FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KIT PLUGINS PARTNERS WITH NORMAN PETTY STUDIOS TO PRESERVE THE ICONIC SOUNDS OF THE LEGENDARY RECORDING STUDIO
Buddy Holly’s Signature Sound Available For A New Generation of Music Makers
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 15, 2025) - Nashville-based music software company KIT Plugins is partnering with Norman Petty Studios of Clovis, New Mexico to preserve the iconic sounds of the legendary recording studio, the birthplace of Buddy Holly’s signature sound. Considered to be the most well-preserved vintage recording studio in the world, KIT is the first company to enter into a long-term, exclusive collaboration with Norman Petty Studios.
As the developer of some of the industry’s best sounding plugins, KIT is developing a line of plugins modeled after the historic analog gear used by Pioneering Producer/Musician Norman Petty, which has largely remained untouched since 1969.
By preserving the Norman Petty Studio and adapting its historic sound for modern digital tools, KIT Plugins allows this significant chapter in music history to continue inspiring future generations of artists and engineers.
Nearly all of Buddy Holly’s groundbreaking hits were recorded in the Clovis, New Mexico studio, alongside other iconic artists such as Roy Orbison, Buddy Knox and Waylon Jennings. Even decades after Petty’s passing, the studio continued to attract talent, with LeAnn Rimes recording her hit “Blue” in Norman's second studio in the early 1990s.
"We are beyond excited about this partnership as we get to honor the studio’s remarkable legacy while bringing its unique sonic character to a new generation of music creators,” said Matt Kleinman, Founder, KIT Plugins.
“Norman Petty Studios is thrilled to be involved with KIT Plugins on this amazing collaboration. Bringing Norman Petty’s story and recording techniques to a new generation of music makers has been a longtime goal of the studio and we couldn’t think of a better partner than KIT Plugins,” said Ron Skinner, Consulting Engineer / Digital Archives Manager, Norman Petty Studios.
The Norman Petty Recording Studio stands as a living relic of the 1950s and 60s rock ‘n’ roll. Stepping inside is like walking into a time capsule, visitors are greeted with a museum-like experience, passing through the 1950s apartment Norman built for artists like Holly and the Crickets to stay in while recording there. The journey continues down narrow hallways leading to the heart of the studio, where original instruments such as the celeste from Buddy Holly’s “Everyday” and the Solovox organ used on the Fireballs’ 1963 number one hit “Sugar Shack” remain in their exact places, as if waiting for the next session.
The control room still hums with the creative energy of Petty’s genius. In the studio, Petty's custom-built console, a fusion of three heavily modified Altec 1567a mixers and units from Pultec, Ampex, and Fairchild, allowed him to push the boundaries of sound even further.
The original Altec speakers, still suspended from the ceiling, continue to offer a glimpse into the magic of those iconic recordings. One of Norman’s earliest innovations was the custom reverb chamber he built in the mid-1950s, hidden in the rafters of his father’s auto shop next door. The chamber, which was later tiled by Buddy Holly’s family, was a key element in creating the signature reverb-laden sound that defined so much of Holly's music.
Actively in development, KIT plans to release their first emulation from this iconic studio in 2025. For more information, visit www.kitplugins.com/pages/norman-petty
About KIT Plugins
Named in SonicScoop’s lineup of Best New Pro Audio Gear and Mixbus TV’s Best of NAMM 2024, KIT Plugins has been praised for some of the industry’s best sounding plug-ins. KIT’s highly-regarded emulations have been featured by Billboard, Mix Magazine, Sound On Sound,Recording Magazine, Tape Op, MusicTech, American Songwriter, Produce Like A Pro and more. Recognized by Mix as one of the top Pro Audio Companies to Watch, their suite of digital audio plugins have earned accolades, including MusicTech’s Excellence and Choice Awards and Music Player’s WIHO (Wish I Had One) Award. Aiming to bring the best real-world recreations of rare analog gear to creators, KIT Plugins also partners with Blackbird Studio, one of the most in-demand studios in the world. KIT’s famous BB N105 plug-in was the first-ever channel strip emulation of the rare analog console in Blackbird Studio A, where musicians from Taylor Swift to Beck, and Dolly Parton have recorded. For more information, visit https://kitplugins.com/.
Disclaimer
All names, logos and trademarks of studio equipment and/or accessory brands are the property of their respective manufacturers and are in no way affiliated with KIT Plugins or its affiliates. None of the aforementioned name, logo or trademark owners were involved in the making of this product, nor do they endorse it. The names, logos and trademarks used are only for the purpose of identifying the hardware chain that was used to create this product.
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