Welcome to RichTone Studios – Yakima, WA

Here in the heart of the Yakima Valley, we believe that true sound isn't emulated; it is forged. Welcome to RichTone, where we specialize in bespoke, high-fidelity analog recording and mastering.

At RichTone, we don't just buy equipment—we engineer it. Our signal chain is the result of decades of obsession with “Big Iron” transformers, vacuum tube topology, and the lost art of broadcast-grade wiring.

The beating heart of our mastering chain is the RichTone RT-BA-6A, a custom-engineered Vari-Mu Limiter that combines cold-war military durability with audiophile precision.

• Heritage & Heavy Metal: Built upon the chassis of decommissioned US Navy AN/FRA-501 receivers, this unit features a dual-chassis architecture. By physically separating the high-voltage “Engine Room” (Power Supply) from the sensitive “Signal Deck” (Audio Path), we achieve a noise floor that is virtually nonexistent.
• The Signal Path: The audio flows through a pure Class-A/B tube circuit utilizing a unique 7-Pin “Soviet Shielded” Topology. From the matched 6BA6 input stage to the push-pull 6AQ5 output drivers, the signal is warmed and thickened by genuine vacuum tubes before hitting massive Edcor audio transformers.
• Tactile Precision: Signal levels are sculpted using vintage Daven 600-ohm stepped attenuators—the same controls found in the legendary broadcast consoles of the 1950s.

What sets RichTone apart is our capability for specialized vinyl workflows. The RT-BA-6A is not just a compressor; it is a mastering engine equipped with:

• Half-Speed Mastering Support: A dedicated mode that shifts the equalization curves down one octave, allowing for high-fidelity half-speed lacquer cutting.
• Inverse RIAA (IRIAA) Encoding: Built-in equalization curves to properly prepare audio for the vinyl manufacturing process.
• Advanced Dynamics: With sidechain high-pass filtering and variable ratios, we can tame the loudest transients without crushing the life out of the low end.

We invite you to experience the difference of a signal chain built by hand, right here in Yakima. This is the RichTone sound.