We design – You build!

Tags

acoustics, analog, audio, microphone, mixing, monitoring, music, proaudio, record production, recording, studio design

It is quite common for our clients to engage a local builder, or someone personally know to them, to undertake the building of their studio.  As a result, we make sure that the studio building manual, which is provided alongside the design plans. is both detailed enough for a studio build novice to follow, and uses as many familiar materials and techniques as possible.  There is also, of course, our legendary ongoing telephone & email support that we offer throughout the build project.

Of course, many of these self builds are quite compact ‘home studios’, but not always.  Here’s an example and a few words from the owner.

Old Blacksmiths Studios (www.oldblacksmiths.com/) has been in existence in Portsmouth UK for a while.  Ben the owner wanted to up his game and re-purpose part of the facility into a decent sized control and live room.  He had the builders, but he needed the design expertise – so he called Studio Wizard:

Ben writes:

“Hi Howard, Hope you’re well. I just wanted to let you know that our studio refurbishment went very well! The work was completed in 34 days over December and January.”

“We’re delighted with the results and both us and our clients love the new studio.”

“We’ve had such a busy year and this looks set to continue for the rest of 2019 and beyond.”

It’s lovely to get feedback like that, and also great to see the commercial success that a decent studio build can generate.

The cost of a full design package is much less than most people think.  We also go into existing studios and troubleshoot issues with acoustics and isolation.

Our global reach allows us to work not just in Europe, but further afield into the Americas and also as far in the other direction as China.

If you have something you think we might help with – head on over to the website at www.studiowizard.com or give us a call!

The Author.

Howard Turner has over 30 years experience in the studio business, and for the last two and a half decades his Studio Wizard Organisation has allowed him to stop shouting at musicians and going to sleep on the mixing desk all of the time, instead he gets to design studios and shout at builders for a change…

Further information:  +447803666789

web: www.studiowizard.com

and http://www.facebook.com/studiowizard

My Production CV

Tags

record production

Not comprehensive, just some highlights!

HOWARD TURNER

 Producer/Engineer.

D.O.B. 24/02/59 – Languages:  English/French.

BIOG.After a childhood spent in war torn Indo-China, and a BA (in third world development of course!) the music business seemed like a nice quiet life (you know, early nights, regular pay etc. etc.) so I started Raven Recording as a studio in the early 80’s and quickly developed a reputation in the indy and rock sectors as a producer/engineer, working in the early days with such luminaries as the now late Peter DeFreitas (Echo and the Bunnymen), Steve Johnson (Teardrops) etc…

With the development of my old studio Raven as a residential facility in ’87 I started to concentrate more on guitar bands and “live feel” projects, this fitting in well with my long standing interest in manipulating ambient sounds and “less than dead” recording environments.

After selling the studios in ’91, I was free to spread my wings and pursue much more varied freelance production/engineering and performance interests, and also my studio and equipment design projects with my company, StudioWizard.

 

STYLES

Primarily guitar orientated material. (Being a fanatical devotee of “live” type recording – starting with a full performance to catch the feel of the thing…)

The whole approach hinges on making the most of the live feel of the band, and over the years I have developed a not inconsiderable reputation working with successful major rock and indy bands in this manner.

I have kept the “frustrated muso” in me at bay with my own old band – THE NIVENS – Knocking out jangle/psychedelia and making sure I never ever forget what its’ like in the recording booth when the red light goes on…..

INSTRUMENTS

Where it may help, I’m passable on guitar, slide guitar, blues harp, some odd (very odd) keyboards, additional vocals and programming….all if and where required – never imposed…..

 

DISCOGRAPHY

CROME YELLOW – Dorian Gray (ep) (Cipher).
JACOB`S MOUSE – No Fish Shop Parking (a) (Blithering Idiot), Good (s), Group of 7 (s),
Fandango Widewheels (ep),Rubber Room (a), (Wiiija).
TRIPP – Demos, California Screaming (s) (PMW).
SHERWOOD new album (a)(Bee Side – France)
JAZZ BUTCHER – Cult of the Basement* (a), Girl Go* (s), Condition Blue* (a), Shirley Maclaine* (s) (Creation).
14 ICED BEARS – Mother Sleep (ep), Wonder (a) (Borderline).
PERFECT DISASTER – Time to kill (ep), Up (a), Mood Elevator (ep) (Fire).
CLOSE LOBSTERS – Nature Thing* (s&a) (Fire).
THE POLLEN – Contrasts (a&s’s), Nurturing Desire (a&s’s), Factory Hours (ep) (Danceteria).
THE PARK – If all the Seas (a&s’s)* (Danceteria).
BAD MANNERS – Eat the Beat (a) (Blue Note)*.
SHREDDED ERMINES – Aldila (a&s’s) (Danceteria)*.
LIBERTY CAGE (ex The Men They Couldn’t Hang) (ep) (EMI).
CAPTAIN SENSIBLE – Revolution Now (part a), Riot on Eastbourne Pier* (s) (Deltic).
DAMNED – Riot on Eastbourne Pier* (s) (Deltic).
VENUS FLY TRAP – (a&s) (Danceteria).
LIZA WOLFE – eponymous (a)(self).
WORLD EXIT – (a&s)* (EDW-Roadrunner).
THE NIVENS A Taste of Money (a), Alright Now (s), Sex, Lies and Gaffatape (a), Play Blue (s),
House Come Tumbling Down (s), Shake (a), Recycle (mini-a), Shake it from the Top (s)(Danceteria – France),
Giving it Away (a) Sarah-Jane (s) (Trumpet).
SUNDIVER – Cautionary Tales (a)*(J.Nuttall mgt).
HONEYBUZZARDS (ep) (Sheer Joy).
TOSS THE FEATHERS – Awakening (a) (Fat Cat).
RED HARVEST – Strange (a), Heaven (s), World won’t Listen (s&a) (Aftermath).
THE DENTISTS – You and your Bloody Oranges (a) (Spruck).
THE SEX GODS (THE BALCONY DOGS – ex Teardrops & Bunnymen)* – (a).
THE AVONS (ex Farmers’ Boys) – Three Rivers Reach (a) & (s) (Letharge).
GEE MR. TRACY – Shoot the Sherbet, Herbert, Straight from the Fridge Pops (a&s’s), Lava Man (s)
& many other (s’s) (Backs).

TESTCARD F – various singles etc*
CHUNK (ep).
DR. MILLAR (ep)(Treasure Island).
THE CHAIRS-Honey I Need A Girl Of A Different Stripe (s), Size 10 Girlfriend (s) (Pink Halo).
ROBINSON-Toasted (ep)* (Gem/BMG).

PURPLE ORANGE (a).
THE BARDOTS (s&demos) (Cheree).
GIRLSCHOOL – Girlschoolive (a)* (GWR/Legacy).
TOUS LES CACTUS – (a) (Sony France).
SCHEIN – Little Girl Blue (a) (Process France).
ODE ROSE – (a) (Process France).
LES RATS – Bienvenue au Club!(a) (Danceteria France).
GREEN ON RED – Keith can`t Read (ep)* (China).
LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES (a)(Peek-a-boo – France).
*=engineering only, otherwise production and engineering too………

The Author

Howard Turner has over 30 years experience in the studio business, and for the last two and a half decades, his Studio Wizard Organisation have been at the forefront of the development of effective & affordable designs and solutions for studios.

Further information:  +447803666789

web: www.studiowizard.com

and http://www.facebook.com/studiowizard