Revealed: The Top Recording Studios of 2017
The Top Recording Studios of 2017
What if the walls could talk? For those who create music in a recording studio, the promise of a well-equipped work space goes beyond the right gear. Artists, producers and engineers know that many studios carry on the spirit of legendary sessions and past hits -- and many hope to tap that energy for their tracks today.
While portable and home recording options have greatly expanded in the digital music age, most artists understand the advantages a professional studio offers, including staff to solve creative challenges, troubleshoot technical issues and get the most out of rooms custom built for recording. Under the right conditions, the musicmakers who book the top-flight studios featured here produce a result that just sounds better. They understand: You really can’t do this at home.
Contributors: Dean Budnick, Leila Cobo, Chuck Dauphin, Adrienne Gaffney, Melinda Newman, Paula Parisi, Richard Smirke, Paul Verna, Deborah Wilker
This article originally appeared in the Oct. 14 issue of Billboard.
ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS -- London
Fifty years after The Beatles recorded Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band at Abbey Road, the world’s most famous recording studio retains a magical allure for contemporary acts, with Ed Sheeran and James Bay recording there during the past 18 months. “People are still blown away when they come through the door,” says managing director Isabel Garvey, who in part credits the new crop of visitors to this year’s opening of two lower-priced studio spaces. “We’re lucky in that our rooms are of legendary status.”
Album Hall of Fame: The Beatles, Abbey Road (1969)
AIR STUDIOS -- London
Founded by George Martin in 1969 and moved to Lyndhurst Hall in 1991, AIR Studios began with a customized 54-channel mixing console and four studios. Coldplay’s Kaleidoscope EP and the score to Dunkirk are among recent projects recorded at the former church. “There are very few studios large enough to accommodate a lot of the projects that we work on,” says manager Alison Burton, who identifies AIR’s “unique acoustics” and in-house engineers as factors in its sustained popularity.
Album Hall of Fame: Kate Bush, The Kick Inside (1978)
BERNIE GRUNDMAN MASTERING -- Los Angeles
A five-decade career has made Grundman a sorcerer of signal purity whose goal is to get music from microphone to master with little interference, whether the end result is digital or vinyl. Prince and Michael Jackson enlisted his services in the 1980s, while more recent acts from Kendrick Lamar to U2 have gotten a final polish thanks to the studio’s use of customized gear. “Top priority for all projects is high-quality sound and adjustments that help heighten the listener’s experience,” says Grundman.
Album Hall of Fame: Michael Jackson, Thriller (1982)
CAPITOL STUDIOS -- Los Angeles
In 1956, Frank Sinatra christened the famed studios in the Capitol Records Tower. More recently, its three studios, production suites, mastering services and echo chambers were refurbished, and have hosted Bob Dylan and Neil Young, who recruited staff to contribute backing vocals to the 2017 track “Children of Destiny.” “Many have commented on being inspired by the iconic artists who have come before them when walking our hallowed hallways,” says vice president Paula Salvatore. “As producer Phil Ramone used to say, ‘People play better here.’”
Album Hall of Fame: Frank Sinatra, Songs for Swingin’ Lovers! (1956)
CRITERIA RECORDING STUDIOS -- Miami
Miami’s most iconic studio has retained its pedigree thanks to its size and versatility -- a recent project called for skateboard ramps to be installed in one of the live rooms -- and an ambiance “you just can’t buy,” says vp/GM Trevor Fletcher of the facility, founded in 1958 by musician Mack Emerman. In the last six months, Coldplay and Gucci Mane recorded there, as well as reggaetón star Wisin and jazz pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, who used its Yamaha 9-footer, one of four pianos on site.
Album Hall of Fame: Bee Gees, Spirits Having Flown (1979)
CONWAY RECORDING STUDIOS -- Los Angeles
Family-owned and operated, Conway, which features a spacious outdoor garden, has become the go-to recording spot for artists like The Weeknd, Lorde and Pharrell Williams. Icons like Barbra Streisand and Michael Jackson also graced the three studios where music from Justin Timberlake and N*E*R*D recently was crafted. “Conway feels like a home,” says studio manager Stacey Barnett. “We can address our clients’ needs directly without the intervention of a corporation or financial backer.”
Album Hall of Fame: The Weeknd, Starboy (2016)
EASTWEST STUDIOS -- Los Angeles
When producer Doug Rogers rescued Cello Studios from bankruptcy in 2006, he commissioned a bold renovation of all non-studio spaces by French architect Philippe Starck. Home to more Grammy-winning albums in the last four years than any other studio -- and host to stars like Whitney Houston and Justin Bieber during the last 60 years -- the landmark building in Hollywood is known for its striking chandeliers and whimsical set pieces, as well as for its privacy. “When you’re recording at a label-owned studio, the A&R people can’t stay away,” says Rogers. “Artists don’t want that. They want to be in their own space.”
Album Hall of Fame: The Beach Boys, Pet Sounds (1966)
ELECTRIC LADY STUDIOS -- New York
Founded by Jimi Hendrix in 1970, the Big Apple landmark still operates in the heart of Greenwich Village as one of the oldest working studios in the city due in part to its cool aesthetic, which partner/GM Lee Foster describes as “late-’60s futurism meets midcentury modern.” Stevie Wonder and Blondie are just a few of the acts that have recorded at the location, while Foster’s stewardship has helped reawaken the space in recent years with artists like Ryan Adams and St. Vincent gracing its rooms.
Album Hall of Fame: Stevie Wonder, Talking Book (1972)
GATEWAY MASTERING STUDIOS -- Portland, Maine
When mastering legend Bob Ludwig left New York’s Masterdisk in 1993 to open Gateway Mastering, he wasn’t sure the business would follow him to Maine. The president/chief engineer’s fears were unfounded, as Ludwig has since secured his place in history as one of the most accomplished technicians, with thousands of credits including Bruce Springsteen and Led Zeppelin. His approach? “Our studio prides itself on keeping clients’ secrets,” explains Ludwig, who draws from his extensive expertise. “Any problem encountered in a private studio has probably already been solved long ago in a commercial facility.”
Album Hall of Fame: Beck, Morning Phase (2014)
THE POWER STATION AT BERKLEENYC -- New York
Soon after producer Tony Bongiovi opened the Power Station in 1977, it became a hotbed for hitmakers such as John Lennon, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna and a band led by the owner’s nephew, Jon Bon Jovi. Formerly a power substation located in Midtown Manhattan, the building served as a soundstage for TV shows like Let’s Make a Deal before Bongiovi revamped it as a studio.
In the mid-’90s, the Power Station was sold and renamed Avatar. It continued to attract top talent including Paul McCartney and Diana Krall and went on to win five Technical Excellence and Creativity Awards for albums including Sheryl Crow’s C’mon C’mon in 2003 and John Mayer’s Continuum in 2007.
The Berklee College of Music acquired the facility in September and will reopen it as The Power Station at BerkleeNYC with upgraded audio systems as well as contemporary technology to allow for concurrent audio and video recording. Renovations are slated to begin at the end of the year, with New York’s Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment contributing $6 million to the overall $20 million cost to help upgrade the facility. “Renovating this amazing, historic music venue is a powerful nod to New York City as a continuing center for innovative art, culture and creativity,” said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I commend Berklee and [hedge fund manager] Peter Muller for their investments, their vision and for the public programming space that will benefit many budding and future New York recording artists.”
GERMANO STUDIOS -- New York
The two-studio facility, established in 2008 by former Hit Factory owner Troy Germano, quickly became a force in the studio community, attracting an A-list roster with Frank Ocean, Big Sean and Lana Del Rey all passing through in recent months. Germano explains that the ability for impromptu collaborations is something that home recording spaces can never compete with. “John Mayer was once recording in Studio One while Travis Scott was in Studio Two, and they bumped into one another,” he says. “Moments later, John was recording guitar on one of Travis’ songs.”
Album Hall of Fame: Beyoncé, 4 (2011)
HENSON RECORDING STUDIOS -- Los Angeles
Once home to Charlie Chaplin’s soundstages and then A&M Records, the old-time Hollywood locale that became Henson Recording Studios in 2000 was the scene of fabled sessions throughout classic pop’s and rock’s formative years. Henson vp studio operations/studio manager Faryal Ganjehei credits the atmosphere for its client list, which most recently includes Coldplay and Katy Perry: “In our competitive business, vibe is everything,” she says. “We carefully maintain this facility that has such an incredible legacy.”
Album Hall of Fame: Carole King, Tapestry (1971)
LARRABEE STUDIOS -- Los Angeles
Larrabee began its 40-year life as the home studio of the hit songwriting team of Carole King and Gerry Goffin. With such lineage, it’s not surprising that the North Hollywood spot evolved into a nerve center of the Los Angeles studio scene, as credits include John Mayer, Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake. GM/studio manager Amy Burr describes it as a “home away from home” that recently hosted the mixing of Luis Fonsi’s global hit “Despacito.”
Album Hall of Fame: Michael Jackson, Dangerous (1991)
MIX THIS! -- Pacific Palisades, Calif.
From the ’70s through the ’90s, Bob Clearmountain built a reputation as one of the most in-demand mixers, working on hits from The Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen. He opened Mix This! in 1994 in the spacious basement of his home, where he has continued his hitmaking ways, most recently with The Stones’ Havana Moon and the late Gregg Allman’s Southern Blood.
Album Hall of Fame: Shawn Colvin, A Few Small Repairs (1996)
REAL WORLD STUDIOS -- Box, Wiltshire, England
Real World, established by Peter Gabriel in the late 1980s, is far removed from city studios, set in the English countryside near Bath. Its famed 2,000-square-foot Big Room is a vast space with no separation between the artist and control room, while the residential complex allows for artists to stay in a house or separate cottage. “You just have to turn up here and be creative,” says in-house engineer Oli Jacobs, who names Alicia Keys and Van Morrison as recent guests. “The idea is to provide the perfect space to do that.”
Album Hall of Fame: New Order, Technique (1989)
OCEAN WAY NASHVILLE -- Nashville
Founded in 1996, Ocean Way Nashville (owned by Belmont University) oversees scores for video-game franchises including Call of Duty and Madden, as well as records from stars like Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan. Its three studios are situated in a 100-year-old church, which director of operations Pat McMakin says is “inspirational and allows you to hear yourself well.”
Album Hall of Fame: Luke Bryan, Kill the Lights (2015)
METROPOLIS STUDIOS -- London
Queen was one of the first big names to record at Metropolis, which opened in 1989 and is housed inside a converted Victorian power station. It still attracts big names, with tracks from Drake’s More Life and Adele’s 25 among its recent credits. The facility’s striking Fritz Lang-inspired design “breathes life, creativity and collaboration into what are traditionally very isolated environments,” says manager Saima Bakhtiar, crediting the “vast experience” of its staff and the building’s “wow factor” with giving the open-plan complex an inspirational air.
Album Hall of Fame: Queen, Innuendo (1991)
ISLAND SOUND STUDIOS -- Honolulu
Island Sound Studios is located on a marina, five minutes away from the famed Hanauma Bay snorkeling site, yet studio manager Gaylord Kalani Holomalia says that artists like Dr. Dre and Kanye West are often so absorbed in their work that they never make it outside, “preferring to sleep anywhere in the studio and get up to work again.” Holomalia also suggests that one of the virtues of a commercial facility like Island Sound is “to give you space to create without interruptions,” with lounge and deck areas for when artists need a break.
Album Hall of Fame: G.O.O.D. Music, Cruel Summer (2012)
RECORD PLANT -- Los Angeles
Artists including Kelly Clarkson and Zayn Malik have recorded at Hollywood’s Record Plant during the last 18 months, and the famed studio, which originally opened in New York in 1968 before establishing a Los Angeles outpost the following year (the New York location closed in 1987), has become known for excelling at writing “camps,” says vp/GM Jeff Barnes, where artists and their teams take over various studios at a time. What keeps artists coming back? “[Our] customer service is paralleled only by the finest hotels and resorts in the world,” he says.
Album Hall of Fame: Fleetwood Mac, Rumours (1977)
SOUND CITY STUDIOS -- Los Angeles
Opened in 1969 but shuttered for the past six years, Sound City reopened in July under new management and has since hosted Fall Out Boy and Esperanza Spalding. Everyone from Bob Dylan to Diana Ross has passed through its studios, while Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl went so far as to purchase its famed Neve board used by Fleetwood Mac. Though many have graced its halls, “a lot of people claim there’s a ghost pianist at night performing classical music,” says partner Olivier Chastan. “We’ll try to record him or her one day.”
Album Hall of Fame: Nirvana, Nevermind (1991)
STERLING SOUND -- New York
Sterling Sound has been New York’s leading mastering destination for an array of hits since opening in 1968. Taylor Swift and Shawn Mendes are a few who recently stopped by to make use of the largest independent mastering studio in the world. “We have a wide array of in-house-designed and classic analog and digital signal-processing tools,” explains Chris Gehringer, partner/ senior mastering engineer. “And, most importantly, engineers with the creative insight to listen to a mix and know if and how it can be enhanced.”
Album Hall of Fame: Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run (1975)
SUN STUDIO -- Memphis
Largely credited as the birthplace of rock’n’roll, the famed Sun Studio opened in 1950, attracting icons including Elvis Presley and B.B. King. More recently, it has hosted John Mellencamp, U2 and Chris Isaak, with chief recording engineer Ples Hampton crediting its storied history and current PBS live performance series as helping to maintain its relevance. “The engineers running the studio side for years now have all been obsessed with a deeper learning of exactly how [founder] Sam Phillips -managed to discover so many legendary talents and keep the recordings fresh and new,” he says.
Album Hall of Fame: Johnny Cash, With His Hot and Blue Guitar (1957)
UNITED RECORDING STUDIOS -- Los Angeles
The understated Art Deco exterior can be misleading -- inside, two large live rooms feature 23-foot ceilings and access to specially designed echo chambers installed in 1957. “The acoustics of the rooms have an unrivaled sound quality that has been timeless,” says studio manager Robin Goodchild, referring to the studios where Brian Wilson and Frank Sinatra once recorded. Vintage tube microphones let Madonna get cosmic with Ray of Light and helped make Eric Clapton and Beck repeat customers. More recently, JAY-Z used the studio to work on his latest project, 4:44.
Album Hall of Fame: Green Day, American Idiot (2004)
THE VILLAGE STUDIOS -- Los Angeles
A Masonic temple built in 1922 and converted into a studio in the late ’60s, The Village Studios has had legends such as Phil Collins and Steely Dan use its four main recording rooms. Notable connections -- what Village CEO Jeff Greenberg calls “cross-germination” -- are made frequently in the halls: John Mayer ran into the Dixie Chicks, and they wound up playing on each other’s projects. “It’s a place where everyone can play at once together, which is organic and wonderful when it happens,” he says.
Album Hall of Fame: Fleetwood Mac, Tusk (1979)