Q: When is The TANK open, what are its usual hours?
A: The TANK is open to the general public on Saturdays, 9am to 1pm, May through October, for Open Saturdays at The TANK (more information). Admission is free, and donations are gratefully accepted. You may also reserve The TANK for private sessions and recording.
Q: During Open Saturdays at The TANK, will there be other people in the space when I’m there?
A: Very likely. Open Saturdays at The TANK is a shared sound space. We encourage you to create your own TANK experience while respecting the experience of others. And you can always reserve your own time in The TANK.
Q: Are children allowed to visit The TANK?
A: Yes, children supervised by adults are most welcome and are guaranteed to get much from their visit. The TANK is a steel enclosure and sits on grey shale hills in an area with nearly vertical cliffs on and near the property. We ask that you supervise kids closely, inside and outside The TANK.
Q: Is The TANK safe?
A: Yes. The TANK has been renovated to meet international codes and standards for a public assembly hall. However, The TANK is made of half-inch steel, so you should move slowly and be careful. There is a curved floor, which makes the sound exceptional, but is tricky to walk on. The lighting in The TANK is minimal, but adequate.
Q: Why must I remove my shoes?
A: The sound of footsteps in The TANK is loud and can last for 20 seconds. To keep the sound pure, and to keep The TANK clean of dust and mud, we ask you to remove your street shoes. (We also want you to slow down and listen.)
Q: Can I make a reservation for private use?
A: Yes, you can contact our Executive Director at info@tanksounds.org. The TANK is available for private and small group experiences, recordings, sessions, and small projects. You can find information about reserving time in The TANK here.
Q: May I bring my own instruments to The TANK?
A: Yes, please bring your instruments! We just ask that you take away any instruments you bring.
Q: Will there be other instruments to play?
A: Yes, we have several TANK instruments, all one-of-a-kind. Or you can just listen, sing, and experience the space.
Q: May I make recordings in The TANK?
A: Yes, you may. You will receive a TANK USB stick and will walk away with your sounds.
NB: Recordings of impulse responses (digital copies of The TANK’s acoustic spatial qualities) are not allowed. Because The TANK’s acoustic space is unique, ever changing with weather and temperature, we encourage people to visit the actual space, not a poor digital copy.
Q: What recording gear is available for my recordings at The TANK?
A: The TANK currently has two systems for recording: For Standard Sessions, The Tank Center for Sonic Arts is equipped with a standard, easy-to-use Prosumer recording capability. This consists of two omni microphones by Røde, a Sound Devices 442 preamp/mixer recording directly to a Denon 700 recorder onto TANK USB sticks. Sessions are easy to set up and can be run by our assistant engineer. The quality of the stereo recording is really quite good. The minimum time for this level session is one hour.
Our Professional Session rig consists of two large diaphragm Charter Oak E700 multi-pattern microphones, 2 Røde NT55 stereo condenser microphones, two DPA 4006 omni microphones, and a Grace 108 mic preamplifier. Additional microphones may be available. We also have 12 mic lines, 4 returns, 2 Ethernet lines, and 2 BNC lines for video between The TANK and the container/control room. Minimum time for a Professional Session is 4 hours (1/2 day). Professional sessions can use our microphone fly system, which allows placement of mics anywhere in the TANK. The result will be a multi-channel recording for you to take away to mix and master on your own.
We have a state-of-the-art control room in the Rino Cubed container that sits next to The TANK.
You can find information about recording in The TANK here.
Q: How do I stay informed about what’s happening at The TANK?
A : Join our mailing list. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Q: How are you paying for all this?
A: Through donations from music and sound lovers like you. In 2013, Friends of the Tank raised more than $46,000 with the Save The TANK Kickstarter capaign. In 2016, we raised more than $63,000 with our second Kickstarter campaign: OPEN The TANK. This astounding outpouring of generosity from hundreds of backers from every corner of the globe saved The TANK from the scrap heap, established Friends of The TANK as an organization, and covered a mixture of capital and ongoing expenses.
We raised $35,000 through private and foundation contributions for a control room/recording studio fabricated from a shipping container by Rhino Cubed of Boulder, Colorado. $9,000 was raised to modify The TANK and its grounds to meet international building codes and get our certificate of occupancy.
Our most astounding support has come from the dozens of volunteers and seemingly endless in-kind donations over the last three years.
The TANK Center for Sonic Arts will continue to pursue grant funding, donations, and various sources of earned income, including the sale of TANK Music and recording fees. Stay up-to-date on our progress.