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Northern California Recording Studios: The best places in the Greater Bay to record that hot track
- by hi_liner
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- September 18, 2009
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Even without the million dollar contract, fans are still waiting for that hot track! The Bay Area is loaded with everything from top-o-the-line studios to garage operations being advertised on Craigslist. Instead of sifting through web pages or Craigslist, I've gone ahead and condensed the list to my favorite six. And have no fear, these weren't yanked randomly out of the musical hat. I've personally used or personally know a musician who has used each of these studios. From free to wallet busting, here are the six best bets in the Bay.
Expression
Ex'pression College For Digital Arts
6601 Shellmound St, Emeryville, CA 94608
Ex’pression College for Digital Arts has a horde of students just waiting to record anyone. You may be asking, “Why would I want students to record my precious musical diamonds instead of a trained engineer?” These students are working hard to become those same engineers you can get at other studios, but while they are studying at Ex’pression they will record you for FREE!
I recorded an EP at Ex’pression a few years ago and the quality came out great. It is a win-win situation for any band looking to get a studio-quality recording done with minimal damage inflicted on the band fund.
Ex’pression College for Digital Arts has a horde of students just waiting to record anyone. You may be asking, “Why would I want students to record my precious musical diamonds instead of a trained engineer?” These students are working hard to become those same engineers you can get at other studios, but while they are studying at Ex’pression they will record you for FREE!
I recorded an EP at Ex’pression a few years ago and the quality came out great. It is a win-win situation for any band looking to get a studio-quality recording done with minimal damage inflicted on the band fund.
Tiny Telephone
Tiny Telephone’s Lounge.
Tiny Telephone
1458A San Bruno San Francisco, CA 94110
Tiny Telephone is possibly the best studio in all of San Francisco. The indie alumni that have marched through the red door include everyone from Death Cab for Cutie (whose guitarist Chris Walla still engineers here) to Nada Surf to Okkervil River to Spoon. But don’t be intimidated by the company you’ll be keeping by recording at Tiny Telephone.
From setting up the initial contact to finding rooms at a nearby hostel to recording your actual songs, everything feels easy and natural.
One of the strongest pulls of Tiny Telephone is the owner. John Vanderslice was a musician first and a studio owner second. He knows how an album should sound and he knows how to capture all the intimate details that make an album into an essential.
The tiny rate at Tiny Telephone usually runs around $550 per day.
Hyde Street
Hyde Street Studios
245 Hyde St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Hyde Street is battling Pus Cavern on the price of a session, but the roster of clients may ease that burden your band feels on its pocket.
Everyone from Willie Nelson to Green Day to Luniz to Flipper have spent time in either Studio A or Studio D.
$450 will get you the basic four hour package (which includes setup and performance) so you have to move fast and be prepared or those minutes will be gone before the first track has been dumped into Protools.
Hyde Street is battling Pus Cavern on the price of a session, but the roster of clients may ease that burden your band feels on its pocket.
Everyone from Willie Nelson to Green Day to Luniz to Flipper have spent time in either Studio A or Studio D.
$450 will get you the basic four hour package (which includes setup and performance) so you have to move fast and be prepared or those minutes will be gone before the first track has been dumped into Protools.
Don't like my suggestions?! Fine! Dig in:
Pus Cavern
Pus has become a home-away-from-home to my band. We have recorded two EPs at Pus and plan on recording many more.
Pus is a family business but that doesn’t hamper the quality of the recordings coming out of this small space in Sac. Big names from Cake to the Deftones to Hoobastank have called Pus home at one time and they keep coming back.
Rates tend to be around $900 per day but the engineer will get you in and out if you are prepared when you go in. Plus, if you ask real nice, Joe and Lesa (the husband and wife owners) will let you crash on the couches inside the studio to save on hotel rooms.
Pus has become a home-away-from-home to my band. We have recorded two EPs at Pus and plan on recording many more.
Pus is a family business but that doesn’t hamper the quality of the recordings coming out of this small space in Sac. Big names from Cake to the Deftones to Hoobastank have called Pus home at one time and they keep coming back.
Rates tend to be around $900 per day but the engineer will get you in and out if you are prepared when you go in. Plus, if you ask real nice, Joe and Lesa (the husband and wife owners) will let you crash on the couches inside the studio to save on hotel rooms.
Sharkbite
Sharkbite’s studio.
Sharkbite Studios
634 2nd Street Oakland, CA 94607
Ted Leo? Check. Unjust? Check. Samiam? Check.
Oakland’s Sharkbite Studios attracts big names with low rates and great output. At $375 per day a band won’t find anything cheaper unless it is in a garage (or at Ex’pression!).
The 5,000 sf studio will make bands feel warm and cozy while snuggled up against the Oakland bay. Big or small, national or local, major or indie, Sharkbite doesn’t care. The only thing they want to do is make sure you’re happy with the end result and make sure you can afford sushi from Yoshi’s up the street.
Laughing Tiger
Laughing Tiger Studios
1101 Francisco Blvd E, San Rafael, CA 94901
A very easy choice.
1. Sliding rate starting at $50. Let them know what you want to do and what budget you’re working with. This is probably the best deal you’ll get outside of going the free route with Ex’Pression.
2. Andy Dick recorded here – Hip factor immediately skyrockets.
3. Huey Lewis recorded here – Hip factor (which was already swaying above the clouds) just doubled.
A very easy choice.
1. Sliding rate starting at $50. Let them know what you want to do and what budget you’re working with. This is probably the best deal you’ll get outside of going the free route with Ex’Pression.
2. Andy Dick recorded here – Hip factor immediately skyrockets.
3. Huey Lewis recorded here – Hip factor (which was already swaying above the clouds) just doubled.
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