Editing Mystic Records (section)

===Studio and label===
Seeking another place in the music industry outside of the major record labels, Moody opened a [[recording studio]] in [[Hollywood, California]], at the location of the old Mustang Studios, made famous as a facility used by the [[Bobby Fuller Four]].<ref name=Flip42 /> Moody changed out the studio's superannuated 2 track [[monaural|mono]] recording gear and replaced it with state of the art 8-track [[Stereophonic sound|stereo]] gear, leaving the recording rooms otherwise largely unaltered.<ref name=Flip42 />

In tandem with the studio was launched the Mystic Records label. During the label's peak period of activity, from 1982 through 1990, Mystic released over 200 [[gramophone record|records]], many of which were multi-band compilations, involving the work of several hundred artists.<ref name="About">{{Cite web |url=http://www.mysticrecordshq.com/mysticnardcorehistory.html |title=History of Mystic Records |access-date=2020-07-07 |archive-date=2019-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915151749/http://www.mysticrecordshq.com/mysticnardcorehistory.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Emerging as a prominent force in the Southern California [[punk rock]] music scene, Mystic put out an array of alternative bands, with an emphasis on the [[hardcore punk]], [[crossover thrash]], and [[speed metal]] styles in vogue during this period.<ref name=About />

Moody claimed to have invested $70,000 in the label in 1983 alone, but taking into account recording costs and sales figures averaging about 2,000 copies per record, found the operation with about $40,000 left to recover at the end of that year.<ref name=Flip42 /> Bands would purchase studio time, with Mystic recouping its investment against royalties due, which in 1984 Moody claimed was approximately 40 cents per record.<ref name=Flip42 />

In conjunction with the label, Moody and Mystic established its own wholesale record distribution branch, MD Distributing.<ref name=Flip42 /> This distributorship handled not only Mystic releases but those of other labels as well.<ref name=Flip42 />