Studio A
Check out a recent article in Audio Technology magazine which featured Studio A.

This is the major music studio at 52 featuring four separate recording areas which make live multitrack recording a pleasure for both the band and the engineer or producer. A greater degree of acoustic design has gone into this studio to make it the ultimate space for real and acoustic instruments. While a 100 watt Marshall cabinet close miked may sound almost the same in either studio A or B, a jazz or world music group featuring strings, brass, woodwind or percussion instruments will enjoy the extra acoustic detail attainable in studio A. The multiple recording spaces are perfectly suited for recording completely live or layering tracks individually. The variety and number of great microphones on offer will satisfy any project.

A comfortable and spacious control room is the heart of a great studio. Studio A features great acoustic design, full automation, 96 channels on mixdown, three levels of monitoring, hard disk digital recording and an outstanding selection of high end outboard equipment. Brands such as Focusrite, TC Electronics, EMES, RME, Apple, TL Audio valve gear, JBL and Yamaha make up a fantastic combination of equipment at hand.
Studio A has been built to suit a wide variety of music recording purposes. The combination of warm rustic colours complimented by natural timbers and polished slate throughout provide a relaxed creative atmosphere.
Studio A is undoubtedly one of the best studios available for bands wishing to record live. Each area offers great control and isolation for discrete “no Spill” tracking. The separation means that if only one musician in a live group makes a mistake or is unhappy they can re-do their parts without the whole band having to do the same track again. This brings about great time saving and keeps productivity high while the players are fresh. Isolation has been achieved without compromise to the visual contact between each player, in fact the studio has almost a stage-like quality as it looks down into the control room a few feet lower.
Musicians generally comment that they feel at ease and at home in the studio from early stages of each session. From a practical point of view, studio A also features an easy load in from a side laneway at street level.

Gear List (subject to change without notice):

Front End – Mic Pre’s:
24 channels of the best mic pre’s available. Including 2 x Focusrite Liquid Channel, Focusrite Blue ISA430 Producer Pack, 3 x Focusrite Blue ISA220 Session Pack, 3 x Focusrite Blue ISA428 4ch Mic Pre, 3 x TL Audio Valve 5052 2ch Pre with EQ and compression plus inserts: TL Audio Indigo Valve Parametric EQ, TL Audio Valve 5021 2ch Compressor, and BBE 882 Sonic Maximizer. Plus Focusrite RED 3 stereo compressor.

Console:
Yamaha DM2000 fully automated 96 ch digital console with full ADD-ON FX and complete Surround Processing capability.

Recording format:
The latest version Emagic Logic Audio Platinum hard disk recording and midi platform, using RME multiface 24bit/96k interfaces and Apple G5 computer power. (Dual 2.7ghz G5 as at Jan ‘08)

Monitoring:
Emes ‘Cyan’ main monitors (4x 8”, 2 x 5” & soft dome tweeter config)
JBL 15” & Horn 2nd main monitors
Emes ‘Blacks’ and Amber HR Sub as nearfield & 5.1 Surround system

Outboard FX:
TC Electronics 6000 Series 4 x stereo FX mainframe and complete 5.1/7.1 Surround Processing capability.
TC Electronics M5000 A4D4 dual stereo reverb & FX mainframe
2 x TC Electronics D2 Delays.

Microphones:
*31 high quality studio microphones
Rode Classic II Valve Mic SE Gemini Dual Valve
SE Z5600 Valve mic
Neumann TLM103 pair
Rode S1, DPA 4006 omni pair, Audio Technica 4033, Audio Technica 4050, Audio Tech AE2500 dual element Cardiod/dynamic, Sennheiser MD421 MKII, Sennheiser E901 PZM Boundary Mic, Sennheiser E904 x 2, Sennheiser E905, Sennheiser E906, Milab DC96B, MXL 2003, pair Groove Tube AM40 Tubes, pair
Groove Tube AM30 pencils, AT 825 stereo mic, Audix D2, Octava ASM MK219, Octava 102 pencil, Shure SM57 x 2, Beyer M88 (black), Beyer M88 (silver)

Instruments/Amps:
Yamaha 5’3” GC1A Grand Piano
Yamaha P250 Electric Piano
Marshall JCM800 2003 re-issue 100w Valve head and Quadbox
Hartke 300 watt Bass Head and Quadbox
Yamaha Absolute Nouveau Recording Kit with Paiste Cymbals
Various Guitars available

Rates:
Rates in studio A are generally $990 per 10hr day inc.GST including professional engineer. Cheaper rates apply for multiple days and complete package deals.

Individual hourly rates for short projects are $132 per hour, with a minimum 3 hr booking.

All rates should be discussed with studio staff as specials may apply at different times and not necessarily be listed in this section, these prices are meant as a guide. Wholesale rates can be catered for large projects or ongoing corporate clients.

Call 03-9417-7707