Interview

Bryan Carlstrom

Recording engineer interview

Bryan Carlstrom has over 25 years of experience making hit records. Credits include Alice in Chains, The Offspring, Billy Idol, Billy Ray Cyrus, Rob Zombie, Queen, Kiss, PIL, and Anthrax just to name a few of the high profile bands that Carlstrom has worked with. Some career highlights: he recorded the famed Alice in Chains - Dirt album and The Offspring’s – Americana album. The latter sold over 10 million copies.

After years of working with some of music’s elite record producers and artists and becoming a highly recognized recording engineer himself, Carlstrom felt it was time for a change. He decided to branch out on his own several years back and focus primarily on producing, developing and writing. Established and up-and-coming artists alike seek out Carlstroms’ creative production, recording and writing skills.

Record producer Bryan Carlstrom pictured in the recording studio

In 2007 Carlstrom founded TRANZFORMER STUDIOS in Burbank, Ca. The Studio has a distinctly creative environment. There is where Carlstrom uniquely merges the best of both analog and digital recording methods. Sessions are recorded through analog outboard equipment onto Pro Tools. Then mixed through their amazing sounding SSL 4064E console to a 1’ 2 track ATR tape machine. The analog warmth of tape before it goes back into the digital domain results in stellar sounding recordings. Carlstrom continues to be very involved in the production, recording & mixing process. He is a master craftsman.

Carlstroms’ production style is collaborative as he puts a high priority on the artists’ vision for their project. He strives to create a sonically accurate representation of the artist, while pursuing a timeless and classic quality to the music. He has a consistent track record of making quality-sounding records. A master of sounds and gear, he records through a large selection of vintage equipment and modern tube gear. Carlstrom divides his time between breaking new bands and working with well-established artists. He has primarily been producing and writing the past several years as well as wearing both hats as engineer/mixer. His expertise in Pro Tools recording is well recognized. He has been featured on Digidesign’s website in their artist spotlight section and is regularly sought out for digital audio recording consultations.

Contact Information

Tranzformer Studios 818 748-8618
Worlds End Management
E-mail Bryancarlstrom@mac.com
Tranzstudio@me.com
Websites: www.bryancarlstrom.com

http://www.facebook.com/bryan.carlstrom
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tranzformer-Studios/141328449247264

Discography 

Produced =P Co-Produced =CP Recorded =R Mixed =M Mastered =Mx Songwriting =SW

Billy Ray Cyrus-Brother Clyde (Featuring Dolly Parton)-Walt Disney (2010) (R,M)
Armored Saint - La Raza - Metal Blade Records (2010) (R,M)
Something To Burn - Transitions(2009) (R)
Hillbilly Herald - Self Titled (2009) (R,M)
Konami Entertainment - Rock Revolution Video Game (2009) (R,M)
The Host - (2009) (R)
Jimmy Young - We Can't Tell You How To Live (2009) (R,M)
Putnam Hall - "Fight the Format" (2009) (R)
Tongue Dried Sun - Zero Hour (2008) (P,R,M)
Defy Tomorrow - One Through the Heart (2007) (R,M)
Adam Rodolph's Moving Pictures - "Dream Garden" - Justin Time Records (2008) (M, Mx)
Immune - Nothing Left to Believe (2007) (R,M)
Lynette Brehm - 4 song E.P. (2007) (R,M)
Femi Tabu - XXII - Rebel Tone Records (2007) (R,M)
Jeremy Riddle - "Full Attention" - Vineyard Records (2007) (M)
Mia Doi Todd - Gea - City Zen Records (@007 (R,M)
Gesham Matantuba & The Nu Nova Compound - "A Gift From Trane" - Tahoe Records (2009) (R,M)
Jeremy Riddle - "Sweetly Broken" - Compilation Vineyard Records (2006) (M)
Rie Sinclair - (R)
Build an Ark - Dawn - Shaman Work Recordings (2006) (R,M)
Rob Zombie/White Zombie - Greatest Hits * - Polydor (2004) (CP,R)
The Dreaming - featuring Christopher Hall - (CP,R,M,Mx,SW)
Adam Rudolph – Pictures of Soul – Meta/Ota Records (2003) (R,M,Mx)
Jet Black Summer – Ladder of Divine Ascent - Lakeshore (2003) (R*,M)
Dixon – Lava/Atlantic (2002) (CP,R,M,SW)
Frankie Machine - One - Mammoth Records (2000) (CP,R,M)
Marie Therese - *- Island UK (2000) (R,M)
Eternal Wind - Eternal Wind Plays the Music of Yusef Lateef - (upcoming release) label TBA (R,M)
Alice in Chains - Music Bank: Nothing Safe: Best of the Box - Died, Get Born Again* - Columbia ***(1999) (R)
(2000 Grammy Nominee for Best Hard Rock Performance)
Swimmer - Surreal - Maverick/Warner Brothers (1999) (R)
The Offspring - live concert for MTV (1999) (R, M, Mx)
Disappointment Incorporated - Feelings Mean Nothing - Time Bomb Recordings (1999) (CP,R,M)
Stavesacre - Speakeasy - Tooth and Nail (1999) (2001 Dove Nominee - Hard Music Album of the Year) (P,R,M)
Project 86 - Project 86 - BEC Records (1998) (1999 Dove Nominee - Hard Music Album of the Year) (P,R,M)
The Offspring - Americana - Sony***** (1998) (R)
Stabbing Westward - Darkest Days - Columbia** (1998) (R)
Flight 16 - Flight 16 - Sony 550 (1998) (R)
Ednaswap - Wonderland Park - Island (1998) (R)
Cafe R&B - Black & White - It Works Music (1998) (R)
Training for Utopia - Plastic Soul Impalement - Solid State (1998) (P,R,M)
Angelique - Present - Red Ant* (1998) (R,M)
Adam Rudolph's Moving Pictures - 12 Arrows - Meta Records (1998) (Mx)
The Offspring - Ixnay the Hombre - Sony **** (1997) (R)
Ednaswap - Wacko Magneto - Island (1997) (R)
Strictly Ballroom - Hide Here Forever - Waxploitation (1997) (R)
Killing Culture - Killing Culture - Edle (1997) (M)
Adam Rudolph's Moving Pictures - Contemplation - Meta Records (1997) (M)
Biohazard - Mato Leon - Warner Brothers (1996) (R)
Rust - Bar Chord Ritual - Atlantic (1996) (R)
Stavesacre - Absolutes - Tooth and Nail (1996) (P,R,M)
Stavesacre - Friction - Tooth and Nail (1995) (P,R,M)
Ednaswap - Chicken - Island (1995) (R,M)
Poe - Hello - Atlantic** (1995) (R)
Sweetwater - Superfriends - East West (1995) (R)
Filter – Short Bus – Hey Man Nice Shot* - Reprise/Warner (1995)* (R)
Adam Rudolph - The Dreamer - Meta Records (1995) (M)
Alice in Chains - live concert for MTV (1994) (M)
White Zombie - Nativity in Black: Tribute to Black Sabbath - Children of the Grave* - Geffen Records** (1994) (P,R)
Love Spit Love- Love Spit Love - Imago (1994) (R)
Orange 9MM - Driver Not Included - East West (1994) (R)
The Knack - My Sherona *- Reality Bites soundtrack (1994)**** (R)
Indians - Bed of Roses *- Reality Bites soundtrack (1994)**** (R)
White Zombie - Feed the Gods*- Airheads soundtrack - Arista/20th Century Fox (1994) (CP, R, M)
White Zombie & Brenden – Degenerated* - Airheads - Arista/20th Century Fox (1994) (CP, R, M)
4 Non Blondes - I'm the One*- Airheads soundtrack - Arista/20th Century Fox (1994) (R, M)
Anthrax - Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved - She* - Mercury (1994) (R,M)
Doom Squad - Tribute to Judas Priest - Century Media (1994) (R,M)
Adam Rudolph's Moving Pictures - Skyway - Soul Note (1994) (M)
White Zombie - Beavis and Butthead Experience - I am Hell* - Geffen Records **** (1993) (CP,R,M)
Anthrax - Sound of White Noise - Elektra *** (1993) (R)
Anthrax - Beavis and Butthead Experience - Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun* - Geffen**** (1993) (R)
Anthrax - Poison My Eyes *- Last Action Hero soundtrack (1993) (R)
Sacred Reich - Independent - Hollywood (1993) (R)
Indians - Look up to the Sky, I Love the World* - Kalifornia soundtrack (1993) (R)
Die Krups - A Tribute to Metallica - One, Enter Sandman* - Hollywood Records (1993) (M)
Alice in Chains - Dirt - Columbia **** (1992) (R)
Spinal Tap - Break Like the Wind - MCA (1992) (R)
PIL (Public Image Limited) - That What is Not - Virgin (1992) (R)
The Indians - Indianism - Polydor/Polygram (1992) (R)
Adam Rudolph's Moving Pictures - Adam Ruldolph's Moving Pictures - Flying Fish Records (1992) (R,M)
Citizen Cope (aka Clarence Greenwood) - label TBD (M)
Social Distortion - Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell - Epic/Sony*** (1991) (R)
Mary's Danish - Circa - Morgan Creek (1991) (R)
Armored Saint - Symbol of Salvation - Metal Blade (1991) (R)
Rattlebone - Rattlebone (EP) - Hollywood Records (1991) (R)
Bullett LaVolta - Swan Dive - RCA/BMG (1991) (R)
Last Crack - Burning Time - Roadrunner (1991) (R)
Riverdogs - Riverdogs - Epic (1988) (R)
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra - soundtrack (R)

P = Produced, CP = Co-produced, R = Recorded, M = Mixed, Mx = Mastered, SW = Song Writing

Additional Engineering

Billy Idol, Queen, Kiss, The Cult, Adam Ant, Terminator X, Crosby Stills and Nash, Bonnie Rait, Dwight Yokum, Meat Puppets, Cracker, Lucinda Williams, Flotsam & Jetsam, Lizzy Borden, Nuclear Assault, Pontiac Brothers, Crumb Suckers, The Outfield, Lush, Duran Duran, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Lili Hayden, Megadeath, D.R.I., Rob Halford, Red Cross, Slayer, Corrosion of Conformity, Omen, Fates Warning, Goldfinger, Tom Jones, Yusef Lateef, Graham Grace, and Dick Dale among others.

Biography Background

Bryan Carlstrom has been making records for over 25 years. He spent 10 years collaborating with producer, Dave Jerden (Jane's Addiction, Alice in Chains, Rolling Stones), as his head engineer at Eldorado Studio (Burbank, CA). Carlstrom has since embarked on his own production and songwriting career. His recording experience covers a wide spectrum of genres; from rock, hip hop, hard core, industrial, alternative, punk to jazz, blues, world, orchestras, Christian music and more. His recording experience includes many movie soundtracks, commercials and sound for TV.

Carlstrom was educated in music and voice at the University of South Dakota and he studied engineering at the Los Angeles Recording Workshop. He trained at Capital Records Studio and Track Record among other places. Prior to embarking on his production/engineering career, Carlstrom performed (guitar and vocals) with several touring indie bands back in the Midwest. He moved from his home state of South Dakota to Los Angeles in 1985 to pursue a career in music and quickly fell into making records. His interest in music and technology came together naturally. Having since seen over 50 albums through from front to back, his knowledge of record making is extensive. He has had the pleasure to work with such well-known producers as Keith Forsey, Bob Rock, Ken Scott, Shel Talmy and Randy Burns among others.