MIKE ABIUSO
Multi-instrumentalist producer and composer Michael Abiuso owns Behind the Curtains Media which he launched in 2012 in the back of a dirty tour van. The company has since landed a home in Park Slope, Brooklyn and has expanded in both size and services to become one of the leading music promotion and audio production firms in the greater NYC area.
Built on a solid foundation of endless industry professional relationships spawned from honesty and hard work, the company’s growth put Hanna Yando as the PR Manager allowing Michael to focus his attention to providing unique audio services for both musicians and companies of all sizes.
For select solo artists and bands, these services may include producing, songwriting, performing, coaching or maybe just telling a couple of jokes. For businesses, those services may including sound design, foley, scoring to picture (commercial, film, video game), podcasting or just editing. All services are packaged with mixing, mastering and topped off with a big smile. His recording techniques are a hybrid blend that utilize the warmth of analogue gear for tracking and mixing while taking advantage of the speed and versatility of the modern digital world.
Michael has a degree in music education and can perform and record a wide variety of instruments. This sets his productions and scoring apart from some nerd in his basement with a cool sample library. He studied classical and jazz guitar, music theory, composition/arranging and audio engineering. He has toured for 10+ years between his bands Kiss Kiss (guitar/vocals) on Eyeball Records, The Gay Blades (keyboards/vocals) on Triple Crown Records and The Venetia Fair (guitar/bass/vocals) on Red Blue Records
BOOKING INQUIRIES & CONtACT:
TESTIMONIALS
Mike is one of the most creative people I know. He is in many ways a mad scientist from a musical and engineering standpoint, but his compositions and productions are always grounded in a commercially competitive reality. Mike is constantly seeking out the best tools, creative processes, and sonic influences in order to keep a finger on the pulse of what will work across an incredibly wide array of projects. I've had the pleasure of collaborating with Mike in many capacities over the last decade and can say with confidence that he is a person you want on your team if you're looking to make compelling artistic statements in a highly personalized and unique way.
Steve Sopchak
The Square Studio (Ice Nine Kills, Motionless in White)
Absolutely fantastic experience recording here. First off, the studio itself has a very warm and inspirational vibe to it, which is incredibly important for any musician. Mike (the owner and producer) truly goes above and beyond for the song. It never once felt like he was just doing “his job”, but rather it felt like a collaboration in trying to make the song as great as possible. He’s an incredibly arranger as well and is full of creative ideas. As a singer I usually don’t feel comfortable singing for the first time in front of a producer I just met, but with Mike I felt like I was at home. Great guy. Great place. Great sounding records
Allen James
Newborn
Extremely fun to work with, Mike and the whole crew are unbelievably talented and an absolute pleasure. Seriously hands down the best people to work with if you’re looking for an incredible recording and comfortable atmosphere. Love you guys!
Steven Viola
Monty Love
The results speak for themselves. The entire BTCM team is dedicated to getting you as visible as possible in the markets that matter to you and your music the most. They are as personable as they are hardworking too. They intimately and adeptly understand that we’re people and not just producing a product.
Emmet Ceglia
Drummer of Manic Pixi, Autocatalytica, The Dude Ranch, Detach the Islands, Semaphore, Mutilation Rites
Mike is the best. Great people with great ears, great room, great gear. An affordable spot like their studio in Brooklyn is hard to come by. Plus, they are so deep in the creative process/close to the record that hiring them after making the record can be a no-brainer
Ross Robey
We had a fun time tracking scenes for our podcast Adventures In New America at Behind The Curtains. Mike was helpful and attentive and it’s nice to work in a studio with natural light!
Vincent Cacchione
Caged Animals
Great service, timely and communication is great. Finished product sounds awesome!
Beau Anthony Rodriguez
I had such a blast working with Michael and Rowan! They brought a fresh perspective on an old song of mine and helped make it new and exciting. They’re incredibly supportive and thoughtful when collaborating, with an inviting studio space full of all the gear you could hope for. I can’t wait keep working with them!
Stephan Nance
Michael is such an incredible musician and producer. He works so efficiently and quickly and everything we do always turns out better than I could have imagined. It’s such a great environment, I couldn’t recommend enough!
John Paul Louis
From the moment we met Mike, there was an immediate connection with us both personally and with our project. We were initially impressed with his patience and thoughtfulness as he processed, assessed, and gave his honest opinion about our demos. Mike applied his extensive knowledge and expertise to help us create a sound that completely matched our vision . The final product was more than we ever dreamed of.
Returning to his studio for a second time was a no-brainer. He went above and beyond to help us create our sophomore EP - during a pandemic no less! This time, we enlisted him to produce and add input from the songwriting stage. After helping us navigate remote sessions and following his expert guidance, he delivered far more than we expected. He was personally invested, and he and his team helped with EVERYTHING we needed - from the start, to the final release. We cannot recommend Mike and Behind the Curtains Media enough. He made the process fun, exciting, and you can tell he loves every single aspect of his job. He is not only an expert, but a friend, and an extremely special person overall. (and his studio is badass!)
Kate and Jay of Bad Bloom
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Mike Abiuso for the past three years. He helped introduce me to the music industry and get my bearings straight! Working with him is so easy and laid back, because I trust him completely. Mike’s knowledge of music and music production/engineering are masterful and beautifully artistic. He puts his entire self into his projects because he truly cares about the client and wants them to walk away with a piece of art that they’re not only happy with, but also with something that resonates with their original intention. Especially the studio Mike has built, it’s the best environment to create and collaborate. I full heartedly recommend his services!
Rachel Norman
I <3 the BTCM team – Mike is game for anything, knows his stuff, and has a positive attitude that is key for long days in the studio. Good vibes all around!
Lesley Barth
After ‘trying out’ different studios to possibly work with, we knew that working with Mike Abiuso at Behind the Curtains Media was our new home for music making. He provides amazing personal attention to every project and listens to the artist in order to provide customized feedback and results. His ability to make suggestions in instrumentation and production are so fast, so on point, and so stress free. We highly recommend this studio
Suzanne Torrison
Manager of Emmrose
Behind The Curtains provides a unique and exceptional one-stop shopping experience for artists of all types. Mike and Hanna care deeply about their work and go the extra mile to provide their clients with high-quality services with a personal touch. Their office is as welcoming and cozy as a friend’s living room, and both the recording and publicity operations are run with great care and efficiency. As a musician recording there, I always felt Mike delivered everything I needed to make my job easier, including quality gear, a perfect headphone mix and a relaxed, but professional vibe. Their publicity shop is run the same the way. They pride themselves on developing a customized plan of attack for each artist and don’t just run every band through the same spreadsheet. Having worked in many studios over the years, I am confident in recommending these guys to anybody. They always get the job done right.
Rob Mitzner
Session Drummer, Writer, Educator
Great place to record! Mike is a pro: awesome engineer and musician, and a joy to work with!
Chuck Ramsey
NOTABLE CLIENTS
Michael Abiuso has worked with all kinds of artists from musicians and bands, to actors and comedians. Some notable works of his include:
- Cyndi Lauper – Produced & recorded song for commercial
- Patrick Adams (produced 32 gold & platinum records) – Engineered & co-produced music
- Jennifer Holliday (GRAMMY Award-Winning singer/actress) – Produced, mixed & mastered single
- Eric Nally (Foxy Shazam / Macklemore) – Produced, recorded, mixed & mastered solo EP
- Daymond John (FUBU / Shark Tank) – Produced & recorded voice-overs
- Jim Gaffigan – Produced & recorded & edit commentary for Comedy Album.
- Sara Bareilles’ cast of “Waitress” – Produced & recorded track for her appearance on Good Morning America
- Brian Viglione (The Dresden Dolls, – Tracked drums
- Cliff Vmir – Produced & recorded track
- The Gay Blades – Produced, recorded, performed, mixed & mastered single
- Dez Cadena (Vocalist of Black Flag, guitars of The Misfits) Produced & recorded EP
- Daniel Rey (The Ramones, White Zombie, Murphy’s Law Producer) – Produced & recorded EP
- Eric Arce (drummer for The Misfits and Murphy’s Law) – Produced & recorded EP
- Alex Kane (guitarist for Richie Ramone of The Ramones) – Produced & recorded EP
- Jesse Camp (MTV‘s Wanna Be a VJ winner, co- host at TRL) – Produced & recorded EP
- The Venetia Fair – Produced, recorded, arranged/performed instruments on Basically Just Does Karaoke EP
- Brian Wolfe (David Byrne, St. Vincent, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Sufjan Stevens, My Brightest Diamond) – Produced & tracked drums
gear list
Setup
- Mac Pro
- Processor 2×2.4 GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon
- Memory 128 GB
- OS Mojave 10.14.6
- (3) 1TB internal Solid State HD
- (2) 8TB external backup HDs
- UAD Quad Omni PCIE card
- UAD (2) Satellite DSP accelerators
Recorders
- Burl B2 Bomber
- Avid 16×16 I/O analog
- Mastering Mytek Digital 8×192 DSD
Consoles
- Inward Connections MIX690 16ch summing mixer
- Soundcraft 200B 16 Ch analog mixing console
DAWs
- Avid Pro Tools Ultimate 12.8.3 HDX
- Logic Pro X
- Reason 8
- Abelton Live 9 Suite
- Garage Band
- Monitoring
- PSI Active 21 M – Studio Red
- Adam A7x
- Yamaha HS80M monitors
- KRK V4 reference monitors
- Crane Song Avocet IIA DAC
- (3) Shure SRH1849 Cans
- (6) Hear Back Technologies
Outboard Rack Gear
Pre-Amplifiers
- UTA MPDI-4 (4 channel mic pre)
- (2) API 512B
- Chandler Limited Germanium
- Universal Audio 610
- Neve – 2 channel Portico
- Neve – Shelford Channel
- Daking Mic Pre IV 4-channel
- Shadow Hills Industries Mono GAMA
- AEA RPQ2 2-Channel
- Universal Audio 4-710d
- Presonus – DigiMax FS – 8 channel class A mic pre
- SansAmp RBI Tech 21-NYC
- Microtubes B7K Ultra (pedal)
- Equalization
- Neve – 2 channel Portico
- Neve – Shelford Channel
- (2) API 560B
- Empirical Labs ELQ Lil FrEQ
- Mercury EQ-P1 (Tube)
- Inward Connections Step EQ
- AEA RPQ2 2-Channel
Compressor / Limiter / Gate
- UTA Unfairchild 670M II
- SSL Stereo Bus Compressor
- EL8-X Distressor
- Universal Audio Teletronix LA-2A
- Universal Audio 1176
- Neve – 2 channel Portico
- Neve – Shelford Channel
- SPL Transient Designer 4
- Purple Audio MC77 Comp/Limiter
- (3) Drawmer DL2412 channel Gate
- DBX 1066
- DBX 160x Compressor / Limiter
- Behringer MDX 2100 (stereo)
Effects
- Overstayer M-A-S 2-Channel Harmonics Processor
- Aphex System LTD Aural Exciter TypeC
- Ibanez SDR-1000 Vintage Rack Stereo
- BBE – Sonic Maximizer 8821
- Ensoniq DP/4+ Effects Processor
- Ibanez – DMD2000 digital delay
- Ibanez – Analog Delay AD202
- Reverb – SRV – 2000
Power Conditioners
- Furman P-1800 AR Voltage Regulator
- Furman Power Conditioner model M-8
- Furman Power Conditioner PL-Plus
- Furman Power Conditioner PL-PRO
- Furman – RP8 – Power Conditioner
- Monster Power PRO-900
Plugins
- Waves Mercury Bundle
- Universal Audio
- Sound Toys
- iZotope
- Steven Slate
- T-RackS
- Antares
- Melodyne
- AIR Music Technology
- Avid
- D16 Group Audio SoftwareFabFilter
- IK Multimedia
- Native Instruments
- Toontrack
- Valhalla
- Xfer Records
Virtual Instruments
- Native Instruments Komplete 12 Ultimate Collectors Edition
- Battery
- Massive
- Noire Piano
- Codex
- Element
- BreakTweaker
- Iris 2
- Mini Grand
- Morphoder
- Reaktor 6
- Reason
- RX 6 Monitor
- Serum
- Vacuum
- Boom
- DB-33
- EZ Player
- Kontakt
Drum Kits
- Mapex Pro M 4 piece
- Alesis E-Kit Brain (Superior Drummer 3 Samples w/ Avatar, Roots Sticks, Metal Foundry, Claustrophobic, Drum Kit from Hell, Latic Percussion, Nashville and Twisted Kit Expansions)
Snares
- DW Collector Series 15″
- Pearl Forum Series 15″
- Pacific 10″
Guitar Amps
- Orange Rocker 30 (tube head)
- Marshall JCM900 (tube head)
- Soldano Avenger (tube head)
- Carvin MTS 3200 (tube head)
- Crate BV120 H (tube head)
- Milkman Sound The Amp (tune head)
- Fender Jazzmaster Ultralight (head)
- UA OX Reactive Amp Attenuator
- Fender Princeton 65 (combo)
- Fender Stage 112
- Bass Amps
- Ampeg B-155 w /enclosure (tube)
- Ampeg B2R (hybrid)
- Ampeg SVT Classic (tube)
- Carvin ProBass 200 (solid state)
- Ibanez Soundwave 35 (solid state)
- Acoustic 4×10 Bass CabFurman
- SansAmp RBI Tech 21-NYC (pre/rack)
- Microtubes B7K Ultra (pre / pedal)
Electric Guitars
- Danelectro Baritone
- Fender Standard Strat
- Fender Johnny Marr Jag
- Fender Telecaster
- Gibson Les Paul Custom
- Jackson Mark Morton Signature
- Oscar Schmidt OE30
- Vintage Prestige (Japanese)
- Angelica
- Ukelele
Basses
- Fender Precision
- Hofner Vintage 62′
- K Tone
- Jackson
Guitar Cabinets
- Black Market Custom 2×12
- Carvin 2×12
- Other
- (3) Redco Bantam Patch Bays
- Motu micro express
Microphones
- (1) AEA A440 Ribbon Microphone
- (2) Neumann U87
- (2) Schoeps CMC 6/MK 5• (1) Violet Amethyst Standard• (1) Violet Amethyst Vintage
- (3) Royer R121
- (1) AEA R84 Ribbon Microphone
- (2) Neumann KM184• (2) Shure SM81
- (4) Shure SM7B
- (2) Electro Voice RE20
- (1) Audix D6• (6) Shure SM57
- (3) AKG C1000
- (2) AKG D112
- (2) Audio Technica AT4050
- (1) AudioTechnica AT4040
- (1) Audix i5
- (1) Electrovoice 1776B
- (1) Heil PR-30
- (2) Rode NT-5
- (8) Sennheiser e604
- (2) Sennheiser MD421
- (2) KEL HM-2
- (1) Sony ECM-672
- (1) Sterling Audion – ST55
- (1) Carvin CM50
- (2) Carvin CM67
- (2) Carvin CM68
- (1) Shure Beta87
- (5) Shure SM58
Orchestral Instruments
- Accordion
- Cello
- (2) Clarinet
- Flute
- (2) Trumpet
- Trombone
- French Horn
- Euphonium
- Upright Piano
- Violin
Aux Percussion
- Castanets
- Claves
- Flexatone
- Guiro
- Jaw Harp
- Vibraslap
- (2) Bongos
- (3) Roto Toms
- (4) Cowbell
- (3) Tamborine
- Washboard
- Sleigh Bells
- Cabasa
- Saw
- Whip Crack
- One-Shot
- Cajón
- Thunderdome
Pedals
- Microtubes B7K Ultra
- Hoof Reaper
- Heil Talkbox
- Vox Wah-Wah
- Moog MF Ring
- Park Fuzz Sound
- Echoplex Delay
- Boss CS-3 Compressor/Sustainer
- Boss TR-2 Tremolo
- ZVEX Mastotron
- EarthQuaker Devices Dispatch Master
- EarthQuaker Devices Spatial Delivery
- EarthQuaker Devices Space Spiral
- EarthQuaker Devices Organizer
- Alexander Flanger F.13
- Arion Stereo Chorus
- Big Muff
- DigiTech Whammy DT Drop Tuning Pedal
- Electro Harmonix Holy Grail
- Hartke Bass Attack
- Korg KP2 Kaoss Pad
- Line 6 DL-4
- Line 6 Echo Park
- Morley Channel Selector
- Modified MXR Blue Box
- MXR Phase-100
- Rocktek Phaser Keys• Upright Piano• Fender Rhodes
- Teenage Engineering OP-1
- Korg Delta
- Moog Rogue
- M-Audio 77 & 88 Midi Controller
- Nord Electro 2 88