What begun as a part-time hobby studio in Mike Barden's apartment back in 2003 has grown into significant resource of recording and production services, serving much of the state of Wisconsin. Over the years, it has had a number of incarnations and names, including CDs of U, Big Sound Recording, and Chain-O-Lakes Recording. With each of these incarnations there has been a corresponding leap forward in the studio's functionality and scope of influence.
Today, Muse Recording is a full-time, full-function studio that has provided service for individuals, ensembles, and organizations ranging from amateur "friends and family" recordings, to full length CD releases for independant artists, to recordings for public school music programs, to spoken word instructional recordings, to live recordings of community choir and orchestra concerts, to audio projects used by large corporations.
The studio is located in the tourist destination of Waupaca, in a quiet, attractive residential setting; the studio itself is a comfortable, inspiring environment free from the "red light" anxiety so often associated with recording.
A major renovation for the studio happened during summer 2010, after a fire forced Mike to rebuild his house and the studio. The tragedy and inconvenience of the fire did nonetheless provide a "Phoenix" experience for the studio, which was rebuilt to twice its original size, with many improvements in room size, acoustics, and studio infrastructure.
Mike's ability as a producer and recording engineer arises out of over 25 years of experience as a performing musician and a lifetime of interest in music technology. Since 1994, he has produced four CDs of his own piano music—Glory to the Newborn King, Rest, Groovy Church Tunes, and Pieces of Peace, plus the Coverage CD for Uptown, the jazz/pop group in which he plays keyboards.
Growing up in Eagle River (the "other" Chain-O-Lakes in Wisconsin!), Mike attended Nicolet College in Rhinelander (1986), where a self-produced recording of an original composition was featured in a sound and light show put on by Nicolet's Theater department. He later graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in music theory and composition from UW-Stevens Point (1989), and a Master's degree in composition from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign (1991). While at the U of I, Mike studied music technology at the internationally renowned Experimental Music Studios. And in 2003, he graduated with honors in Recording Engineering from the Audio Institute of America.
Mike is fluent in a wide variety of musical styles. He has performed classical repertoire as the principal keyboardist in the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, old-time dance music with John Check and the Wisconsin Dutchmen (with whom he played on two CDs), and big band jazz with River Cities Jazz (he also played on their CD).
Other performing experience include playing keyboard and electric guitar with Rhinelander rock band Equinox and Stevens Point blues band Cold Shot, which was led by accomplished Milwaukee guitarist Greg Koch. As a pianist with various ensembles, he has shared the stage with Janet Planet, Maynard Ferguson, Joan Rivers, and the Neville Brothers.
Mike is married to Monica (also a professional musician), and has two children, ages 13 and 11.
It's the unique combination of a pleasant, high-quality recording facility and the experience of a long-time professional that work together to provide a quality recording experience for clients from all styles and situations.
