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Reminder Assistant Editor WEST SPRINGFIELD In 1995, Warren Amerman's love for music prompted him to break into the $40 billion music industry by starting his own record label at the East Longmeadow rotary. Thirteen years later, Rotary Records has become larger than ever expanding to a new 3,500-square-foot facility at 732 Elm St. He searched for over two years to find the perfect space to expand his recording studio that would provide a venue for area musicians. "There are a lot of really talented people in the [Pioneer] Valley," Amerman said in an interview with Reminder Publications. "The recording industry is just a tough, tough business to be in from every angle be it artist, record label or engineer. For local or unknown artists it's just about impossible to make a living playing music." However, Amerman has been able to turn his love for music into a career. First trained on the flute and then the guitar, he eventually realized his love for engineering and mixing as well. "In 1995 when the [music] industry started to change and move over to digital [from analog] I decided to get serious about recording," he said. Amerman's dedication to his craft meant that Rotary Records would have to expand and continuously purchase quality recording equipment. He explained that the East Longmeadow facility was always meant to be a temporary space until he found a larger venue with "great acoustics." Large-scale renovations turned the 200-year-old church on Elm Street into the new home of Rotary Records. The facility is equipped with an array of gear and instruments including a Yamaha C3 Grand Piano with midi, a Yamaha DX7 and an 1855 William Johnston Pipe Organ, as well as Pro Tools digital recording technology. Amerman explained that he has chosen to use digital recording technology as opposed to analog because it provides "the best result with the least amount of money for the client." He noted that there is an ongoing debate among those in the music industry as to whether digital or analog technology provides the best sound. Amerman said the costs for studio time and mixing at Rotary Records have ranged in price from $1,000 to $10,000. He said he hopes that by moving to this new facility he can continue to promote local talent by "making it affordable for them to record." Amerman said his goal for the future of Rotary Records is "to do really good work [by creating] something that really has a lasting value and resonates with people." For more information about Rotary Records go to www.rotaryrecords.com. | ||||||
