“It looks like a bloody Christmas tree!” That’s how sound engineer Arthur Haddy started the history of the most beloved classical and film orchestra recording technique. We are, of course, talking about the “Decca Tree”. The Decca Tree is an array of between three and five microphones that provides a well balanced and mono-compatible stereo […]
Frank Barretta has been an integral part of Angel Studios’ history. Starting out as a tea boy, then tape op for de Wolf Music in Soho. Frank joined the team at Angel as it opened in the early 80s and occupied different roles over the years. In part one of our interview with Frank, we […]
A recording studio is a collaborative and creative space, designed to capture those magical moments or ideas that happen during a session. The room where RECORDS are created. That’s how they’ve always been pictured in documentaries, interviews and films. But they are also much more than that. Studios are full of complex relationships, insecurities and […]
Jimi Hendrix once said, “Music is my religion”. With this philosophy in mind, it’s apt that our new space, Angel Recording Studios, was previously a church and place of worship. The historical building that houses the studio has a rich history and is a space with its own personality and idiosyncrasies, a perfect home for […]
In the Studio: Recreating ‘How Long’ by Ace One of our more important assignments (as well as a favourite for students and staff alike) is the recreation of a well-known track. Students are asked to choose a piece of music and record it, with the aim of getting as near to the original track as […]
Affectionately known by both staff and students as simply ‘The Custom’ our Custom Series 75 powered by Neve console is an integral part of our students’ experience with us. We put a great emphasis on developing both creative and technical skills throughout our course, and recording and mixing on the console in our dedicated studio […]
There are myriad choices to consider when you are planning and setting up for a recording session. One key area that always generates much debate and discussion, is microphone selection and placement. Those decisions you make prior to recording that ensure you capture the sound both you and the artist you’re recording are aiming for. […]
Sylvia Massy is not one to follow rules. From her advice on mic’ing a chicken to recording vocals through a cell phone satellite delay, Sylvia is a sonic voyager doing things in her own unique way. It was with great pleasure we welcomed her for a day in Studio Two. The setting was perfect as […]
McCartney-Lennon, Richards-Jagger, Leiber-Stoller. Throughout rock history collaboration has often lead to some of the most successful art. Here at Abbey Road Institute, we’re creating a collaboration of our own by partnering with the Royal Northern College of Music. Based in Manchester, the RNCM has become one of the leading conservatories in the world. With accomplished […]
A Day in Studio Three From Amy Winehouse to Brockhampton, Studio Three has been home to some of the most exciting and innovative recording sessions. Last Friday our new March class got the opportunity to see Studio Three firsthand for their masterclass recording session. Musical act Swanie featuring, alumni Claudio Cignitti, came in to record their […]
So you’ve been part of a full symphony orchestra recording session with the Royal College of Music. It’s in Abbey Road’s famous Studio Two. You leave that memorable experience with a hefty Pro Tools session. What’s next? It’s time to work on the mix. An Inside Look Mixing a session like this gives the students […]
Our music production students had the unique opportunity on Monday to spend the day recording in the famous Studio Two at Abbey Road with the Royal College of Music’s Chloé Piano Trio, comprised of George Todica (piano), Maria Gîlicel (violin), Jobine Siekman (cello). Grammy-winning producer and engineer Stephen Johns and John Dunkerley demonstrated the techniques […]
We all collectively freaked out at the opportunity to be in Studio One with drummer Ralph Rolle and bassist Jerry Barnes of The CHIC Organization yesterday: Two incredibly talented musicians and producers, both with long, successful careers. Our March students were extremely lucky to be in the control room as they worked on some soon-to-be […]
When you read the words “Abbey Road Studios” what do you think of? The Beatles? Pink Floyd? Radiohead? What about “the birthplace of modern music production?” Abbey Road Institute’s curriculum is drawn directly from the studio’s long history of sound recording and technical innovation. In fact, the studio itself is an innovation. Abbey Road’s past […]
Earlier this year we launched a competition with ReverbNation to offer one artist the opportunity to come to Abbey Road Institute in London and record with producer, engineer and lecturer Pete Dowsett and our current music production and sound engineering students. ReverbNation is a platform which supports emerging artists to build their careers. Amy Pinnock, […]
Welcome back to alumnus Jack Chown And band Winterfalle recording with our students at Abbey Road Whilst it’s a regular part of the teaching at Abbey Road Institute, it’s always exciting to be recording a session in Abbey Road. Especially when it’s your first time. This was the case for our September class last month. […]
Back in Studio Two It’s all in a day’s work for our diploma students – recording a brass band, two soloists (violin and piano), learning from multiple Grammy Award-winning engineer John Dunkerley and watching alumnus Chris Cook co-produce the session. The morning session It was an early start for our most recent recording in Abbey […]
And a lesson from expert Abbey Road Engineers Alex Scannell and Stefano Civetta. Last week our March students were part of a recording session in Studio Three with the band Desert Ships. They worked alongside highly experienced engineers Alex Scannell and Abbey Road Studio assistant engineer and Pro Tools expert Stefano Civetta. We’ve been working […]
After their Kickstarter Campaign, the guys from KEEMOSABE are back at Abbey Road! Welcome back to Abbey Road Institute and congratulations ON the successful outcome of your Kickstarter project. How do you feel right now? Thank you so much for having us back! We feel great. The precious support of our fans makes us feel incredible, […]
Our students learn from multiple Grammy Award winning engineer John Dunkerley in a recording session with the Royal College of Music. The next generation of music producers and sound engineers along with Institute Programme Director Carlos Lellis, our alumni Hugo Bechstein and multiple Grammy award winner John Dunkerley were recording with the the fantastic philharmonic […]
Our latest recording session at Abbey Road We were excited to be back in Abbey Road’s iconic Studio Two at the end of May with not one but two Grammy winning engineers and producers; the renowned senior engineer Haydn Bendall and guest lecturer and producer Ricky Damian along with the band ‘Bob and the Apple’. […]
Recording session with our students in Abbey Road “Burn” was the track our students recorded with our students bands Keemosabe, Lewn and S. Fidelity in Studio Three this week. And burn they did – their set was on fire! This was our March students first dedicated recording session in Abbey Road’s commercial studios, with more to come. Alongside Programme Director Carlos […]
Learn from expert Abbey Road Studios engineers This week we’re excited to share that two of our expert Abbey Road Studios engineers are on tour giving exclusive guest lectures at our four Abbey Road Institutes across Europe. Andrew Dudman and Paul Pritchard will be starting the week at Abbey Road Institute Paris, before visiting Abbey Road Institute […]
Bonjour, Guten Morgen and Good Morning! Each of these different ways of saying “hello” were heard during the last four days at Abbey Road Institute London as we welcomed our students from Abbey Road Institute France and the latest graduates from Abbey Road Institute Germany. Saturday and Sunday was spent in Abbey Road Studio’s Two and Three with the […]
From Beethoven’s “Kreutzer” to Bartok’s “Romanian Folk Dances” Learning in a professional studio environment is an integral part of the experience at Abbey Road Institute. And Friday 23 March was another opportunity for our students to get up close and personal with professional engineers and musicians. We had the pleasure of recording in the Abbey Road’s Studio Two with […]
What’s it like to record at Abbey Road Studios? We finished January on a high at Abbey Road Institute, with a recording session in Abbey Road’s Studio Three. We invited in expert engineer Alex Scannell, who previously worked at Abbey Road Studios for over 10 years and now runs Audio Spark Mobile. Along with Alex we […]
