STUDIO
Happybeat is the nearest I can get to old-style sonics in a modern environment with purple psychedelic curtains. It has a quirky selection of gear, listed below, and these days is pretty much a dedicated mixing and mastering suite.
It goes without saying that production is included with all recording services, and tailored individually to the needs of the project. A choice of fine tracking rooms are available, Studer 2” 24 track and 1” 8 track analogue machines interfaced with Protools, Audient and Amek consoles, and so on.
Quotes are per project; some records can be made in a day, others take even longer!
RECORDERS AND MIXERS
Custom built “1956 Oscilloscope” system, by Jaid Computers: for all digital formats
Akai M8, Yamaha MD4 minidisc, Tascam 244, Sony 118SD and 266 recorders
MONITORING
Knight, 3-way, 1960′s: like the Tannoys from Pye #1, London
Magnavox 1970′s: only $2! And sound like it!
OUTBOARD
DBX 117, x 2: early 70’s compressor/expander
D’Agostino hand built opto limiter
M8 valve pre amps
Null-A-Tron: devilish psychoacoustic device
Omnisonix 801 imager: magic box
Alesis Microverb 3: which means there are 3 settings worth using
Pioneer SR202 Spring Reverb, 70’s: with psychedelic light
MICROPHONES
Sony electret condensers, pair, 1971
Sony stereo condenser, Sony stereo dynamic, 70′s
Philco stereo mic, 1960’s: looks like a hand grenade
Realistic stereo electret condenser, 1970’s: looks like a bug
Grampian DP4 dynamic: quintessential early 60’s British live mic
60’s pencil dynamic: made in Hong Kong
And other oddities.
INSTRUMENTS
Epiphone Casino, 1961
Hofner violin bass, 1964
Shaftesbury electric 12 string, 1970
Acoustic 6 and 12 string guitars, mid 70s
Numerous keyboards and synths from 1970’s to date
FET amp and cab, late ‘60s: courtesy JC Penney
Trixon drumkit 1950’s, with Premier and Ajax snares
Lots of percussion
NICE TOYS TO PLAY WITH
Muson Synthesiser, 1978, ages 4 to adult
Mick Jagger Plastic Maraccas
Brad Lloyd’s Acoustic Explorer 1 science project
My Songmaker 8 Special Sound Effects
Knitted Skunk Pop Shield