Words by Haley Collins
Photography by Leo Soyfer
Hidden away in a calm corner of Broad Ripple lies a state-of-the-art full-service recording company whose savvy “mid-mod” appearance is more than meets the eye. Business partners Tim Walker, Travis “Kold Kut” Moore, and Corey Miller envisioned a haven in the Circle City where all walks of life and artistry have a place to go that can take their music to the next level.
Years ago, on a business trip to Nashville for a national recording artist, friends Travis, Corey, and Tim got to talking about what it would be like to start their own studio. After much deliberation and concluding that they would need a brick-and-mortar to realize this dream, the team found their home on Carrolton Avenue, and they began with four pillars of the business: recording, producing, educating, and licensing. Since opening three years ago, they feel that they have found their stride.
For budding artists and accomplished composers to podcasters and video game designers, there is a seat for everyone at The Round Table Recording Company. “Our whole calling card is that we want to encourage people to stay here and build the scene here,” says Moore, co-founder and Chief Engineer/Producer. “We are that place they can come and expect to get the national quality and (ability) to compete on a national level. They can expect to have that hospitality that you would have in a major music city in a high-end recording studio or facility.”
This personalized touch is nothing new for Moore, who has worked in the industry for decades. With a long list of credits, from DMX to Real Housewives, Moore’s experience spans the entire industry. Moore explained that his clients become his friends, as they work together on such a close level that is entirely built on trust. He expressed how oftentimes, people come in with just an idea or a dream, but don’t know the path to get there, and that’s where The RTRC comes in. “Throughout the years, we have been able to take an artist that has an idea, and maybe they’re doing music over YouTube beats and have no music of their own that is originally composed, then taking them from that to top 10 Billboard success…we have done that.”
For aspiring artists and engineers looking to develop their skills, Round Table offers a recording arts program. It is a 24-week program that was created for anybody that has a passion for music and wants to create a career in audio engineering, or they are wanting to hone their skills on their own to further their own artistry. With that program, they teach recording, mixing, mastering, microphone techniques, signal flow, and everything from ‘this’ side of the glass, “You’re going to work and interact with artists, (learn) studio etiquette, all these things that are going to help you be successful as a recording engineer, and really all facets of doing music for a living on the technical side,” said Moore.
“I believe we have developed a well rounded curriculum,” said Miller, Chief Engineer and Producer with over 24 years working in the biz and who previously taught at other audio-based educational programs around the city. Students are exposed to a lot of different facets of the music industry within the program. With their new and improved Version Two introduced at the beginning of this year, they have built out their lessons to be robust with more practice sessions and exercises to complete. Miller shared that students are able to utilize their Studio C and the Lesson Room for any of their labs or projects throughout their time in the Program.
In larger studios, it’s been the trend for decades that an intern gets coffee and lunch or cleans the studio for six months to a year or even longer before they are given the chance to develop their skills as an engineer. Their internship turns that model on its head. “Students who graduate with top honors, (our) Certificate of Endorsement, have the chance to enter the internship program here at Round Table,” said Miller. He shared their commitment and focus on developing the engineering and producing skills of their students with their tools and training provided throughout their six-month internship. Some of the graduates of their program have gone on to further their education at institutions like Berkeley or Belmont while others have jumped in with both feet to work in the field, and freelance at the studio. Some of the graduates have also been hired on as full-time staff.
Walker shared what The RTRC is doing to actively empower and support female artists and engineers in Indianapolis, “We’ve actively pursued getting more women into our education program as well garnered support for (women in) music and female artists.” Hunter Lambert, the team’s Director of Music Licensing, began a networking group called Tonal Women of Indianapolis, for women to find support, network and share resources with other women in the business. Sierra, an engineer on staff and The RTRC’s first external hire, is also a producer and a DJ and is one of the instructors for the Recording Arts program. Walker expressed that the team feels there is a huge client base that would love to work with a woman engineer or producer, and it’s an area that is grossly underserved.
For individuals who are interested in producing not just on the technical level, but also the creative level, Round Table recently launched a new music production program. It’s a 12-week program that is geared towards individuals that want to write and compose music for multiple different projects, whether it’s for singer songwriters, rappers, bands, or TV and film. The RTRC offers TV and film scoring, and perform Foley and audio posts, as well as video game composition all encompassed in this program. When students complete the program, they are equipped with vast professional knowledge, networking skills, sales skills, and effective understanding of the legal side of music and publishing.
Many Round Table clients would love the opportunity to have their music exposed on a national level. “Yes, everyone would love to be on, you know, Spotify’s New Music Friday, but it’s insanely competitive and very hard to happen. But the licensing world is an alternative to that where you can get your music in front of a mass audience,” said Moore. Round Table has made placements for sports, movies, reality television, and everything in between. “I’ve written for TV and film for about 15 years now so I have placements on TV every single day of songs and beats and instrumentals that air on every major network all the time, now I’m here trying to do that for the next generation, that’s the artists that come in here… One huge placement could change their whole career, and that is really (our) goal.”
Licensing is often a blind spot in the music industry. However, it offers a lot of value and can be an amazing way to share your music as opposed to just streaming. With Hunter Lambert heading the music licensing department, Round Table proudly advertises that their catalog is almost entirely music from Indiana. Lambert manages a lot of important relationships on the licensing side and radiates a passion for her role, “I think I’ve always valued the way movies and music and film make me feel and the way, emotionally, it will stick with me. And so i love the idea of being able to challenge our writers to bring that to the table as well. Its just a whole other side of creativity that it’s really cool to watch people blossom into.”
For artists who are unsure of the whole process, Lambert offers a smile and open arms, “I’m gonna tell you to come in and meet me for coffee, and let me just explain everything to you. Because it’s something that as a young writer…, I would have probably broken down if somebody would have been like ‘come here, let me talk you through this.’ I think for all artists, it’s probably one of the scariest processes aside from actually sharing that part of yourself …it’s so fulfilling to me because i think back to my younger self and I’m like, ‘oh my gosh, where was I? What would I want to tell myself back in the day?”
Walker shared the team’s belief in talent of all ages and their desire to build a foundation and platform for artists to use their music in a number of different ways. “We feel that the education program is an opportunity or a resource in the community to develop talent on the recording as well as the production (side). I’m very passionate about that. On the recording side, the whole staff that we have are extremely supportive of artists. We’re not trying to take control of their music, we are a partner in their music.”
Round Table is confident that they have crafted a formula that a lot of people can enjoy. The company has built a vibrant team with great personality and a focus on artists, their material, and accomplishing their dreams. The whole team emphasized their desire to build the community in Indianapolis and their drive to build success from the city. The team at The RTRC continues to pave their way to success in the Midwest with their passionate commitment to the Indianapolis music scene.
