THE SHACK RECORDING STUDIO
The Friendly Studio
Welcome!
Working with an experienced music engineer, we will professionally record you performing to backing tracks of your choice or record and produce your demos if you are a singer/songwriter. Then we mix and master your songs, adding effects and dynamics to produce a gift for your family and friends that they will treasure forever. Or if you are a singer/songwriter we will help you get that professional demo you want. Cheap rates - contact us for details.
Learn More About the Studio
Sneak Peek
So this is your first time recording yourself? Be assured that we will make it as fun, laid back and relaxing as possible for you - you are the star after all!. The recording studio is where the magic happens. Whether you have always wanted to record yourself singing, or just to live out a pop star fantasy, this is your chance to get some real studio time. Working with an experienced music producer in our studio (on your own or with friends), we will professionally record you performing to backing tracks of your choice. We will then mix the song, setting levels and adding dynamics and effects so it sounds absolutely amazing before taking away a CD to impress your friends & family and treasure forever! The experience comes complete with a sound engineer/producer with over 20 years of musical experience both live and studio work, who will talk you through the recording process over a cup of tea or coffee and maybe a biscuit or two before you start to make sure you get the most out of the session time.
Studio Services
Check out What We Offer
The Shack Recording Studio offers all the Recording Studio services you need — from recording and mixing, to mastering . We also offer vinyl, midi disk, video/8mm and cassette tape transfer services to a digital format of your choice. Unfortunately, we cannot offer a full band service owing to space and recording facilities so we cannot offer full drum kit recording, but, we can offer drum track services either using a ion electronic drum kit (includes 233 natural drum sounds and 50 preset rhythm patterns) or constructing drumtracks using Superior Drummer/ Kontakt etc etc. Contact us to reserve time in our studio.
AVAILABILITY
Availability varies and times are usually 9.00am to 9pm. (for other times please discuss with us) Dates generally fill up quickly, so we recommend you book a few weeks in advance, particularly during the busiest summer periods.
PARTICIPANT GUIDELINES
Under 16's must be accompanied by an adult. Up to three people are welcome to take part, singing solos or duets or playing instruments.
DURATION
Recording sessions come in 1 hour and 3 hour blocks (all day deals or block bookings are available - contact us for rates). Come well-rehearsed to ensure that valuable studio time isn't wasted on practise and re-takes. Please don't arrive more than five minutes early as a previous session may still be running.
ENGINEER
The studio time is held on a one-to-one basis with an experienced recording engineer.
SPECTATORS
We allow two spectators but please remember that they are spectators not engineers and will be politely asked to remain quiet in the seating area. They can bring cameras or video cameras to record your session.
OTHER INFO
If you have problems finding a particular track, our studio has an extensive catalogue of songs and will be happy to help. We will discuss your chosen song at the time of your booking.
Your booking is for the time slot allocated. We cannot be held responsible if you fail to use your recording session productively. As a rule of thumb, you should be thinking 1 hour per song to allow recording, retakes and then mixing and mastering if you are singing to a backing track. If time slots allow, we will allow you to book an extra hour to complete your session.
We offer the facilities, equipment, and professional guidance to help you through your creative process.
Recording Equipment
Sounds So Good
The Studio is equipped with :-
Samplitude Pro Daw
Digital effects galore
Kontakt - 100s of Midi Instruments
Guitar Amp Impulses
Midi Keyboard
Akai LPD8 Drum pad
Yamaha Pacifier Electric Guitar
Vintage Shaftsbury Rickenbacker Copy
Yamaha Acoustic Guitar
Electric Crafter Jr Comfort Series Bass Guitar
Acoustic Cheetah Bass Guitar
AMG Acoustic Guitar
6 String Banjo
TH Mann Digital Piano
Mandoline
Electric Violin
Yamaha Keyboard
Clarinet
Vintage Hess Accordian
Saxophone
Harmonicas
ION electronic Drumkit
Yamaha DD55CAD Touch-Sensitive Digital Drums
Various Percussion Instruments.
Mackie Monitors
Line 6 Pod Guitar V amp
Native Instruments Guitar Rig Audio Interface
Behringer Virtual Guitar Amp Pro
Behringer Virtual Guitar Amp 2
Behringer Virtual Bass Amp Pro
Vox Path Finder Amp
Vox Valvetronic Amp
Fender Havard Reverb Amp
Marshall IBS amp model 5510
Various Microphones including :-
Studio Quality Condenser Microphones
Shure 57s, 58s,Shure 55SH2 vintage style
Sennheiser,Audio Technica etc etc
XENYX X1222 USB Mixing Desk
Premium ultra-low noise, high headroom analog mixer
4 state-of-the-art, phantom-powered xenyx mic preamps comparable to stand-alone boutique preamps
4 studio-grade compressors with super-easy "one-knob" functionality and control led for professional vocal and instrumental sound
Neo-classic "british" 3-band eqs for warm and musical sound
New studio-grade fx processor with 16 editable presets including reverb, chorus, flanger, delay, pitch shifter, multi-effects, tap function and storable user parameter settings.
Behringer MDX4600 Multicom Pro-XL
Vestax SL-201 MK II - DUAL COMPRESSER / LIMITER
Opening Hours
Mon - Fri: 9am-6pm
Sat: 10am-5pm
Sun: Closed
For block bookings or weekend bookings please contact us.
If you are a singer/guitarist and need to record demo's we can help. We can supply basic guitar, bass, drums and keyboard services included in the price and can add 100s of different backing instruments including brass, pianos, percussion and orchestral instruments etc etc. We are equiped with virtual amps so you don't need to lug around your amps. Just bring your guitar and effects pedals. We have a great range of guitar effects pedal effects including Boost Pedals. Chorus Pedals. Compressor Pedals. Delay Pedals. Distortion Pedals. Volume Pedals. Envelope Pedals. EQ Pedals. Flanger Pedals. Looper Pedals etc etc so if it is easier for you, just make a note of settings and bring them with you when you come to record your session. We have most 'virtual' amp models (both guitar and bass) on the market including Roland JC120, Marshall Plexi, Vox AC30, Marshall JCM800, Engl Savage 120, Mesa Dual Rectifier, Soldano SLO, Fender Twin Reverb, Fender Tweed Deluxe, Fender Bassman, Ibanez TS 808, Ampeg Bass Amps, Trace Elliot to name but a few of the many we have so just make a note of your settings and bring them with you when you come to record your session.
Behind Our Studio Doors
The nitty gritty
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Tea and coffee will be provided free of charge all through your recording session.
Although alcohol is permitted you must be over 18 and whilst the great rock and roll stories are littered with stories of drunken recording sessions pulling out a song from the gods this rarely is the case! Nothing wrong with a bit of dutch courage but try and remain in control of your senses - it's your money you are wasting at the end of the day!
The nitty gritty :- all monies must be paid in cash in full before your recording session begins. All monies are non- refundable and we reserve the right to withhold your recording until your bill is settled in full. We will provide singers with a cd of the recording and a studio recording sheet explaining details of the mix etc etc.
For musicians/songwriters we will provide a cd of the completed mix and will also, if required provide you with a file containing each individual recording - this will be in a mogg or ogg form. You will also be given a copy of the notes regarding the mixes. Again we reserve the right to withhold any recordings until your bill is paid in full.
Please do not ask for credit! I have often ask my electric meter for credit and it just stares blankly at me!
Please do not ask for copies of software either! This is illegal and also my Mrs would go nuts thinking I was giving it away after we have spent so much on it!
If you a guitarist or bassist, please consider changing your strings 48 hrs in advance of your recording session. Not only will it enhance your sound but it will also allow time for your new strings to bed in and save you time on tuning constantly. You are welcome to use any equipment we have in the studio, if you planning to use anything please let us know so that we can make sure that it is tuned and prepared for you before you arrive in the studio. We have tuners and a floating stock of spare strings/plecks/capos but as the saying goes 'be prepared!'
If you are a singer and going to be recording a song over a backing track. Take time to memorise the words a few days before your session. Sometimes your mind will go blank but we will endevour to do all that we can to aid you with the lyrics including words on a screen but again a few hours practice the days before in the bath, car, bedroom will speed up your recording process and make it less stressful for yourself. For the shy singers, we can cover up the observation window so you are completely free of that worry of people looking at you. We communicate with you through the head phones whilst you are in our recording booth so kick off your shoes and make yourself at home in there.
Some session work can be provided - please discuss when arranging your recording session.
Contact Us
We’d love to be a part of your next audio production. Get in touch with us today.