The approx. 1,500 sq ft professional recording studio comprises
4 areas:
• Control Room/Vocal ISO Booth/Drum Area
• Live Room
• Writing Room
• Storage Room
The Control Room/Vocal ISO Booth/ Drum Area:
The hub of the studio, this area features a centrally located
API 2448 24 channel automated console (as new, 2020, $98k value)
renowned for its great sound and usability. The desk has a
beautiful, $9k custom-built wooden surround and provides
built-in computer work area, space for ample rack equipment, and
a retractable MIDI keyboard shelf beneath the work area. It is
situated to allow good sightlines throughout the studio space.
The drum area:
The drum area is custom designed to allow a drummer to play live
in the room whilst not sonically over-powering the space. Again,
the high-quality acoustic fabric walls and custom wall and
ceiling acoustic panels with dimmable lighting provide excellent
control of the sound and the ambience. The natural wooden floors
give the option for a livelier sound if desired.
The ISO vocal booth:
Professionally isolated from the rest of the studio space. It
features highest quality acoustic fabric walls, custom acoustic
wall baffles, and custom ceiling acoustic panels with dimmable
lighting for excellent ambience control. A classic double-glass
studio picture window plus smaller soundproofed windows give
excellent sight-lines for in-studio visual communication.
The Live Room:
On its own, approx. 600 sq feet of recording and rehearsal
options. Double sliding soundproof doors at each end of the
space, allowing for either an open-plan or isolated set up with
the Control Room. The custom acoustic wall panels can be flipped
with one simple movement to change from fabric to reflective
walnut wood depending on what kind of sound is desired. Custom
acoustic ceiling panels with dimmable lighting throughout. There
are 2 x 8-channel XLR bulkhead boxes in this space. There is
also a kitchenette and refrigerator space in the Live Room (the
refrigerator is on an isolated power switch to remove any
unwanted sound), as well as a tiled bathroom which also features
an XLR connection box, meaning the bathroom can also be used as
a unique, reflective recording space.
The Writing Room:
This tranquil space is perfect for writing, meditation, or
office work, and is separated from the Live Room by double
sliding soundproof doors. Also in this space is access to a
completely enclosed, generous storage room. Both the Writing
Room and the Storage Room (which is completely concrete, and
therefore another unique sounding space for recording) have
8-channel XLR bulkheads which connect directly to the console
via underfloor cabling.
Outside Space + Views:
The Studio is extremely unique in that every Area has
spectacular views over Topanga Canyon. Despite being the
‘basement’ of the house, the property being on a hillside means
there is fantastic natural light throughout the whole space,
while the North-facing aspect allows the studio to remain at a
naturally cool temperature. Directly outside the studio is a
large open covered gravel space, excellent for ample outdoor
dining and entertaining, with fantastic views and sheltered by
Oak and Citrus trees. Two further lower levels also have great
potential for landscaping. There is an XLR box on the outside
wall of the property which connects directly to the desk,
meaning you can even record singing or playing out over the
Canyon!
Cabling:
The desk is fully wired into the entirety of the space via
underfloor XLR cabling to every other part of the studio, even
the bathroom and on the outside of the exterior wall, allowing
recording absolutely anywhere in the space without running any
extra cabling. There are numerous power outlets spread evenly
throughout the entire studio space, which also encompass USB
capability.
HVAC:
The lower studio level is equipped with a state-of-the-art,
virtually silent A/C system which can run during recording
without being heard in any of the studio spaces.
Soundproofing:
The studio (with the exception of the Writing Room) is entirely
soundproof to the outside of the house. The neighbors cannot
hear even full-volume live drumming. (Please note, that due to
the low height of the ceilings, the studio is not fully
soundproof from the rest of the house above. A low level of
noise can be heard both in the studio from the house, and vice
versa. The plumbing from the house above also runs through the
studio ceiling, so during recording, usage of upper level
bathrooms needs to be considered.)
*Note re the console surround: The desk surround had to be
dismantled to perform general maintenance on the API desk after
it was installed. Due to the access design of the API, the
surround has not been permanently reset to allow easier access
if and when needed. A studio carpenter could definitely come up
with an elegant solution to this.
Studio Equipment Available for Purchase:
API 2448 24-CHANNEL RECORDING AND MIXING CONSOLE WITH AUTOMATION
1 x UNIVERSAL AUDIO APOLLO 8 INTERFACE UNIT
1 x UNIVERSAL AUDIO APOLLO 16 INTERFACE UNIT
SSL G-COMP 500 SERIES STEREO BUS COMPRESSOR MODULE
5 x LABELLED RACK MOUNTED PATCH BAY UNITS
4 x HEARBACK HEADPHONE CONTROLLERS + 8 CHANNEL RACK UNIT
RACK MOUNTED ADDITIONAL 16 CHANNEL XLR TIE LINES RACK UNIT
RADIAL STUDIO BLUETOOTH SYSTEM
UNIVERSAL AUDIO 6176 RACK PRE-AMP
ADAMS A7X MONITORS
ALL XLR UNDERFLOOR XLR CABLES
6 x CUSTOM XLR 8-CHANNEL BULKHEADS (UNDERFLOOR CABLING DIRECT TO
API CONSOLE)
4 x XLR CONNECTION BOXES
