Suggestions for studios specialising in folk/acoustic - Scotland preferred but UK-wide too.

camf

I'm thinking of recording some tunes stripped back to vocals and acoustic guitar with just minimal instrumental additions. I realise that means I could go to smaller studios that might not be so good for a full band, so I thought I might see if anyone had some interesting suggestions. Because it's just me, the logistics of getting there are a lot simpler and Mrs f might even come along for the trip, so I can look at options in unusual places too.

Anywhere really impressed you for having a nice, relaxed but productive environment? 

Cheers,

cam f 

camf

Anyone help?

lukedlb

What about @StuartMac290 ; place?

gusman2x

There must be millions of little recording studios. Maybe worth finding where you'd like to be first, then reading reviews of the studios in locations.

A couple in Lochaber. for that folkie, isolated vibe. 

http://www.watercolourmusic.co.uk/Studio/index-1.html 

https://animamusic.uk/

camf

Thanks, I didn’t know StuartMac290 had a studio so thanks for that. 

I’d just been looking at Watercolour last night. You’re right, there’s lots of options but I suppose I was trying to narrow it down through personal experience and recommendation. There are too many options, really. 

StuartMac290

Yes, come to me! It's not a small studio (it'll house an orchestra) but I specialise in acoustic stuff - actually I'm recording an acoustic album very soon that will be used to demonstrate very expensive turntables!

We have a lovely mic list including vintage Neumanns, an extensive outboard collection, and one of the legendary old Euphonix desks from Trevor Horn's SARM.

But mainly, we have a fantastic-sounding live room (actually two main live rooms and four isolation booths.

StuartMac290

 
 
 
 

camf

Cheers @StuartMac290. I’m guessing it’s based young Reaper and a couple of nice usb mics.

That looks amazing. But that’s full band territory. Where are you based and how have I missed this?

StuartMac290

Haha, no, it's a 48-track Radar system sync'd to a Pro Tools HDX rig.

It IS full band territory but it's wonderful for solo acoustic too - I don't know if you're aware of John Goldie, but I've just done a record for him. No eq, no compression, no artificial reverb, and it sounds glorious.

It's also cheaper than you might think!

We don't advertise, it tends to be pretty full just on word of mouth and reputation. Plus, if someone books it for a full band album that's usually 2-3 months taken.

I'm 20 minutes from Glasgow by car, 45 from Edinburgh, right on the M8. Train station is a 3 minute drive from the studio too.

camf

Aw balls! I was hoping you were in Torquay or Eastbourne or somewhere far away. You're killing all my excuses too damn fast. That does look stunning though. Damn!

StuartMac290

And before some wag asks if the studio's in Harthill Services, I'm not LITERALLY right on the M8. It's a five minute drive away

camf

I've done far too many guitar deals at Harthill Services. 

lukedlb

Stuart, even I didn’t expect such a incredible looking studio. Is this the new investment? I remember you commenting how you were building a new room. 
Beautiful. We should all record up your way. 

Lodious

@StuartMac290 That looks totally amazing :-)

StuartMac290

Lodious said:

@StuartMac290 That looks totally amazing :-)

Thank you! You should hear it, though

octatonic

Fucking hell.
I thought I had a decent studio.
That is next level.

Stuckfast

Wow. Great to know that a studio like that can still flourish in this day and age!

StuartMac290

Stuckfast said:

Wow. Great to know that a studio like that can still flourish in this day and age!

Thank you - to be honest, I charge a fraction for this place of what I would have been able to even 10 or 15 years ago, in recognition of decimated recording budgets across the board.

For major label work, as Dave Eringa pointed out in an interview recently, you have to accept that what used to be your fee as a producer (typically £2k - £4k per song on an album) is now the budget for the entire album!

For perspective, when I was signed to a major in the early 90s our debut album cost just over £180k to make.

Nowadays I'd bite your hand off for a budget of £20k! I've done albums for £6000 that charted in the top 20.

Stuckfast

Sad but true!

Having said that, the studio business does seem to have been on the up again for the last five years or so. It'll never be back to how it was in the 80s, but I see new studios opening and doing OK, which is encouraging.