Help choosing a recording studio

Pedro

Pedro

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Hey guys, my band are planning a day in a recording studio but none of us really know what we should be looking for. There will be a Tech on site to push all the right buttons (and I except that the quality of the recording will depend largely on the ability of the Tech more than the programmes and mics he/she is using), but still just wondered if a few of you would'nt mind taking a quick look at the following sites and telling me which one you would record in if it was your cash.

Studio Recording Services, HL Recording Studios, Southampton, Hampshire

Recording Studio Hampshire - Earth Terminal Recording Studios, Hampshire UK

Studio 91 - Recording and Rehearsal Facilities


We're not so concerned about the amps/cabs/instruments on offer as we've got fairly high quality stuff to run through, but if any of you have had experience recording with or using any of the mics, mixing tables etc your feedback would be awesome.

Cheers!
 
Hey Pete,

Not sure if it's too expensive but Outhouse in Reading are awesome Outhouse Studios - professional music recording studio in Reading, Berkshire

To be honest, whilst quality gear does have a bearing on the end result, for me it always boiled down to who you gelled with best. If it's possible, visit each studio and have a chat with the guy that will be doing the engineering and mixing. Use the studio you have the best vibe with.

HTH
 
hey dude

try this studio...Rick is an awesome producer (This Is menace/Sandi Thom/Get Amped/The Mission District) don't think he's too expensive...probably worth a try and only 40 odd miles away :)
 
Cheers for the link man, the site suggests it mite be a bit pricey (we've got about £300 to play with) but I'll give him a call tomorrow anyway.
 
I agree with go with the studio you have the best vibe in and the best connection with the actual enginner with.

But my comment is more about actually going in the studio. If this is a little simplistic, I'm sorry, but I have see seasoned professionals walk into a studio and be absolutely clueless and waste time. As you stated, studio time is expensive and you are on a budget, so my comment is make every second in the studio count. Don't walk in to the studio and start off having coffee and donuts. I'm sure the engineer would love a tasty pastry, but its your dime, use it smartly. Have a plan when you walk in there. Trying to decide what to do first while at the studio is wasting time. Have a schedule or line up of what needs doing, give each item a priority and walk in there and go by the numbers. The last band I was in that actually bought studio time, we actually rehersed going in the studio. That way each and everyone of us knew what was to be done and we made the best use of every second of that time. And always leave a little time on the schedule for unexpected delays, 'cause if we follow O'Brians Law, which basically says that Murphy was an optimist, something will almost always come up and if you alloted a little extra time, then you can still finish your project.

And the last bit of advice ... don't rush it. If you see your running out of time, don't cut corners and rush it or you'll end up with a finish project your just not happy with. Take the time and do it right. If you run out of time/money, shelve it. Save the extra money up and go in and finish it right. Expecially if this is an important project for you.

Anyway, like I said, if this is like ... No ♣♣♣♣ dude... then I appologize, but like I said, I have seen so many people that walk into the studio and have no clue. They count on the engineer taking control and lining you out, but what does he know. Yes he knows (hopefully) the technical aspect of how to make it happen, but he knows nothing of your band, the material you want to put out, the sound you want to get, or even how you guys work best, so its up to you guys to walk in there and say this is what we need lets make it happen. And if you picked an engineer your really in sync with and that knows his equipment... You should have a pretty groovy time and a finish project that your both happy and proud of.

Good Luck!
 
Maybe it's a good idea if you ask for examples of previous recordings done by those studio's that you have to choose between...A good listen might tell you everything you wanted to know...
 
hey guys, I know exactly wat you are talking bout Randy! Wen we went to do r last recording in a budget studio we stood wasting time having several long debates about how to do certain parts of certain songs, something that will not be happening again! Similarly we tried to do 3 songs in a day and, put simply, one of them ended up sounding rubbish.

Because we've done a recording before we are aware of the pitfalls, so we're going in with the intention of doing 2 songs, one of which has particularly simple drum, bass and rhythm guitar parts. If we have time left over, we'll do a third, but only if the first two songs are done to perfection.

I've arranged to go have a look at Earth Terminal studios next weekend b4 making any final decisions, looking at the client list they have done work for Epitaph, Ministry of Sound, Sony and a band called Vex Red (who subsequently had an album recorded in LA before the lead guy went off on a never-ending drug cycle and killed the band) so I'm fairly confident that will be our choice of venue....and the idea of recording inside an old kiln is just too tempting to ignore!!

I will, obviously, post links to the finished tracks on the forum wen they are done, should be by mid-september at the latest.
 
If it were my money, judging by the websites, I'd go for the first one defo
 
Hey all! Had a look around earth terminal studios and we are booked in to record on the 12th and 13th September, the place has overnight facilities and absolutely no neighbours for miles around so it should be an awesome and very loud night.

I will, of course, post links to relative sites for you all to have a listen when the recording is done.

Thanks for all your advice!
 
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