April 2007- Rich Saltz opens Dynamic Sound Rehearsal Studios in North Raleigh

Dynamic Sound's owner, Rich Saltz, jamming at his rehearsal studio



It is awesome to have a place where musicians can meetup and jam together and where bands can practice! Dynamic Sound Rehearsal Studios is Raleigh’s one and only fully equipped, heated and cooled rehearsal space. Dynamic Sound opened its doors to us on April 1st, 2007. I had the pleasure of speaking with Rich Saltz and learning more about this musical oasis.


JW: What brings you to Raleigh, NC? When did you decide you wanted to open a rehearsal studio/practice space?

Rich: My family and I moved from the New York area to Raleigh in August, 2005. I was working for a major investment bank, we were located in the World Trade Center and were directly impacted by the events of 9/11 (that’s a story for another day). Following that tragic day, the firm decided to look for a site outside the New York area to deploy many of its operational and IT functions. Raleigh was chosen after doing a study of over 200 locations in the U.S. I was given the opportunity to move down here and did quite a bit of research on the area before making the decision. My entire family fell in love with the area so we packed our bags and came South!

After working for many years in the financial services arena, I decided to look for something that would be fun to do…a chance at a second career. I looked at many opportunities but a light bulb went off when I started playing with a group of local musicians. Carrying an 85 pound Fender Twin amp became a bit of a chore. I started asking around at the local music stores and recording studios about fully equipped rehearsal studios. See, when I played in a few bands in New York, we rehearsed in studios similar to the one I’ve opened. It was convenient for all the band members because we didn’t have to lug our equipment around and there was no setup or breakdown time required. Also, when we booked 2 or 3 hours of time, we were able to get straight to our work. We knew we were going to a place that provided quality equipment and an environment geared for musicians. I found there were no studios like Dynamic Sound Rehearsal Studios in the Triangle, so I thought I might be offering a new and novel approach to the community. I also thought it would be cool to meet a diverse set of musicians on a daily basis.


JW: Wow. First of all, I am thankful that you and your family made it safely through 9/11. What a blessing! I can only imagine going through a nightmare like that… you survived the worst attack on U.S. soil. Yes, that is definitely a story for another day. So, welcome to Raleigh, NC! When did you start playing music? Was the guitar your first instrument?

Rich: Like a host of others, my parents insisted I take piano lessons when I was a young boy. I never really took to what the 65-year old lady wanted me to learn. I wanted to rock- she wanted me to run scales. Looking back, I should have listened to her. I played clarinet and drums in elementary school but soon gave those up as well. My inspiration came later when I first heard Eric Clapton. His playing just hit me right between the eyes. It was then that I knew that I wanted to learn to play guitar. I still remember the first guitar I bought- a cheap Epiphone acoustic. I played it for months until something musical came out of it. But it was worth the bloody fingers…LOL


JW: Tell me more about your guitar playing days in Manhattan.

Rich: I first hooked up with a couple of friends living in my area. We played simple stuff, but making music really gave me a high. Through that band, I hooked up with another guitar player and bass player. They lead me to another of my big influences- The Grateful Dead. I never understood all the buzz about the Grateful Dead until they sat me down and made me listen to a couple of live shows. All of a sudden….it clicked and I was hooked. Jerry Garcia played so many varied styles and the interaction of the band truly showed that the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. I still show a lot of Garcia influence in my playing. As I got older, got married and started a family, my focus moved more towards my occupation and less to playing. But I never lost my passion. I hooked up with a few guys at an Open Jam and started a band with them (I’m hoping to offer that same opportunity at Dynamic Sound). We did a few gigs in the city. I also hooked up with a peer in the financial services industry and formed a cover band. We did a number of gigs in Greenwich Village.


JW: Cool. So, why did you guys use Rehearsal Studios?

Rich: It was with the last two bands that I did the most rehearsing, and we used studios like Dynamic Sound in New York City. The studios offered us a number of benefits: They offered a music-friendly environment; It was very convenient not having to transport equipment when we were rehearsing after work; They were centrally located; They were run by people who loved music; They had quality equipment, so we lost no time in setting up and breaking down gear.

These are the things that we want to provide to the Triangle’s music community. Another thing we want to offer is jam sessions on a themed and proficiency basis. There are many musicians in the area who are not playing in bands but would like to hook up with others with similar musical interests. People are currently playing at home in their bonus rooms or garages, but there is nothing like playing and creating music with others. I think sessions like these are a great way to meet players and possibly start new bands.


JW: What are the hours of operation? Can we come in at any time? How much notice do we need to give for reserving a space?

Rich: We will be open 7 days a week. Our weekday hours will be from 2p.m. - Midnight and on weekends from Noon - Midnight. We do understand that the creative process can happen any time of the day, so we are prepared to make appointments for any time that musicians require. We’re asking them to make their appointments at least a day in advance and our studios are subject to availability. Reservations will be held by giving us a credit card number.


JW: How much do the rooms cost? Are they all the same price?

Rich: The cost of the rooms is $30 per hour, $80 for a three hour session and $250 prepaid for 10 hours anytime. Our Open Jam Sessions are $10 per three hour session (cheaper than going to the movies).


JW: How do you work it out if we have to cancel after reserving the space?

Rich: We understand that bookings need to be cancelled sometimes. We ask that all cancellations be made at least 24 hours prior to the session. Any cancellations made less than 24 hours before the session will be charged one half of the cost of the session.


JW: That’s fair. How many rehearsal rooms do you offer? What about soundproofing?

Rich: Initially, we will have four rooms open at Dynamic Sound. Two of the rooms are 24’ x 19’, and two are 20’ X 18’. All four of the rooms will have the same equipment set up. In choosing our location, we purchased a 4500 square foot stand alone building which gives us room for expansion as the demand for studio time increases. If musicians want to use specific equipment, we ask that they request the amps or keyboards prior to the session. This will allow us to set up the room prior to their arrival so no rehearsal time is wasted.

We have done our best to create an environment where other bands’ rehearsals don’t infringe on yours. All our walls and ceilings have sound insulation installed.


JW- Speaking of gear, here’s what Dynamic Sound has setup in each Rehearsal Room:


Studio 4 at Dynamic Sound Rehearsal Studios


Four microphones in each room going into a 12 channel power mixer. More can be added by request, or we can bring our own.

Guitar Amps:
2-Fender Twin Reverbs
Fender Deluxe Reverb
Fender Bassman RI
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
3- Mesa/Boogie F-50
Mesa/Boogie DC-5
Peavey Classic 50

Bass Amps:
Ampeg B2R
Hartke 3500
2-SWR Workingman's 2004
Ampeg Combo
GK 4X10 Cabinets
SWR 4X10 Cabinet

Drums:
Yamaha Stage Custom
Yamaha Stage Custom Fusion
Pearl EXR
Pearl ELX
Zildjian and Sabian Cymbals

Keyboards
Korg TR88
Roland RD300SX
2-Yamaha CP33

PAs:
12 channel Yamaha Power Mixers


JW: Say I wanted to rent a studio for a week or a month at a time, how secure is it? Is there an area where I can securely store my gear?

Rich: Our building has a security system that is monitored on a 24/7 basis. Our rates are by the hour, and discounts are available for large blocks of sessions. An employee of Dynamic Sound will always be present when a band is rehearsing. Regarding an area for storing gear, what we are offering is the ease of not having to transport gear and being concerned about the security for it. That is why we have rigged out each room with equipment that musicians will like.


JW: Are there people there for running sound?

Rich: At this time, we do not have people running sound. The studios are easily manageable by the bands rehearsing in them.


JW: If I am really digging a jam, is there a way to record it? Do all the instruments go through a board and if so, can we get recordings from the board? How much would that cost?

Rich: Our plans are to add recording devices, either analog or digital, to each room. When this equipment is added, there will be a nominal charge for recording. For now, we encourage people to bring in recording devices if they want to record their sessions. The size of the rooms makes it unnecessary to run all the instruments through the board. The mics and keyboards are run through the board and we have had some folks bring in pre-recorded music to play through the board.


JW: Can we smoke in the rehearsal rooms or anywhere inside the building?

Rich: In respect of others that don’t smoke, we are asking people not to smoke in the building. As a smoker, I spend a bit of time right outside the front door.


JW: Can we bring drinks inside the rehearsal rooms?

Rich: Yes. We allow people to drink in the rooms. We also sell water and soft drinks.


JW: Tell me about Dynamic Sound’s parking situation.

Rich: We have our own parking lot that accommodates about 20 cars. There is also plenty of public parking in facilities right across the street from my building.


JW: You are in North Raleigh…What are the local restaurants/bars nearby?

Rich: There are a number of places within walking distance. We are two blocks from the Celebration shopping center where you’ll find Applebee’s, Quizno’s, Grand China Buffet, Cinelli’s, and Jibarra Mexican restaurants. There is something for everyone. We are also 2-3 minutes from Crowley’s and Oliver Twist over on Creedmoor.


JW: Cool! I can see me meeting friends for an early dinner, heading over to Dynamic Sound to play music, then catching a local band at Crowley’s. I can also see me enjoying a local band at Oliver Twist, then later heading over to Dynamic Sound to sing. There is something about seeing live music that makes me want to go sing and play. Thanks Rich!



Okay gang, a great way to check out Dynamic Sound is to attend their Open Jams ($10). Here’s the Contact Info and Directions:

Dynamic Rehearsal Studios
241 Horizon Drive
Raleigh, NC 27615
919- 848-6666
Email: info@dynamicrehearsal.com
Mapquest Map


Wow, this fabulous brick wall just screams "band picture." LOL!

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