OUR STAFF
JUSTIN ROSE
JUSTIN ROSE -CHIEF ENGINEER/PRODUCER
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Justin Rose began his recording career as a Tonmeister at The State University of New York at Fredonia. After being accepted into their school of music, Justin gained a valuable foundation of audio techniques and practices within the sound recording technology department. His instrument of study was the euphonium.
Although his time in college was valuable, Justin's real education came from Pressure Point Recording Studios (Chicago, IL) as an intern under the watchful eye of the late Larry Sturm (Destiny’s Child, Lil Kim, R Kelly, remixing for Michael Jackson and Prince). After paying his dues as an intern, Justin got his turn to be Larry’s mixing assistant. Larry demanded excellence in all respects, giving Justin the fire needed to succeed. During this time, Justin worked with Grammy-winning gospel artist Smokie Norful, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Ray Davies from The Kinks, Michelle Williams, and Bad Boy Bill (to name a few). It was then that Justin got word that the Goo Goo Dolls were building a world-class studio back home in Buffalo, NY: Inner Machine Studios. Justin started with an internship and soon was hired as an in-house engineer. Here he worked closely with the Goo Goo Dolls at their private facility for nearly two years. In 2009, the studio name was changed to GCR Audio and opened as a commercial recording facility. Justin was hired as studio manager and chief engineer - remaining studio manager until January of 2018, when he changed his focus strictly to producing and engineering. Justin’s list of credits from GCR is impressive: Goo Goo Dolls, James Taylor, Spyro Gyra, Andra Day (Marshall Movie Soundtrack),Michael Franti, Najee, Shonen Knife, Jessie J and B.O.B, Lil Wayne, Aqueous, Vinnie DeRosa, Uncle Ben’s Remedy, The Reign of Kindo, Drea D’Nur, Brothers McClurg, University at Buffalo, New Era Cap, Independent Health, and many more. He continues to push his craft forward each day, with every session and artist he works with. |
JAY ZUBRICKY
JAY ZUBRICKY - ENGINEER / PRODUCER
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Jay Zubricky began his career path at a young age, recording at Bishop Timon St. Jude high school in their Center for Media and Arts studio. As a teenager, the school's studio allowed him to gain experience in a low-pressure environment, giving him his first exposure to professional studio equipment.
Eventually, his experience lead him to interning and working as an assistant at Audio Magic Recording Studios in Buffalo, NY. Audio Magic was the first real recording studio that Jay had access to and is also the first place where he truly began to learn about the recording process from industry professionals. Over time, Jay was promoted from assistant to staff engineer, allowing him the opportunity to work on the more serious projects that came through the doors. The quality of Jay's work became noticed around Buffalo, and he was approached by the manager at Inner Machine Recording Studios (now GCR Audio) about recording in their newly renovated studio. In January of 2009, Jay started to work on sessions at Inner Machine and has been here ever since. In July of 2009, Jay took over the lease to Studio C at GCR Audio and it is still his personal studio to this day. Jay is always striving to create unique sounds on each and every project he works on. Over the years he has amassed a vastly impressive collection of new and vintage musical instruments, amplifiers, and gear - which he is always willing to share with clients. Since working at GCR Audio, Jay has had the opportunity to work with many local, regional, and national bands and artists. Some of these artists include Every Time I Die, James Taylor, Michael Angelakos of Passion Pit, Save Face, Super American,Watermedown, Head North, Pentimento, Malfunction, Del Paxton, Trail of Lies, The Traditional, Casey Bolles, and many more. Jay always aims to be a conduit to help each and every artist bring their musical visions to reality. |
BRAD LAUCHERT
BRAD LAUCHERT - ENGINEER / PRODUCER
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Brad Lauchert's recording career began in Washington D.C., where he earned his B.A. In audio production from American University. Brad joined the GCR team in 2012 as an intern, but his hard work and talent elevated him to staff engineer in no time at all. During his tenure at GCR, Brad has worked on hundreds of projects, most notably including two albums with national recording artists Passion Pit (Merry Christmas Mr. Fields, Tremendous Sea of Love). He also helped Passion Pit's Michael Angelakos launch his artist support services company, The Wishart Group.
Brad's resume is both eclectic and extensive. He has had the pleasure of working with many talented bands and artists, including Droyd, Truey V, Mona Haydar, Aqueous, FolkFaces, Tiny Rhymes, Mindy Davey, Alberto Alaska, Uncle Ben's Remedy, Autumn Hill, Nikki's Wives, Lance Diamond, Pinky Doodle Poodle, The Molice, and DJ Sashimi. He has also been hired to work on many non-musical projects, including films (Steven Spielberg's Lincoln, Walking with Dinosaurs in 3D, All at Once), advertising (New Era's Colin Kaepernick Cap Series), pod-casts (Serial Season One, Norma Kamali), and audio-books (the Sochi Winter Olympics audio dictionary). Brad is an accomplished drummer and the co-founder and owner of BadTone Productions: a company specializing in music production services, including originally written music specially tailored to the artist. Brad's wealth of experience and knowledge allow him to tackle any project that comes through GCR's doors, always striving to capture the vision of each and every artist that he works with. |
ELIJAH HOOKS
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Elijah Hooks, also known by ElijahThinkalot, is an American audio engineer and music producer from Buffalo, New York. His career began as a teenager, working alongside his father’s company Unity Productions in marketing and concert promotions. The company teamed up with Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam and became the official promoters for Western New York and Canada. During that period, Elijah worked with All-Star comedians such as Kevin Hart, Mike Epps, DL Hughley, and many more.
The comedy and music worlds are closely interwoven and shortly after, Elijah started booking Hip Hop and R&B acts such as Notorious B.I.G., Das EFX, Nas, and Common, just to name a few. In 2010, he co-founded ThinkAlot Recording Studios and began working with local artists and teaching music programs in several schools and community organizations. In 2014, his production helped land a recording contract for Quadir Lateef with the infamous Ruff Ryders label, with Quadir touring through 2016 with flagship artist DMX. After much consideration, Thinkalot Recording Studios decided to close its doors and Elijah was welcomed into the GCR Audio family. Since then, he has worked with many prominent recording artists, most notably Lil Wayne, Lil Baby, A Boogie wit da Hoodie and Buffalo’s own Griselda Records: Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, and Benny the Butcher. Elijah Hooks is a staple in the local music community providing world class audio engineering and production to up and coming talent. |
RICH ELLS
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Rich Ells started off his recording career as a student at the State University of New York at Fredonia where he earned a B.S. in Audio Production as well as a B.S. in Business Administration with a Concentration in Music Industry. During his last two years of schooling, Rich joined the GCR Audio team as an intern where he was able to gain valuable knowledge and experience by having the opportunity to assist with sessions spanning over all musical styles and genres. Shortly after graduating and completing his internship, he began working sessions as an engineer.
Rich is also a drummer/percussionist and utilizes his background as a musician in the way he approaches recording in the studio. As an engineer, he always seeks to help artists find their true sound and reach their full creative potential. |
FRED BETSCHEN
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Fred Betschen is a recording engineer and producer originally from Elmira, NY. The son of a school music educator, he was trained in music at an early age. Studying drums, percussion, french horn, and vocal singing, Fred performed in concert bands, jazz ensembles, choirs, and musical theatre throughout his scholastic career.
After dabbling with cassettes and reel-to-reel tape recorders as a youngster, Fred began his formal audio training in the Tonmeister program at The State University of New York at Fredonia in 1980. There, under the tutelage of his audio guru David Moulton, he began crafting both the technical and personal skills necessary to succeed at the professional level. In 1984, Fred started his professional career at Mark Custom Recording in Clarence, NY. After a five month internship, Fred became chief engineer and studio manager of a state-of-the-art 24-track analog studio. In addition to the studio, the company also had an ambitious remote recording operation as well as a vinyl mastering facility known as The Groove Shop. Not only did that provide Fred with a diverse audio skill set, it gave him the opportunity to work with a laundry list of internationally known artists, some of which are listed here: Denny Laine (Moody Blues, Paul McCartney & Wings), Ginger Baker (Cream), Richie Havens, Bobby McFerrin, Dave Brubeck, Maynard Ferguson, Doc Severinsen & the Tonight Show Band, Allen Vizzutti, Doyle and Jerry Only (Misfits), Snapcase, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, John Valby (Dr. Dirty), Yellowjackets, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, and the Count Basie Orchestra From 1996 to 2006, Fred worked as a mastering engineer and audio quality control supervisor at ESP, Inc., a Compact Disc and media manufacturer in Amherst, NY. There, he mastered a multitude of projects in a vast range of genres. Some compilation discs that Fred mastered include Megadeth, System of a Down, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Incubus, Kid Rock, Static-X, Sevendust, Machine Head, Biohazard, and Type O Negative. After a second stint at Mark Recording from 2006-2016, Fred decided to begin working for himself, launching the Underground Pound. This service offers to match clients to the appropriate studio for tracking, and then allow for affordable mixing and mastering at Fred’s home studio. Fred began his affiliation with GCR Audio in April of 2019 as a freelance engineer, when studio manager Bryon Federick (who had worked with him years before on a Mexican Cession project) reached out to extend an invitation. Due to Fred's vast experience, deep knowledge of every genre, commitment to quality, and his easy-going & friendly manner, GCR Audio soon offered Fred an official staff engineer position. Fred has been a welcome and invaluable addition to the GCR Audio family. |
ROBBY TAKAC
ROBBY TAKAC - STUDIO OWNER / PRODUCER
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Robby Takac is a founder of multi-platinum, multi-grammy nominated rock band, The Goo Goo Dolls, owner of J-Rock record labelGood Charamel Records, founder of The Music is Art Organization/Festival in Buffalo, NY, and owner of GCR Audio Recording Studios. Robby began his career 30+ years ago with Goo Goo Dolls, while graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Media Communications from Medaille College. While in college, Takac began a career in radio; working as an on-air personality on WUWU 107.7FM, WUFX “103.3 THE FOX”, WLKK “107.7 THE LAKE”, WEDG “103.3 THE EDGE,” and doing club DJ gigs at venues around WNY. This led to some semi-regular voice-over work, including contributions to American Dad, The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, andThe PEZ Movie. In 1984, Takac began as an Intern at Trackmaster Audio under the watchful eyes of Kim Ferullo, Alan Baumgardner, and Mike Sak. He spent the next 10 years recording The Goo Goo Dolls early releases, as well as being involved in many of the indie records that shaped the sound of Buffalo music. Takac spent countless hours in the studio with Buffalo bands such as Snapcase, The Pinheads, Them Jazzbeards, Mark Freeland’s Electroman, The Quakes, The Fems, Tugboat Annie, The Steam Donkeys, Monkey Wrench, The Razzels and many, many more. After a time relocated to Los Angeles, 1999 saw Takac returning to Buffalo to open a new recording facility with the former owners of Trackmaster Audio, called Chameleonwest Studios. At the same time, Takac starting his Good Charamel Records label. During this period, the studio was involved in many projects, including releasing and producing albums for area bands such as Last Conservative, The Juliet Dagger, Terry Sullivan, and Amungus, as well as recordings of the Music is Art Festival (which was first held in the studios parking lot in 2001). In 2007, The Goo Goo Dolls returned to the bones of Trackmaster Audio and rebuilt the studio as Inner Machine Studios, re-imagining and re-designing the facility for modern recording. Two years later, The Goo Goo Dolls used their new studio to produce their Something for the Rest of Us album with producer Tim Palmer. In the same time period, Good Charamel Records began releasing music for pioneering all-girl Japanese punk rock band, Shonen Knife. Subsequently, they became a conduit for J- Rock in North America, working with Tokyo-based bands such as Pinky Doodle Poodle, The Molice, and DJ Sashimi. Today, Takac and his Good Charamel Records label continue to focus on producing, releasing music, and providing a life-line for these unique acts in North America through the city of Buffalo. In 2010, Robby Takac decided to share his newly redesigned recording facility with the musicians of Buffalo and beyond, opening the doors of GCR Audio for all to enjoy. Through all of this, Robby has continued to tour the world with The Goo Goo Dolls, selling over 14 million records as well as produce music for others including recent tracks by Philadelphia's Beach Slang and Buffalo's Mom Said No. To this day, the Goo Goo Dolls continue to make new music and remain a vibrant touring act in a truly trying time in popular music. |
BRYON FEDERICK
BRYON FEDERICK - BUSINESS MANAGEMENT / PRODUCER
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Bryon Federick joined the GCR team in January of 2018. Prior to working at GCR, Bryon was the manager of Airport Music for many years. During his time there, Bryon worked with musicians of all ages and skill levels, providing them with instruments, gear, rentals, repairs, lessons, and advice.
Bryon is also an accomplished bass player, songwriter, and producer, having worked with many Buffalo artists over the years, including Mexican Cession, David Kane's Them Jazzbeards, and the legendary Lance Diamond. In addition to his producing and session work, he has also worked on advertising campaigns. His vast experience of working with musicians and artists in so many different capacities brings him a unique understanding of the recording process - from inception to completion. Bryon strives each and every day to make every artist's experience at GCR as relaxed, productive, and enjoyable as possible. Whether you are a seasoned vet or a new band, Bryon is here to answer every question you have and to help guide your project to success. |