Sigma Sound Studios
Encyclopedia
Sigma Sound Studios is an American music recording studio
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
founded by recording engineer Joseph Tarsia
in 1968.
Located at 212 N. 12th Street in Philadelphia, it was the second studio in the country to offer 24-track recording and the first in the country to use console automation. Tarsia was formerly chief engineer at Philadelphia's Cameo-Parkway Studios.
In the 1970s, Sigma Sound was strongly associated with Philadelphia soul
and the sound of Gamble and Huff
's Philadelphia International records (a precursor to disco
music), which combined a driving rhythm section with a full orchestral sound of strings and brass.
David Bowie recorded his album Young Americans
in August 1974 at Sigma Sound.
Tarsia opened a branch of Sigma Sound Studios in New York City which operated from the late 1970s through the mid-1980s.
He sold Sigma Sound Studios in 2003.
The majority of the tape recorded in Sigma Sound Studios' history is part of The Drexel University Audio Archive.
The studio recently underwent a massive renovation and now has
five state-of-the-art production studios, a live production sound stage, and media production center.
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
founded by recording engineer Joseph Tarsia
Joseph Tarsia
Philadelphia-based recording engineer Joe Tarsias skills can be heard on a significant number of classic pop music tracks, earning him over 150 gold and platinum record awards. He was also the founder and owner of the legendary Sigma Sound Studios...
in 1968.
Located at 212 N. 12th Street in Philadelphia, it was the second studio in the country to offer 24-track recording and the first in the country to use console automation. Tarsia was formerly chief engineer at Philadelphia's Cameo-Parkway Studios.
In the 1970s, Sigma Sound was strongly associated with Philadelphia soul
Philadelphia soul
Philadelphia soul, sometimes called the Philadelphia Sound or Sweet Philly, is a style of soul music characterized by funk influences and lush instrumental arrangements, often featuring sweeping strings and piercing horns. The subtle sound of a glockenspiel can often be heard in the background of...
and the sound of Gamble and Huff
Gamble and Huff
Kenneth Gamble and Leon A. Huff are an American songwriting and record production team who have written and produced over 170 gold and platinum records. They were pioneers of Philadelphia soul and the in-house creative team for the Philadelphia International record label...
's Philadelphia International records (a precursor to disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
music), which combined a driving rhythm section with a full orchestral sound of strings and brass.
David Bowie recorded his album Young Americans
Young Americans (album)
Young Americans, released in 1975, shows off David Bowie’s 1970’s shift to his “obsession” with soul music . For this album, Bowie let go of the influences he had drawn from in the past, replacing them with sounds from “local dance halls”, which, at the time, were blaring with “…lush strings,...
in August 1974 at Sigma Sound.
Tarsia opened a branch of Sigma Sound Studios in New York City which operated from the late 1970s through the mid-1980s.
He sold Sigma Sound Studios in 2003.
The majority of the tape recorded in Sigma Sound Studios' history is part of The Drexel University Audio Archive.
The studio recently underwent a massive renovation and now has
five state-of-the-art production studios, a live production sound stage, and media production center.