From 2003 to the present, 45 caliber made the decision to bring in studio musicians to do sound track for film. They still did a Saturday night radio show and recorded new talent, but movie studio work returned a large profit. But it was also at this time that Station manager Robert Cappadona employed Dan Simonis and the Texas Millionaires on a tour he was doing in Texas. He brought them in for a session and continued for the next 12 hours getting ideas. Robert took them in to talk with Rex and they have been with us since.
In 1990 our studio was equipped with the following by then station manager Gary LaForge:
| MCI JH-636 console manufactured in 1979 and fitted with 36 I/O modules with 3 band parametric EQ and integral tape-based automation system. Initially this console was shipped with only 28 modules and the remainder were fitted later. Apparently, this one had a lot of problems when first delivered. The automation system initially had problems. The original modules had board layout problems which caused crosstalk. These were replaced with new revised modules at no charge by MCI. One feature of all MCI products was that each audio stage was individually decoupled with its own pair of isolating resistors designed to burn out safely in the event of a short circuit - a technique which other audio manufacturers would do well to take note of. This tranformerless electronically balanced console was capable very high quality sonic performance. All this was created by Gary as from scratch. He was with us up till 2003 when he asked to go on a sabbatical to Portugal but never returned. |
45 Caliber studios went under a makeover in the 80's with the latest in digital technology. The man who could put this together was Alex Putman, who got his training at M.I.T. graduating with honors. While at the technical college he developed cascading recording which made the sound like Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" except with more clarity. This helped the band "Top Secret" sound much better than in reality. He kept us on the technical cutting edge up till 1987 before starting his own company.
"Buzz" Brandon was a short lived station manager, having problems showing up days, and when he did he could not focus. He was fired in 1980 after only 2 years.
Bob Weiland was a very good engineer and production manager, bringing us into FM radio, still keeping the AM signal, we had the best of both worlds. The only problem was that he was in the Reserve, so we had to temporarily hire from another station. He was with us from 1970 to 1978.
"Go-Go" Gilbert was the hipster DJ that worked with us from 1961 to 1970. He brought into the studio the happening new music, particularly rock music from bands like the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, the Who, the Kinks, and others.
American audio engineer Jack Mullin was a member of the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II. His unit was assigned to investigate German radio and electronics activities, and in the course of his duties, he acquired two Magnetophon recorders (reel to reels) and 50 reels of I.G. FarbenBad Nauheim (near Frankfurt). He had these shipped home. He worked with us from 1948 till 1961, developing the studio technology by leaps and bounds.
Program Director Warren Greenwood is the longest to work the controls from 1923 to 1948. He saw many changes including getting the welder to connect two turntables so he could make smooth transitions from one song to the other uninterrupted. It was the only one of its kind for many years.