Equipment

We pride ourselves in providing a mostly analog signal path. Recording is done via Mac running Logic Pro X and a handful of Eventide and waves plugins, but otherwise everything else is done through the desk and outboard equipment in the old-school way, and mixed using valve vari-mu, VCA and bespoke-built optical compressors, with a fully analog signal path through our fully restored D&R ST1600 32 Channel Transformer Balanced Recording Console, and optional Revox PR99 or Ampex 351 tape recorders.

Equipment

Recording Console: D&R ST1600 - 32 Channel Transformer balanced desk, dating from 1978.

Altec 436B / EMI RS124 VKS Bespoke Built Valve Compressors x2

IGS Tubecore 3U Vari-mu Valve Stereo/ M/S Compressor/Limiter

16 x Ashly vca limiters

Neve VR FJ V Series Channel strips, racked by Funky Junk - comprising of preamps, EQs and Compressors/Gates

Vortexion 15/4/M 4 channel mono Valve Mixer with preamps using lundahl transformers (1958)

AD/DA Converters / Mic Preamps: Antelope Audio Discrete 4, Orion Studio and Discrete 8 Synergy Core.

Monitors: KEF K1’s (1960s), Nippro Custom Transmission Line Monitors, designed by David Hall and CJ Rogers (1975), Yamaha NS10M. Auratones

Warm Audio WA2A Valve Compressor/Limiter

NTP 179-400 Stereo Mastering Limiter

Ampex 351 Mono Full Track Tape Recorder (1958) with Inovonics 375 preamp (1975)

Eventide Harmonizer H949 (c. 1983) - a miracle piece of amazing studio witchcraft

Eventide Instant Flanger FL201 (c.1975) - used to belong to Walter Becker of Steely Dan!

RCA Orthophonic Preamp (1960) - Joe Meek used one of these in 304 Holloway Road and referred to it as his ‘Cooker’ - A gorgeous-sounding warm valve EQ and filter. Listen to the sound clip below.

Leak Varislope Mono (1966) - Valve EQ/preamp and filter - modified Hifi preamp

Vortexion WVA Mono, Three head Tape Recorder - 3 3/4ips + 7 1/2ips (1957)

AKAI 4000D Stereo (1-4 3-2 track) with custom varispeed mod (used for real tape echo, ADT and tape phasing)

Tel-Ray ‘Adnecho’ Model 1001 - Oil can delay

Melos Echo Chamber (Tape Delay System from 1970s) (used for real tape echo, ADT and tape phasing)

Vintage Keys Custom built Stereo Reverb Spring (2012)

Drawmer DL241 Dual compressor/limiters x 2

Vintage Keys Custom Tremolo Units (One transistor, one optical)

Amplification: H and H V200 FET and V500 FET

Carlin Ring Modulator (capable of modulating one sound source to another)

AC125 Germanium Transistor Fuzz - tone bender copy

Behringer Bi-Phase Pedal

VKS Bespoke 2m x 1m Echo Plate (installed in Roof)

VKS Bespoke Cymbal/Gong Speaker

VKS Bespoke Zither/String Speaker

VKS Bespoke ‘Cooper Cube-style’ Echo Unit

This room and other areas have fully movable acoustic treatments to cater for any style of recording. We have a 9 panel acoustically treated drum/vocal/instrument booth as well as many live areas.

Microphones

2 x Matched AKG C414 XLII Condensors

JZ J67 Large Diaphram Condensor

Coles 3038 Ribbon Mic

Warm Audio WA47 Valve Mic

Rode NT 1 first gen x 2

Rode NT 1 second gen x 2

Antelope Audio Edge Solo

Oktava MK 012 small condensors x 4 with omni or cardioid capsules

Rode Valve Mic (Omni only)

Audix i5 x 3

Audix d6

Superlux Ribbon Mic

Realistic PZM x 2

2 x AKG D19 bk200 Dynamics (1960s)

AKG D20 Dynamic (1956)

SE Valve Mic

SE, MXT condensors

AKG D3700 Dynamics x 2

AKG D190 Dynamics x 3

AKG D120 Dynamic Omni

Beyer Dynamic BS201

Various Shure, AKG and Beyer Dynamic mics.

High sound quality Headphone / Studio Monitoring:

6 stereo feeds with multiple splitters

Superlux and Beyer headphones available.

Extra functional outboard gear for emergencies 

Useful Software:

Logic Pro X

Fabfilter Pro Q 3

Isotope RX8

Eventide SP2016 Reverb Plugin

Eventide H910 Plugin

Eventide H949 Plugin

Waves plugins - all of them, purchased COUNTLESS times… thanks Waves…

Cinematic String, Woodwind and Brass sound libraries

Sunset Strings Kontakt Instrument

Soniccouture Novachord and Ondes Martenot libraries

Full suite of GForce’s M-tron Pro with all Mellotron and Chamberlin tape sets

SoundToys Little Alterboy and Crystalizer

Audiothing Wires, Texture, Tilt

Sibelius ‘Spoil Sport’ (16 stave limit)

Prophet V

Wavesfactory Trackspacer

Vintage Keys Studio is a Romsey based Recording Studio.