-and-coming filmmaker of the highest caliber, Melissa Sue Lopez joins Minimum Blue Studios as a project partner under the auspices of her production company, Moonsue Productions. Multi-talented and brimming with energy, Melissa brings her skill and enthusiasm acutely to bear on every project. With a bevy of well-received film projects as writer-producer-director already under her belt, she's currently on location in New York City for preproduction and filming on our next project, a feature-length dramatic film. Also an engaging and talented singer/songwriter, Melissa is working on a group of songs to be produced at Minimum Blue Studios, and scheduled for release mid-2007. Stay tuned!

Vicki Hunt is our resident marketing wizard & studio assistant. In charge of promotion for our many different projects, Vik is an invaluable voice of calm & reason when everyone else is screaming "DEADLINE!!! DEADLINE!!!". Also a highly trained & experienced speech pathologist with extensive knowledge of dialect and language, she serves double duty in the studio working with cast on dialog & enunciation clarity and accent enhancement or reduction — in general making everything sound much better than it would without her. Last but not least, Vik is the definitive voice when it comes to the "it sucks, it doesn't suck" decision, & we know from experience not to argue with her.