Once Upon a Time in Niagara
"Musical dreams and remarkable resilience led to the making of the ultimate “Shed Studio”
Here at LM Pro, we spend a lot of time with clients who, like us, are gearheads. We gush over the latest stereo comps, mic pres, and tube mics. But working in Long & McQuade’s only dedicated studio department gives us something else, too: a chance to hear the stories behind the studios, the gear, and the talented people from our music community who bring it all together.
Enter Steve Goldberger.
On the regular, we meet many creative, well-travelled producers, engineers, and other music industry veterans. Sure, you might run into these people getting celery and pork chops at the local green grocer, but here in our shop, the conversation often goes deeper into their workflow, current music projects, collaborators, studio setups, and backgrounds.
Everyone has a story to tell, and The Shed founder Steve certainly has plenty! So many, in fact, that he has published a memoir called In A Life, filled with tales of tours, people along the way, inspirational personal stories about overcoming adversity and beating the odds when it came to open-heart surgery. Steve, we are so glad that you’re here to share your music and positivity with us!
His studio, The Shed Studio, like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, is craftily concealed inside a mere shed. But take a step through the door, and you quickly realize that you’re in an entirely different world! At one point, it nearly burned to the ground because of an extension cord that decided to self-destruct. In the end, Steve’s dedication and perseverance carried him through the rebuild, and now The Shed is better than ever! Today, it’s one of the most inviting recording spaces in the Niagara region!
Upon entering this boutique one of a kind studio hang, The Shed, the first thing you’re greeted by is a gorgeous API 2448 (expanded to 32 ch) dual-inline console. Adding to the aesthetics, guitars and various other stringed instruments adorn the walls, along with a striking multicoloured diffusion panel. Filling out the floor plan, there’s a Nord, electric pianos, and a Hammond A 100 organ. And to the left of the API, recessed into the wall, is a superb collection of outboard gear.
On either side of the API are a pair of fantastic ATC SCM45 speakers that I helped Steve set up. They’re quite heavy, and lifting them over the console to Steve at the stands wasn’t exactly easy, but we got it done!
The fabric wall hangings, art (incl. guitars), earthy paint colours, and natural wood finish all add up to a very enjoyable space. Steve not only has musical talents in spades, but he also has a keen sense of design.
GEARHEADS AFTER ALL
Right, now let’s get to talking gear! As you can see, there’s much to discuss. In that outboard gear rack in the wall, was it the two Teletronix LA-2As that caught your eye first? Yeah, me too — ha! How about that stereo 1176 in the form of the UREI 1178? I had the pleasure of using one of those a while back. A singular sound and character, delivered in just the right way. When you hear that unit and start tweaking those vintage knobs, it’s just different. There’s no plugin that sounds like it; there just isn’t.
Up from the 1178, there’s a David Miller Airfield Liminator 2. According to Mr. Miller, after analysing more than a dozen classic analogue comps, they came up with this unit. It features two switchable input transformers per channel and dual power supplies for the least amount of crosstalk possible and maximum stereo separation.
Above that is an AudioScape VComp Tube compressor with proprietary hand-wound input and output transformers.
Continuing up and over clockwise, you’ll find some very special Neve 3311 series modules: the 33114 dynamics and the 33115 mic pre/EQ modules. These highly valued and respected modules are, according to some Neve enthusiasts, “the ones” to have! They were designed for broadcast and primarily used in remote-location trucks back in the day. The 1081-style mic pre and EQ are punchier than the 1073 and are therefore a great choice for drums!
Just below, alongside some very nice 500 series modules, there’s a Spectra 1964 Model C610 comp-limiter. Notorious for its super-quick attack time of 100 ns, it shines on vox and offers new life for dynamics processors down the chain.
Rounding out the rack are the esteemed Chandler TG1 Stereo Comp and the tasteful Retro Stereo Comp, studio standards that complement The Shed quite nicely.
MAKING EVERY SPACE COUNT
Clearly, among the many things that Steve is good at, creating a great vibe in any space is one of them. The atmosphere and decor beg you to hang, listen, and stay just a while longer. Gazing down the hallway, there’s much more than meets the eye from outside!
I see another room over yonder. Something pretty cool is happening over there. Let’s check that out!
Leaving the control room and heading into the hallway, remember the heading from this section: Making Every Space Count? Well, he’s converted hallway space into a cosy vocal tracking area with sound treatment, other musical knick-knacks, plus a super-cool vintage bass that I had to check out. A beauty 1960s-era P Bass!
Moving along, we get to one of the coolest-looking live recording rooms I’ve seen. Natural wood beams decorated with vintage licence plates, flugelhorns and signs evoke times and places travelled. As a newcomer to this space, you’re invited to join in a new musical adventure.
HANG FACTOR
So, one of the most important things is the hang factor. All pros know this. It doesn’t matter how good you are — if you can’t hang, you’re about as good as burnt toast on a cold and dreary Sunday afternoon. Conversely, The Shed has got the hang factor dialled right in. There’s an espresso machine and a small kitchenette just off to the right. I can attest to delicious espresso procurement! Across from the kitchenette is a really comfy couch and some nice pillows. So, hang, jam, nap, and then do it all over again!
The interesting thing is that this literally is a shed. It’s not huge, but surprisingly, there’s a lot of space, and nothing feels cramped or cluttered.
TRACKING LIVE OFF THE FLOOR!
At the far end of the live room, drums are adorned with a set of mics. I’ll presume these are generally kept in place and swapped out from time to time.
Right above the door opposite the kit, there’s a room Peluso P Stereo mic mounted in front of a nice padded burlap bag for some diffusion. Excellent microphones were placed around the kit when I was there, like the AEA R84 and the Bee’s Knees 47, with a couple of Neumann U89s on the toms. I can dig it!
I really like the red and black diffusers behind the kit, along with the multi-patched and coloured window covering. Sounds good, looks good. Also, you may have noticed the Leslie speaker tucked back in that corner. It’s a great piece of kit to have on hand; plug in yer organ or guitar, and vibes aplenty.
GRAB YOUR AXE, GENTLEMEN
There’s a great variety of stringed instruments on hand for the seasoned tonesmith! Steve, being a bassist, has the bass department covered with a mint collection. Besides a couple of ’60s-era Fender basses, there’s also a McCartney-esque Hofner, a Danelectro, and a secret weapon, you know; just Google it. You’ll also find Gretsch, Rickenbacker, and Duesenberg axes, so I think he’s got all the “bases” covered (no pun intended). I believe I even spotted a lap steel or two.
Besides basses, guitars, and the like, there’s a very interesting variety of what I would refer to as “world beat instruments,” such as a dulcimer, gourds, a rain stick, shakers, percussion of all sorts, and there’s gotta be a banjo tucked in around there somewhere. So, if you just wanna show up and take your pick, there’s a masterpiece’s worth of instruments on hand to facilitate such a work!
DON’T READ BETWEEN THE LINES
Take it from the horse’s mouth: Steve’s book, In A Life—with multiple copies pictured stacked up on a shelf in the tracking room—is a memoir that details his many life journeys, tribulations, and adventures. Many of these connect with his time and relationships within the Niagara music community. From his early days with Black Creek to later adversities involving multiple heart surgeries, Steve’s memoir is a heartfelt and informative telling of his life and times in the music industry and his ties to his community.
HAPPY TRAILS
All the adventures and experiences that you can read about in his memoir have culminated in this wonderful, totally cool, and vibey Shed Studio. You can rest assured that if you happen to be one of the lucky friends that gets a chance to record or write with Steve at his private boutique studio, the experience will be one that you’ll cherish for years to come. As an artist, Steve’s got a great ear for bringing new life and flair to cover songs. With his own material, his unique voice and style bring traditional roots sounds into 2026 and beyond.
You can find information about The Shed and Steve and his book here: www.stevegoldberger.com
It was just a pleasure to spend an afternoon with Steve at Hitsville N.O.T.L. in The Shed.
As always, happy recording!
~ LM Pro
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