The lost ARK: The studio below Rieman Music, a year later

By Cole Komma
Ames247 Staff Writer

In downtown Ames, in the basement of Rieman Music, creation is taking place. Alexander Recording Kompany (ARK) is the brainchild of Dennis Haislip, musician and employee of Rieman’s.

The studio opened on March 19, 2010, and Haislip said the idea came up in a conversation with Rieman’s manager.

“ I was just joking around with the manager at the time about how cool it would be if there was a studio in the basement,” Haislip said. “It became this community effort.”

Soon after that conversation, the studio became a reality, and Haislip, along with friends, coworkers and bandmates began to construct what soon would become ARK.

Rudy Miller, ISU student and also an employee at Rieman, began helping Haislip in the studio his junior year of high school.

“I help Dennis set up the sessions and help with the recording,” Miller said. ”I love the atmosphere of the studio and the people I get to meet.”

Haislip has recorded various local bands from the Ames and greater Des Moines areas such as Bombardier, Chaos Saints and Sim Sek.

Haislip said there are only two rules in ARK: Performers are not allowed to play or record “hate music” and all deposits are non-refundable. ARK charges musicians $35 an hour for recording sessions while some other studios may charge $100 to $300.

The studio is well equipped with Protools 9 digital recording and editing software which can house 24 tracks at once. ARK is also equipped with a plethora of microphones ranging from the classic Shure Microphone to a Neumann Microphone which, according to Haislip, costs more than his car.

Haislip said if any student needs music recorded, ARK is willing to help out.