Legendary Recording Studios

[Gregadd]

it is true we can't know exactly what went into the recording process. We can identify some of the great recording venues. Maybe one of your favorite recordings was done there. Or maybe you have your own list.
http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/list-of-the-day/twenty-five-legendary-recording-studios.html

 

[Gregadd]

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Thanks for that link Greg!

 

[garylkoh]

My favorite is The Power Station (now Avatar Studios). It was designed by Tony Bongiovi (Bon Jovi - geddit?) in the '70s and has a characteristic sound. Many recordings made there in their Studio A can instantly be recognized. It is considered to be one of the finest recording spaces in the world.

http://www.avatarstudios.net/rooms/studio_a.html



[edit] now that I have read their list, how can the top 25 rock era recording studios have left out the Power Station??? From Wikipedia:

Major acts who have recorded there include Walter Becker, The Kinks, Arctic Monkeys, Aerosmith, Counting Crows, The Clash, Kings of Leon, Marc Anthony, The B-52's, Tony Bennett, Michael Brecker, Devo, Bon Jovi, Dire Straits, Duran Duran, Dream Theater, Bruce Springsteen, John Lennon, Grayson Hugh, Throwing Muses, Serge Gainsbourg, The Strokes, Bryan Adams, Bernadette Peters, Pat Metheny, Keith Jarrett Trio, Neil Young, Harry Connick, Jr., Iggy Pop, Madonna, Journey, Muse, George Michael, Betty Carter, Sum 41, John Mayer, Moby, Vanessa Williams, Blondie, Porcupine Tree, Chic, Michael Stanley, Joan Jett, David Bowie, The Last Shadow Puppets, The Rumble Strips, Trey Anastasio, Helix, Kathem Al Saher, Gang Starr, Honor Society, Stevie Ray Vaughan and the band Power Station, which was named after the studio itself.

 

[Gregadd]

We can know a lot more about the source than you think

 

[Joe Galbraith]

I recommend a book entitled "Temples of Sound : Inside the Great Recording Studios" by Jim Cogan and William Clark ISBN #0 8118 3394 1. I t is USA centric so the great studios of Europe and other places aren't in there but there is great coverage of the biggies, including Hitsville USA and Sigma Sound in Philadelphia.

 

[cjfrbw]

Guess there are a lot of recording studios. Surprised "The Village" Recorders LA isn't on the list , supposedly the largest collection of vintage microphones in the world for artists to use.

Had an opportunity for a tour, didn't go.

 

[mep]

Guess there are a lot of recording studios. Surprised "The Village" Recorders LA isn't on the list , supposedly the largest collection of vintage microphones in the world for artists to use.

Had an opportunity for a tour, didn't go.

How come?

 

[cjfrbw]

Don't remember why or why not, it was a Head Fi gathering.

Maybe my wife was knitting doilies and needed me to hold the thread.

 

[JackD201]

Quite a few scenes in Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist were supposedly shot in Electric Lady. Very funny movie.

 

[mep]

Don't remember why or why not, it was a Head Fi gathering.

Maybe my wife was knitting doilies and needed me to hold the thread.

I was trying to hold back from blaming your wife which is why I asked the question. Whtt-tish. I'm still trying to figure out if your wife has you screwed into the ground or if you just use her as an excuse to "save" you from doing things that you don't want to do. Lot's of married guys can relate to other guys saying they can't do something because their wives won't let them.

 

[NorthStar]

Quite a few scenes in Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist were supposedly shot in Electric Lady. Very funny movie.

Great/fun flick indeed! ...Got that Blu of course.

 

[Bruce B]

Guess there are a lot of recording studios. Surprised "The Village" Recorders LA isn't on the list , supposedly the largest collection of vintage microphones in the world for artists to use.

Had an opportunity for a tour, didn't go.

I think the largest collection of vintage microphones now belong to Blackbird studios.

Blackbird Mic List

 

[Bill Hart]

You could probably do an even bigger list of the ones that are no longer with us. I remember seeing the space RCA had for orchestra recordings when I first came to NY. Gone. Hit Factory is now condos and a Gibson industry showroom -the rooms and acoustic treatments are still there on the first floor, but all the gear is gone. There was one near my NY house called 411 -which a lot of famous recordings came out of- it was regarded as 'going to the country' for NYC based musicians. It's probably a strip mall now.
I'm glad some of these spaces survived.
Chris Blackwell still has a studio in the islands, I think. Compass Point?
Have a client that has a massive studio out in Palm Desert. George Massenberg board, used old Levinson electronics and a set of IRS V's for monitoring. Haven't been there in years.
PS: Sun Studios tour is highly recommended. Very cool place. And you can kill Graceland and Sun in one day, and have some serious BBQ as well.
PPS: Compass Point is now closed as well.

 

[cjfrbw]

I think the largest collection of vintage microphones now belong to Blackbird studios.

Blackbird Mic List

Sorry, shouldn't speak in absolutes, should have said "one of the largest".

 

[cjfrbw]

I was trying to hold back from blaming your wife which is why I asked the question. Whtt-tish. I'm still trying to figure out if your wife has you screwed into the ground or if you just use her as an excuse to "save" you from doing things that you don't want to do. Lot's of married guys can relate to other guys saying they can't do something because their wives won't let them.

I was just trying to give you an opening for our p-whip stand up routine, with me being the straight man.

There are lots of things I would like to do, and some things I will insist on doing, but I thought that standard operating procedure for most people is to consult their spouses before going places without them. Like I said, at least she wants me around, or wants to be around if I go someplace, but then the hassle precedence engages.

Lots of people dying the past couple of years, a prolonged walking injury for over a year, I find it hard to click up my heels, but getting there slowly.

 

[GolfnAudio]

All great studios! As mentioned, Blackbird definitely has the mic collection!
Also a great- Capitol- Studio A & B.