by Reeham Choudhury

While microphones, a 16-track board, drum set and keyboard are all commonplace in a professional recording studio, it is not top selling artists who record at the Brookline Teen Center’s studio; it is high school students.

Sophomore Carson Murphy, also known as the rapper ChaseChowder, said he feels privileged to use such good quality equipment to record.

“It’s just so professional and high-grade, and it’s all for free.” Murphy said.

According to Murphy, students can use the equipment to make any type of music.

“There are so many versatile sounds you can make,” he said. “There’s such a range of things you can do.”

Students can edit their music on a computer in a lab after recording. Then, students can upload their music to SoundCloud, sophomore Evan Legere said.

Senior Martin Weissgerber, also known as Manic the Rapper, said the BTC staff does a good job of introducing people to the equipment.

“They’re there to help you learn the ropes,” Weissgerber said. “It’s good because they are very involved in making the music.”

According to Legere, students can learn how to use the studio through one-on-one lessons with a BTC staff member or through group classes, but one of the most effective ways to learn is just by using it.

Legere explained that the studio is used frequently by a small number of students. He said that having a studio readily available is very important to his music.

“At the Teen Center, it’s a much more personalized experience,” Legere said. “I’ve learned a lot about everything by being there.”

Although it is available for students to use, Murphy said that there are restrictions on the type of music that can be recorded there.

“They don’t want any rude kind of language or any bad messages sent out,” Murphy said. “I felt that it was just a little too controlling.”

Despite its restrictions, the opportunity to have such a studio is unique, especially since using it is free to members, Weissgerber said.

“I think we’re extremely lucky to have something like this here,” Weissgerber said. “This is free and is a great opportunity. It’s for anybody who wants to use it.”

Legere said practicing at the studio has both taught him the skills necessary to DJ and helped him develop his own style.

“Without it, I wouldn’t have known what I needed to do, and I wouldn’t have known that I like to do it,” Legere said.

The studio has allowed Weissgerber to gain recording experience that he thinks will be useful throughout his life.

“When I go to college, I’m going to try to figure out where I can record and what kinds of studios I can use,” Weissgerber said. “Because now I have the talent under my belt, and I have the expertise on how to use a recording studio, thanks to the Teen Center.”

Reeham Choudhury can be contacted at [email protected]