Legend Günter Pauler: 50 years of music history in the St. Blasien-Keller!

Legend Günter Pauler: 50 years of music history in the St. Blasien-Keller!

In the heart of Northeim you will find a very special place that shapes both the history of the city and the musical landscape. Günter Pauler, a pioneer in the recording studio scene, has been running a recording studio in the historic vaulted cellar of the St. Blasien complex, a former monastery, for over 50 years. At 82 years old, Pauler is not only a legend of the singer-songwriter scene, but also a guarantee for the quality and authenticity of music productions. Loud Northeim now Pauler renovated the cellar, which was in a very dilapidated state in 1975, with a lot of passion and dedication.

Günter and his wife Evelyn moved to Northeim in 1975 and rented the building for just 240 marks a month. What began as a simple hobbyist workshop has now developed into a high-tech recording studio that is valued nationally and internationally. Pauler and his friend Hansi Dobratz founded the Stockfisch-Records label in 1975, which has since produced over 1,000 music productions. His first release, the record “10,000 Miles” by Werner Lämmerhirt, was sold more than 115,000 times.

A place with history

During the renovations, the Paulers found a human skeleton, which later turned out to be the remains of Count Otto von Northeim. This small but meaningful detail reflects the deep-rooted history of the building, which dates back over 1,000 years. Loud Leinetal24 It was a citizens' initiative that campaigned against the demolition of the St. Blasien complex and thereby supported the preservation of this cultural heritage.

Pauler remembers the beginning, when he and other squatters moved into the building that was originally intended to make way for a parking garage. Today he can look back proudly on his success story: He worked with greats in the music scene, such as Reinhard Mey and Hannes Wader, and landed a Grammy nomination in 2014 for the recordings of Chinese superstar Song Zuying. This international recognition shows that the boundaries of the small studio in Northeim extend far beyond Germany.

The musical diversity

What makes Günter Pauler’s recording studio so special? A look at the equipment reveals it: with over 100 microphones, various guitars, a harp and drums, the studio offers an impressive selection of instruments. Pauler himself creates many of the arrangements and mixes the music on the mixing desk. He is currently working with Irish singer-songwriter Brian Flanagan and is planning a concert in the Bürgersaal. Live recordings of Allan Taylor will soon be edited into a film, which will be released on YouTube in September.

The sound engineer Hans-Jörg Maucksch, who has worked at Pauler's side for 30 years, takes care of the mastering of the music. Despite the digital development in the music business, Pauler remains loyal to analogue record production. His impressive machine, one of only six in the world, transfers digital music onto copper blanks for vinyl pressings. “Vinyl records are still in demand,” says Pauler, confirming a trend that is hardly losing any of its importance.

The spectrum of music productions ranges from classical to heavy metal and punk, with 30 to 40 percent of the orders coming from Asia. Conversely, international business has a positive impact on local music culture. Pauler is aware of the need to support Northeim and its music scene because, as he himself notes, “we have to fight for our city.” In a constantly changing world, he remains true to his roots and is committed to the development of his location.

The future of Pauler's recording studio looks promising. As technology advances, recording techniques also evolve. Nevertheless, the passion for music and the quality of the recordings remain top priority because, like many artists today, Pauler appreciates the “warm sound” of analogue technology.
Further information is also available Faceline Records, which shed light on the history of recording studios from their creation to the present day.