Henry Falco’s self-built studio and commitment to teaching are empowering the next wave of CSI audio engineers
By K. Nieves
On the first day of class, Henry Falco cued up a song on the studio speakers and let it play. The students listened closely, some nodding along. They didn’t know that by the end of the semester, they’d be tasked with recreating that very sound—capturing every note, tone, and texture as if they had stepped into the original recording session themselves.
“To take the minds of young people and try to help mold them a little bit, is there a greater calling than that,” said Falco. “I really feel that teaching is a super honorable thing.”
The adjunct lecturer teaches Multitrack Recording and Mixing & Mastering at CSI, where he challenges students to recreate a song from history.
Beyond technical training, Falco aims to instill confidence in his students, encouraging them to trust their ears and develop their unique artistic perspectives. As it stands, the studio on campus is unserviceable, but Falco is planning on potentially building a new studio at CSI.
“Someone borrowed equipment and it never came back. The computer equipment was over 20 years old. It just wasn’t viable,” said Falco. “So I told them that this year, I would put together another studio for the college.”
The proposed new studio would provide students with a proper on-campus space to hone their recording and mixing skills, giving them access to updated equipment and a controlled environment for hands-on learning.
The instruction goes beyond the campus, however. Falco’s self-built Moon Studios at 1273 Bay St. in Rosebank has its own selection of course offerings that cater to a range of skillsets, tailored to both up-and-comers and industry professionals. Moon Studios has also become a training ground for CSI students while the on-campus studio is inoperable.
Falco is a respected audio engineer with over 40 years of experience, having worked with legendary artists like Miles Davis, Cameo, and Kool & The Gang. His industry knowledge spans beyond technical expertise; he has firsthand experience navigating the evolving landscape of music production, from analog recording techniques to the modern digital era.
The name Moon Studios – as well as Luna, the moniker of Falco’s six-year-old black lab – reflect the multifaceted avocations of the seasoned engineer, who has a deep interest in astronomy and is an avid stargazer. His additional skills in woodworking allowed him to build Moon Studios entirely from scratch, from the walls down to the electrical wiring and plumbing. Falco’s DIY, entrepreneurial mentality was passed down by his father, who also founded his own business and preached the value of working for yourself.
Post-Covid-19, Falco found himself navigating new problems, where he recalled Moon Studios was initially down 70-percent financially from where it was pre-pandemic. The uncertainty of the music industry during that time put many independent studio owners in difficult positions, but Falco’s resilience kept Moon Studios alive.
“It’s a struggle to keep a studio open for six months, let alone 25 years. It’s a very expensive hobby,” said Falco. “But I can’t tell you how much I love this.”
