Recording Studio/PA Hire

Cottage Industry Recording Studio is built around an analogue Fostex E16 16 track recorder (lovely warm sound) and a 16-8-2 Soundcraft Spirit mixing desk, with monitoring by truly excellent Event TR8 monitors. A Gretsch drum kit can be available together with backline amplifiers by Marshall and Vox and a wide range of microphones by Rode, Shure, AKG, etc. Guitars by Gibson, Rickenbacker and Ovation can also be available.  Outboard hardware is by Lexicon, Aphex, Alesis and Antares. Final mastering is usually to CD but can also be to 2 track open reel, cassette, minidisc or DAT.

The studio has not really been set up to be a money-making machine but instead is intended to be a facility available at a reasonable charge to those wishing to make professional-standard recordings, where the cost of hiring a full-time studio and engineer would be prohibitive. For example, it is ideal for worship groups, youth bands or for singer/songwriters wishing to record demos. My own CDs were all recorded in the studio.

Recent studio clients have included Beth Ritchie, Ralph Ward ("Rush of Grace" CD http://www.ralphward.co.uk) and The Dawn Trio (flute, clarinet and contra bassoon playing well-known classical and contemporary material ideal for recitals, weddings, etc. http://www.dawntrio.co.uk)  I'm currently recording my new CD "We Can All Be Free".  Christian singer/songwriter Adrian Bowyer of Verwood Family Church has now completed recording his CD "No One Else" in the studio.  Click here for details.  

Cottage Industry P.A. is ideal for small to medium sized concerts or conferences. It's a 12 channel Mackie mixer feeding a pair of Mackie 450 watt active speakers.  Monitoring is through Peavey active and passive wedges. Microphones are by Shure and radio microphones are also available. Usually I engineer the sound myself from the back of the hall using a stage box and multi-core.  It's a great sounding system and is ideal for amplifying folk and other acoustic bands, duo and solo performers, string quartets, etc.  Please bear in mind, however, that at just under 1kw (that's 2 x 500 watts in stereo) it isn't strong enough to power rock bands where usually a minimum of 4-5kw would be needed.    

The sound system can also be hired for a variety of church services - everything from weddings to funerals!  All concerts, events and services can be recorded to minidisc and then mastered onto CD, cassette or open reel tape.  I don't, however, undertake DVD or video recordings.

As with the studio, my aim is to provide a professional facility at reasonable cost because, during my years of experience, I know just how frustrating it can be to know how to get a good sound, but to have limited finance available to achieve it!

If I can help, please get in touch and we can discuss costs, dates, etc - the studio coffee's pretty good as well!