Two men in a music recording studio, one wearing a black hoodie and cap, the other with tattoos on his arms, sitting at a keyboard and facing each other, with music equipment around them. The photo is viewed through a glass window with reflections.

Archer Avenue Studio was founded in 2004 by owner Kenny McWilliams.

It is located in Columbia, SC, just minutes from the heart of downtown. What began as a small building behind Kenny's house and has grown into a world-class facility that includes two fully capable recording studios designed by the renowned studio designer Wes Lechot.

Archer Avenue Studio has become a destination for countless clients all across the southeast and beyond. Best known for helping songwriters and bands create professional records that represent each individual artist, Archer Avenue Studio also does a large variety of professional mixing, voiceover, podcasting, and digitizing work. Both studios are equipped with top of the line recording equipment, microphones, and instruments that were hand selected to offer a wide variety of creative ways to achieve any recording goal.

Gear

  • Peluso P-67
    Peluso P-47
    Neumann U 87
    JZ V67 (2)
    Royer 101
    Neuman TLM 49 (2)
    Neuman KM184 (2)
    AKG C414 (2)
    AKG 451 (2)
    Beyerdynamic M 201
    Beyerdynamic M 160 (2)
    Shure KSM 44
    Shure SM-7
    Shure SM-7B
    Shure Beta 52
    Shure SM-57 (2)
    Cascade Fat Head (2)
    Sennheiser 421 (4)
    Heil Sound PR-30
    Audix 15 (2)
    Cascade Gomez (Michael Jolly Edition)
    Warm 47jr (2)
    Reslo Ribbon (1950s)
    Reslo PR (1960s)
    Microtech Gefell M94 capsule (1970s)

  • Retro Instruments Retro Powerstrip
    A Designs Pacifica
    Great River ME-1NV (4)
    Great River MP-2NV
    Phoenix Audio DRS-8-MK 2
    Manley Dual Mono Microphone Preamp
    Chandler Limited Germanium Pre Amp (2)
    Daking Micro 500 (2)
    Vintech Audio X73 (4)

    API 6 Space 500 Series Lunch Box
    BAE 6 space 500 Series Lunch Box

  • Manley Variable Mu
    Empirical Labs Distressor EL-8SX-S (British Mode and Stereo image link mods)
    Audioscape Opto Comp Leveling Amplifier
    Summit Audio TLA-100A
    Mohog MoFET 76 Limiting Amplifier
    Warm Audio WA76 (2)
    Drawmer 1968 Dual Channel Vacuum Tube Compressor
    DBX 160X (2)
    DBX 560a (3)
    DBX 163x (2)

    EQ’S
    UBK Electra 500 (2)
    Great River EQ-2NV
    Great River EQ-1NV
    Langevin By Manley Labs MINI Massive
    SPL Vitalizer MK2

  • Waves Platinum Bundle
    Waves Maserati Collection
    Waves CLA Signature Series
    Waves CLA Classic Compressors
    Waves Kramer Master Tape
    Waves J37 Tape Saturation
    Waves Abbey Road Plate Reverb
    Waves Abbey Road Chamber Reverb
    Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter
    Waves Abby Road Reel ADT
    Waves Bass Rider
    Autotune Pro X
    Melodyne Editor
    Brainworx BX Bundle
    T-Racks 3 singles (5)
    T-Racks Classik Studio Reverb
    TL Space
    Native Instruments Komplete
    MANY Plugin Alliance Plugins
    Slate All Access Pass
    Slate Digital Trigger
    Slate Digital FG-x (1 and 2)
    UBK Complete Bundle
    Reason 5.0
    Pod Farm 2
    Full Sound Toys Bundle
    Massey Plug-ins (7)
    Universal Audio

    Many More Misc. plug-ins... 

    • G & L ASAT Custom (Telecaster)

    • 1985 Gibson 61 Reissue SG

    • 1980Gibson SG

    • 1990 Gibson Les Paul Studio

    • Pure Salem Reverberation

    • 2003 72 Fender Deluxe Tele

    • 2011 Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster

    • 2000’s Fender Classic Player Jaguar

    • 2015 Fender Special Edition 50's Stratocaster

    • Fleur De Lis, Custom, "335" style semi hollow W/Seymour Duncan Antiquity Humbuckers

    • Danelectro Electric Guitar

    • 2007 Fender 60’s Reverse Headstock Strat

    • 2016 Gibson 1964 reissue 345

    • 2004 Gibson Les Paul Standard

    • 1957 Gibson Es125 T

    • 1996 Ephiphone Sheraton (Nashville tuned)

    • 2000s Baritone Electric

    • Vintage Fender Lapsteel

    • 2016 Gibson J-15 Acoustic Guitar

    • Simon and Patrick Acoustic Guitar

    • 1930 Oahu Jumbo Nick Lucas Acoustic Guitar

    • 1959 Gibson LG-0 Acoustic Guitar

    • 1957 Gibson J-45 Acoustic Guitar

    • 1935 Gibson L-00 Acoustic Guitar

    • 1890s Bruno parlor guitar (nylon strings)
      ​

    Basses

    • Fender Marcus Miller Jazz Bass

    • Fender American 50's reissue P Bass

    • 1970' Aria Diamond Semi Hollow Vintage Bass

    • 2019 Fender Mustang Bass

  • Vox AC30 H2L (Hand-wired, African Mahogany combo w/ 2 Celestion Blues)
    Morgan AC20 Deluxe Head
    Fender Bassman 59 LTD
    1974 Fender Bassman 50 Head
    Amplified Nation Dirty Wonderland Head (100 Watt Dumble Clone)
    Black Volt Crazy Horse
    1983 Marshall JCM800
    1970s Marshall Studio 15
    1950s Rickenbacker
    1970s Magnatone
    2000s VVT
    1970s Roland Jazz Chorus

    Morgan 1x12 W/ Celestion Blue CAB
    Mesa 2x12 W/ Vintage 30s CAB
    Avatar 2x12 W/ Celestion G12-65 CAB
    ENGL 4x12 W/ Greenbacks CAB
    VHT 2x10 W/ Vintage 10's CAB
    Custom made 2x12 W/ Tone Tubby Alnico CAB
    Custom made 2x12 W/ Vintage 30's CAB
    Orange 2x12 cabinet

    Ampeg SVT Classic Bass Head
    Ampeg SVT 6x10 Bass Cab

    Many miscellaneous pedals and effects...

  • Gretsch Drums Renown:
    18"x22" Kick Drum
    10"x13" Rack Tom
    16"x16" Floor Tom

    Vintage Gretsch Round-badge (1960's):
    14"x22" Kick Drum
    10"x13" Rack Tom
    16"x16" Floor Tom


    Vintage Slingerland (1960's):
    14"x22" Kick Drum
    10"x12" Rack Tom
    14"x16" Floor Tom


    SNARES:
    Ludwig Vintage Supraphonic Snare Drum 5.5"x14"
    Ludwig Black Beauty Snare Drum 6.5"x14"
    Gretsch Hand Hammered Snare Drum 8"x14"
    Gretsch Maple Snare Drum 8"x14"
    Tama Imperialstar Aluminum Snare Drum 5.5"x14"
    Mapex Efx Snare Drum 6"x10"
    Tama Piccalo Snare Drum 3"x14"

    CYMBALS:
    Zildjian A Custom 14" High Hats
    Zildjian Z Custom 14" High Hats
    Zildjian A Custom 21" Sweet Ride 
    Zildjian A  20" Crash Ride 
    Istanbul Sultan 18" Crash
    Paiste Giant Beat 24" Ride
    Paiste Giant Beat 20" Crash
    Paiste Giant Beat 18" Crash
    Paiste Giant Beat 15" High Hats
    Paiste Dark Energy 22" Ride
    ​Paiste Dark Energy 19" Crash
    ​Paiste Dark Energy 18" Crash
    ​Paiste Dark Energy 14" High Hats

    Many miscellaneous hand drums and percusion (shakers, tamborines, wood blocks, cowbells, etc...)

    • Story and Clark Upright Piano

    • Vintage Fender Rhodes

    • Roland with 1950s Leslie cabinet

    • Moog SubPhatty

    • Korg Minilogue

    • M-Audio 88-Key Midi Controller

    • M-Audio 49-Key Midi Controller

    • Many Software based Synths and Keyboard sounds including NI and Arturia bundles.

    Other

    • Hand built Hammered Dulcimer

    • Michael Kelly Mandolin

    • 1918 Gibson A mandolin

    • 1930s 5 string open back banjo

    • GFI Pedal Steel

  • Dynaudio M3A's (Studio Monitors)
    Dynaudio BM 15A (Studio Monitors)
    Pro-Tools 12
    Avid Artist Mix
    Dangerous Music D-Box Summing/Monitor System
    Dangerous Music 2-BUS+
    Dangerous Music CONVERT-AD+
    Lynx Aurora (n)
    Emotiva XPA-2 amplifier (2)
    Bryston Crossover
    Logic Pro

** While most of this gear lives in the studio, if there is a particular piece of gear you want to use for your session, please check with us ahead of time.