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What are the top 3 recording studios in Vic?
Message Board > Music Chitchat - Heavy > What are the top 3 recording studios in Vic?
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Nigel
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Just curious as to what professional studios people are using here in Victoria.
What are your top 2 or 3 studios and why are would you choose them? - Fri, 16 Sep 2005 10:54pm
wanless
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My band went to Scott Henderson 'Sea Of Shit'. He did a really good job for us and he wasn't too expensive, you can check out the production of our band on http://www.purevolume.com/deadcityradiocanada if you download the songs you will get better quality than the internet player.
The thing i liked about recording with him is you can tell he likes music a lot because you walk into the basement and there thousands of records linning his walls and they are of all different types of music. He'll also give you constructive critism on your songs while you record them, he won't tell you to change them but will say, something like, "liam, the drums are too busy in the intro, tone it down a little, see how that works." And he was right in that situation. Hot Hot Hot once recorded in the same studio that Nirvana did nevermind and the guys at the studio asked HHH why they weren't recording with Scott at SOS. Thats quite inpressive consider nevermind is one of the best recordings. - Sat, 17 Sep 2005 12:28pm
Dru
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We travelled up island to the Duncan area to a place called the Woodshop Studios. Engineer Zak Cohen blew us away at his speed and efficiency using the recording software and he always gave good advice and was good at knowing when he should make suggestions. The space is gorgeous and I highly reccommend checking it out. http://members.shaw.ca/woodshoprecording/ - Sun, 18 Sep 2005 10:39am
wanless
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How much did the woodshop studios cost, they guy looks like he has a nice setup - Sun, 18 Sep 2005 11:30am
dru
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Woodshop runs $350/day and is worth the pricetag. We slammed a full length in 4 days which can be done if your songs are ready to go and you have them tight. We recorded live-off-the-floor. 2 days for tracking and overdubs and 2 days for mixdown and tweaks. We couldn't have done it that quickly without Zak knowing his stuff. Can't say enough about the Woodshop. Good coffee too. He also does mastering and I'm sure he's good at that too. He told us to get our songs mastered elsewhere because its better to get someone with fresh ears to do it. - Sun, 18 Sep 2005 2:06pm
_Griphin_
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One studio I don't know will get mentioned, the infamous RATS NEST studios. Garry probably charges the cheapest rates for recording in Victoria ($20 per hour) and does the tightest recordings (he's still using Reel to Reel tape). Many decent bands have recorded there (Micky Christ, Mudslinger, Sweathogs, Champions of Hell to name a few), and if your hard up for cash needed to record your demo, check it out!!! - Sun, 18 Sep 2005 2:33pm
Zippgunn
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Zak is soooo right; never get the recording engineer be the mastering engineer unless you are CERTAIN that the EQ is right. It's always worth the dough to run a mix through another brain/set of ears/monitoring system. My studio (SOS) uses Mark Franklin/Media Magic (not cheap but excellent if very busy so not so good for rush jobs) and Mike Hall (great all around value and results; does recording as well). Not mentioned so far is Electric Mountain (analog 2" room in Metchosin run by a fellow named Zander; specialties seem to be hard guitar driven rock) and Tolan McNeil's magical Lucky Mouse (crazy gear, inexpensive; terrific ears and music sense with a wide variety of styles from rootsy stuff to more experimental pop sounds. Often busy/on the road). Also it looks like Adam Sutherland will be getting a room somewhere in town soon. Most of the rooms in this town tend to be run by people with expertise in specific genres of music so it pays to find a room that is into the genre that you might concievably occupy. Certainly there is no shortage of quality studios and engineers in this town. - Sun, 18 Sep 2005 10:45pm
zakco
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Dru, thanks for the kind words....I really enjoyed working on your project. I should add that the biggest reason for WV's highly productive sessions were the fact that the band did such a terrific job both with your individual instrument sounds and the band's great performances. Quality in - Quality out. Period. You guys rock.

One more small note...our day rate is actually $320.00 (not $350)...just thought I'd clear that up ;)

-Zak - Mon, 19 Sep 2005 10:54am
XJAyX
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Electric mountain studios is definately in the top three if not the top one. When tough as nails was looking around for a place to do our first real recording a couple years ago, we shopped around a lot including vancouver studios, and decided on electric mountin because the stuff coming out of there is top notch. I don't know if anyone in Vic can beat them for quality vs. price. Or beat them in quality at all. http://www.electricmountain.com - Tue, 20 Sep 2005 10:44am
Lee
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I place my money, my time, and my confidence in Evan Rabby at Companyzero Productions. He's the "pro in the know!"
He offers "one-stop shopping", and can do it all, for great low prices. check out companyzeroproductions.com - Tue, 20 Sep 2005 3:25pm
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