This desk with it's large transformers and discreet electronics produces that sought after, juicy yet clear Great British Sound.
We also hold ten API preamplifiers, some vintage, to achieve the crisp US 'fast' sound. Other preamps by Neve, Universal Audio, Ted Fletcher and Avalon are also in our racks.
All recordings are made through high quality electronics with microphones from Neumann, AKG, Coles, Sennheiser, Sony etc.
Additional outboard can quickly be patched in from Universal Audio, Empirical Labs, API, Valley People, Gates, DBX, ADR ond others.
The 13 metre long main live room visible directly through the control room window, was designed, when undamped, to produce a 0.7 second reverb.
It creates a wonderful natural presence when recording drums. It permanently houses our Bechstein recital hall grand piano and an old Chappel upright with tacks in the beaters. A 1965 Hammond A100 tonewheel Organ also pretty much stays where it is. We have a 1965 Ludwig kit with a selection of snares, in addition to a large Pearl BLK rock kit and a smaller Premier.
A second room, visible through a second studio window into the control room (through a narrow vocal booth used when laying down full bands in one shot) is often used for guitar tracking and a large number of guitar amplifiers, valve and transistor, live in this room.
A third space, a sort of 'antiroom' connects these four discreet spaces, with microphone and headphone tie lines everywhere. A second guitarist can for instance be recorded in here isolated from the first guitarist.
This space holds our collection of nicer guitars, all available for use. Strat, Tele, SG, LP, 335 and other fast guitars, including baritone and classic funky jap models. We also have a J45, various Fender and Yamaha acoustics, a Bentley pedal steel and an unusual Anderwood acoustic lap steel.
When needed (bass is most often DI'd in the control room through an Avalon/Gates combination) we also have Ashdown, Ampeg and Phil Smith bass amplification, with Jap and US Precision Basses, various Ibanez models and a fretless. No five strings currently!
The live room is so high that it allows us to experiment with mic techiques, and we have a Decca Tree setup using 414s if time allows for choirs/small orchestras or quartets etc.
Lastly, there is another room up the stairs in the Live Room. This is called the 'Band Room', next to the kitchen. There are also tie lines in this room so it can be used as yet another space to separate up musicians. It's even possible to record whilst on the balcony looking down into the live room.
This Band Room is really intended for band members to put their valuables/lunch/bags etc and to spend time in there when not directly involved with what is going on in the cut and thrust of a day's session, or if someone just needs to get away from the action for a while.
Red Lyon Studios is specifically capable of recording a complete band, sufficiently isolated, in single takes. A well rehearsed band can achieve a lot in a very short time.
Not forgetting we can clear out the live room and accomodate a choir or otherwise of up to thirty people.
Being in a semi-rural, private location, parking is easy. Though it is helpful if everyone doesn't arrive in seperate cars!
We are not an Apple based studio. Since Pro 24 in the late 1980s, Cubase has been our preferred recording platform, and this is always up to date, currently on version 13.
Ignoring the wide array of outboard in the control room, in the box mixing is helped by using the industry standard plugins from Universal Audio Digital, Eventide and TC Electronic, among others.
A 24 fader Icon control surface and a Softube manual interface keep hands on control to the maximum.
From this mix position NS10s and their mini equivalent are used to quickly shape the sound. Music can be monitored on the following:
Keyboards available :
studio@redlyon.com
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