Show Off Your Studio – Part Twelve

We’re actually getting a tiny bit jealous of some of your studios. This month’s trio are particularly good. Get in touch at the MusicTech Facebook page to show off yours…

Albion Sound

Interviewee: Kevin Tye
Contact: criticalimprint@gmail.com

Key components in your studio?
Mac Mini; Focusrite Saffire Pro 40; UAD Apollo Twin Duo; ART TPS II Tube Pre; Mackie Big Knob controller; KRK Rokit 5 monitors; AT 2035 microphones x2; M-Audio 88-key weighted piano controller; M-Audio Keystation 49ES; Native Instruments Komplete Ultimate 10; UAD, Waves plugins; Omnisphere 2.

Which DAW do you use and why?
Reason 7, as it’s the most stable I’ve used and the workflow suits my production style. I’ve been using it since v1 and know it so well. Many producers laugh when I mention what I use, but it’s not the tools, it’s the guy using them… A lot of the major studios think they need Pro Tools or Logic to be taken seriously.

What’s your favourite gear?
My UAD Apollo Twin Duo. It has allowed me to go back and use identical tools and effects I grew up envying when reading production magazines. The plugins sound so good and it’s integral to my studio workflow now.

How do you use your studio?
I like to call it my semi-pro hobby. In the past six months since opening to local artists, I have recorded three film scores, a radio drama with 30 actors, lots of mixing and mastering projects for artists and, of course, my own projects. I will also be recording film ADR in the not too distant future, so my studio offers a wide variety of recording possibilities.

What annoys you about it?
Nothing about the gear, but I get bored with the decor and end up redesigning or repainting every three months, which usually eats up any profit I’ve made recording other artists. Studio aesthetics, to me, are as important as the equipment in it.

Sure, you can record an album in a spare room with grey walls and maybe some christmas lights dangled over a solitary Beatles poster hanging up behind an Ikea desk, but having a beautiful and interesting place that both myself and my clients walk into and they are wowed and inspired by just feels really important.

On your shopping list?
I plan to spend some serious money removing the acoustic drop ceiling and adding a second ISO room, as the current vocal room only fits two people.

Dream gear?
An old modular Russian synth from 1970s-era Siberia, or maybe the hardware versions of the Culture Vultures. UAD have done a stellar job with their ones – just so warm sounding, and a staple on almost all Prodigy tracks (my favourite band).

Any advice?
Too much to list. Research the difference between soundproofing and absorption. Read the book Home Recording Studio: Build It Like The Pros, by Rod Gervais. It’s required reading for anyone planning to build even a small studio – I can tell you the number of layers of drywall and green glue with ISO clips for any sound isolation application! And don’t worry about the paint colour now… you’ll probably repaint it again in three months’ time 🙂

Emun Music

Interviewee: Frank Walter (based in Köln)
Contact: info@emunmusic.com

Give us a list of the key components in your studio
Soundcard: Focusrite 2i4; Windows PC; Korg microKorg XL+; Alesis Micron; Evolution U-Control; monitors: Yamaha HS50; earphones: Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro; self-made acoustic panels (rockwool, 100mm); two bass traps.

Which DAW do you use and why?
I use Fruity Loops 10. I’ve followed and used this DAW since it first came out, but don’t ask me about the tune I made with it at v1!

What’s your favourite piece of gear?
That is my Korg microKorgXL+. It is very compact and small, but for proper playing maybe it is a little too small.

How often do you use your studio?
I manage my label, Emun Music and Sheeva Records Miami with my partner Costantino Padovano, aka Funky Junction. That means we meet up very often on Skype and talk about the business, projects, releases and new artists. He is a very cool guy – one of the best. So in the end, I would say I am here nearly 25 hours a week, but don’t talk to my wife about that particular topic.

How do you use your studio – just for fun, or professionally too?
In the past, I released some music on some fairly insignificant labels – disco and French filter house tracks on vinyl. Now, I release my stuff under the project Mute Box. The fun is the focus. If you don’t have any fun, then you are not creative. Some people like doing sport for fun, but I make music!

Does anything annoy you about your set-up?
I desperately need a fridge in my studio to maintain a good atmosphere, with cold drinks. This is especially asked for by my studio partners: Costantino Padovano; Tom Kaloi; Norman Lomax and Looney B.

On your shopping list?
After my self-made acoustics, I need the right sub in my studio to control and to hear the lower frequencies better. I will probably get a Yamaha sub.

And your dream piece of gear?
It is not really a piece of gear, I just need to learn bass guitar and keyboards. Maybe I love software too much.

Do you have any advice for us?
Get the right soundcard, the right monitors and, of course, cool neighbours. Forget about thinking too much about which DAW and studio stuff. The track, in the end, is important. You need to love it. Elvis just had a guitar and his vocals. Be creative and try something new.

And a plug for your sounds? There are a lot of interesting tracks in the pipeline for Emun Music & Sheeva Records. Our target is to find unsigned cool artists and give them a platform to release their stuff in all the online stores. We are open to all kinds of music. I would say we are like a family.

Studio 3A

Interviewee: Paul Matich
Contact: pmatich@aol.com

Key components in your studio:
Soundtracs Quartz; various guitars; Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II XL; Genelec 8030A and ATC monitors; OHM CFU-A2; Chevin A750 & A1000, BSS-FDS366; Focusrite Saffire Pro-40 and OctoPre MkII; MOTU 128; Roland D-110, SH-201 and JV-1080; Alesis SR16; Behringer Compressor; ART SGX 2000; Yamaha SY22; Behringer rack multi-effects; Fulltone TERC; Alesis Quadraverb GT; Korg Pitchblack Pro Tuner; Behringer Multigate Pro; Multicom Pro; DBX 160A; Drawmer DS501; Marshall JMD-1, 1960A & 1960B 4×12 Cabs; sE Z3300A & Shure SM57s, plus bass set-up.

Which DAW do you use and why?
I started with Cubase 7, then 8.5 Pro. Great improvement and loads more flexibility and features. Many years ago, I had Steinberg Pro 24, so I guess I’ve always found Steinberg products work great for me.

What’s your favourite gear?
My guitar effects rack has everything I need: from clean to solid powerchords and cutting leads.

How do you use your studio?
For my own pleasure. I always wanted everything ready to play and record. It has taken many years, but been worth the wait.

On your shopping list?
An Eventide D/SE 3000 Harmonizer and Toontrack Superior Drummer.

What is your dream piece of studio kit?
I have just got a monitor system from Wilmslow Audio. What a dream to use and to work with.

Any advice?
Think about what you want to achieve and what space you have. Never give up on your dream.

There’s many more #showoffyourstudio shots on our Instagram. Check it out here