Rooted in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Valley Sound Co is the one stop shop for all things audio. With 20+ years of combined experience in live sound reinforcement, recording, mixing, mastering, and teaching, our audio experts are an unmatched, elite cadre prepared for any venture that helps you, your project, or your event sound how you envision and deserve.
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Chris Fenton
Chris Fenton is a Shenandoah Conservatory graduate and musical menace. With deep experience in the punk, rock, and electronic music scenes in addition to jazz and classical, he has the aesthetic taste and DIY sensibilities to complement his practical expertise. After interning with legendary engineer Steve Albini at Electrical Audio in Chicago, he is now the Staff Engineer & Studio Advisor at Shenandoah Conservatory.
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Talen Hartman
Talen Hartman, Shenandoah Conservatory graduate and former Technical Director & Broadcast Engineer of Abundant Life Church, strikes at the core of craft and creativity. Efficiency- and precision-minded, with endeavors across such disparate realms as hip-hop, psychedelic rock, dungeon synth, worship, classical, and noise music, he has both the technical comprehension and artistic sensitivity to see any client's vision to fulfillment. He is the current Lead Audio Engineer at Abundant Life Church.
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Nathan Justice
Nathan Justice is the former Technical Director & Lead Audio Engineer of Abundant Life Church, a multi-site organization with one of the largest venues in the Northern Shenandoah Valley. A bluesy professional with firm rock n’ roll, country-western, pop punk, and worship music credentials, he can also be found shredding drums with The Ryan Thomas Band.
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![Three young punks in a band staring at camera.]()
"To this day, the EP we did with Chris feels the most representative of how Destructo Disk sounds. That’s exactly what we wanted. He’s constantly giving his all, always willing to listen and try new things, and doesn’t consider something finished until everyone is satisfied."
Destructo Disk
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"There are sound guys and then there are audio engineers. These guys are the latter. They are professional, detail-oriented, and work hard to ensure each client gets what they need. Don’t hire a sound guy."
Ryan Gordon
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"Talen cut no corners, really taking the time to understand the sound we were going for and what we needed as a band. He was accommodating throughout the recording and inspired us creatively with his suggestions and artistic vision. I can highly recommend him to anyone looking for an audio engineer who will dive into their project and really bring it to life."
Et Mors
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![Four young hip men in a band standing on a beach.]()
"Our work with Chris has given us the next step towards reaching our sound as a band. Whether it’s recording, mixing, or mastering, Chris knows his stuff! Highly technical and very personable, any project with Chris behind the board is going to be something you can be proud of."
Parsley
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"Talen is an insanely talented individual who knows his way around mastering, making albums sound thick, crisp, and fresh."
Vaelastrasz
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"Working with Chris has been a great experience! Easy to work with and precise with his work, you'll always leave the studio satisfied after recording with him."
Trapp Hill Collision
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"Talen ran sound for me several times at Bright Box. He was great to work with, always had a focused attitude, and created a delightful level and mix of sound control in the room."
Sally Mae Foster
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![Four young men in psychedelic rock band looking into the sky.]()
"Chris Fenton did an excellent job on our self-titled record. He’s always present, from the recording process all the way to mastering, and was on top of it the whole time. He’s extremely punctual, proficient, and professional, and we could not recommend him more."
Lucid Lynx
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"Recording can be a stressful experience, but Talen helped me feel at ease throughout our time together. He was knowledgeable and hardworking, always punctual and very efficient. As for the final product, I was impressed by the professional quality of the recordings, as though they were edited and mixed at the most respected record labels."
Brian Woods
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![Graffiti on brick wall writing "Thee Deluxe".]()
"Working with Chris is an absolute blast! Through every step of tracking, mixing, and mastering, his enthusiasm for his craft and attention to detail got our songs sounding better than we could have imagined. We couldn't be more happy and look forward to having Chris record us on many projects in the future!"
Thee Deluxe
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"Talen was prompt, courteous, and extremely professional. He listened to our feedback and was able to provide us with a great onstage mix. Several fans in the audience expressed that it was the best the band has sounded. We highly recommend Talen and will be working with him in the future!"
The River’s Edge
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![Young man sliding skateboard in a painted world.]()
"Working with Chris was like a walk in the park: he stole my money then gave me the finger. But in all seriousness, Chris knows what's up: he's the master of flipping switches and twisting knobs. Would highly recommend him for all your music needs."
Valley Delinquent
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![Professional dancer on dark stage.]()
"Talen was an excellent engineer to work with for our dance concerts. He was very attentive to our needs for the theater and helped level out the music to create a full bodied sound for our audiences. I would work with Talen again in a heartbeat."
Tiffanie Carson
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“Back in 2017, Chris and Talen masterfully recorded my 12-minute composition ‘Espejismos’ for solo flute and string orchestra. Their sensible and artistic ears permeated my work with a genuine heart, capturing both its essence as well as every nuance by every musician. It is now the signature piece of my vinyl album ‘Music for the Moving Imagination,' and I am forever grateful!”
Carlo Nicolau
What We Do:
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We run sound for weddings, private events, corporate events, and bands in the Shenandoah Valley, Northern Virginia, and Washington DC areas.
Our engineers have run sound at venues such as The Ritz-Carlton of Pentagon City, The United States National Arboretum, The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Congressional Country Club, Washington Golf and Country Club, The Hay-Adams, Hotel Washington, The Bayfront Club, Dumbarton House, and many more.
Contact us for a quote.
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Our team has recorded everything from solo instrument audition demos to international orchestra tours. Whatever the music and venue, we’ll capture your performance with unrivaled clarity and detail.
Contact us for a quote.
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With years leading and assisting in sessions at Shenandoah University’s Studio Prime, our engineers know it like the backs of their hands. Equipped with an SSL Duality analog console, an Otari MTR-90 24-track tape machine, Pro Tools Ultimate, racks of classic outboard gear, and an all-you-can-ask-for closetful of industry-standard microphones, we’ve got you covered for any size project.
$95/hour Studio+Engineer Rate
50% off mixing/mastering when you record with us!
Contact us about additional production or getting connected with other musicians for your project.
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Musicians and creatives themselves, our engineers are committed to seeing your artistic vision through from inception to completion. We’ll connect you with the expert best suited to your project (or whomever you choose), reserving additional ears for ideas and feedback to ensure the final product is of maximal caliber.
$100 Mix
$150 Mix/Master
$75 Streaming Master
$75 Vinyl Master
$125 Streaming+Vinyl Masters
You can listen to some of our work here.
If you’d like to submit a song for a free mix or master sample, use the form at the bottom of the page. Make sure your tracks are time-aligned, send us reference material if you’d like, and we’ll get back to you soon!
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Frequently requested for his vocal tone and range, our resident VO artist has done everything from audiobooks to preshow announcements to podcasts and video voiceovers. Combined with a speedy workflow and rich experience in sound design, he has all the makings of your project’s secret weapon.
Contact us for a quote.
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As small business leaders ourselves, we’re passionate about being heard and making others heard. That’s why we’re here to amplify your voice and mission, from script to airwave preparation.
Contact us for a quote.
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We’ve all gotten pesky sounds into an otherwise great recording, audio or video. Sometimes it’s unavoidable. But what’s not is leaving them in to wreak havoc on your mix. We’re here to salvage and polish your sound so no one knows the better.
$30 Basic Noise Removal (buzzes, hums, air conditioning, continuous room sounds)
$70 Advanced Noise Removal per half-hour (note the timestamps of undesired sounds)
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Our goal is to endow each of our students with a well-rounded understanding of music, emphasizing creativity and expression without forsaking technique or fundamentals. We offer lessons in piano, guitar, drums, bass, violin, and audio technology to kids and adults.
$50/hour Individual Lessons
If interested in audio workshops for your church or organization, contact us for a quote.
Need Something?
We’re here to help. Let us know what you’re working on, and one of our experts will be in touch soon.
