Mid-South Audio opens new studio/showroom in Milton

Mid-South Audio officially cut the ribbon on its new Milton complex that comes complete with a state-of-the-art recording studio, warehouse and retail showroom.

The new facility, located on Route 16, held its grand opening Sept. 28 on Mid-South Audio’s 31st anniversary. The event included guided tours of the facility and a concert in the parking lot.

Kevin Short first opened Mid-South Audio in Georgetown as an event production company, supplying equipment to local bands and events with a 16-track analog studio. The business expanded to supply staging, lighting and audio services to venues such as the Freeman Stage and the Avalon Theatre in Easton, Md. 

The new Mid-South Audio in Milton includes a new digital studio, and maintains concert and event services, a warehouse, and a retail operation selling mixers, microphones and cords, among other gear. 

The biggest attraction at the new store is the recording studio, which has two control rooms with state-of-the-art speakers and acoustics. 

Gino Bailey, the studio’s senior technician, has worked for Mid-South for 27 years, starting when his band recorded at Short’s studio. Short liked him so much, he hired him to work at Mid-South.

Bailey said the studio has 64 microphone outputs that can be routed to both control rooms. The rooms are so isolated sonically, he said, that an engineer can record a band in one room and an ad reading in another without interference. 

Bailey said the studio is insulated with material made from recycled blue jeans.

Typically, studios use insulation in order to soundproof the space and keep outside noise out. Bailey said the problem with typical insulation is that it can make the studio hard to breathe in.

The recycled jeans, material, which looks like a blue version of usually pink insulation, is denser and not as hard on the lungs, he said.

The microphones in the studio cost about $4,000 each, and record mainly using Pro Tools, a digital audio editing software. 

During the grand opening, Short was handed proclamations by state Sens. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, and Dave Wilson, R-Bridgeville, and Rep. Steve Smyk, R-Milton. 

“We didn’t pick the best year to do this,” Short said. “But everybody chipped in. Everyone did what was necessary to bring us to today, and I appreciate that.”