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Dot Neck · 29th September 2006

[QUOTE=toolskid;899615]

Personally, I'm off up to Newcastle to use Blast-Recording! Three and a half hours on the train (about the same from muswell hill to brixton

for £10 each way and MAN!!! That place is so well stocked and sounds GREAT! And all for £250 a day BOOK RATE!!!!!!!!!

Blast looks like a really good set up and I bet they get excellent results.

But is it realistic for most musicians who are based in London to switch to studios a long distance away? £250 a day may be cheaper than comparable London studios but by the time you factor in the full travel costs it could be a false economy.

For example, a five piece band plus a producer staying away from home will need somewhere to sleep. Dossing down on someone's floor is not the best way to prepare for a session and even the cheapest hotels will add over £100 a day to the bill. The £10 cheapie train fare to Newcastle is limited availability and for off peak hours only. Most people have to pay £50+ and you also have to get to and from the station at both ends. You also have to cart all your gear there and back. (I wouldn't fancy lugging backline and drumcases on and off a crowded train). Driving the 560 mile round trip will take 6 hours each way, cost about the same and knacker you out. Plus you have to learn Geordie.

Maybe it would make sense if it was only a couple of people travelling but for most situations the cheaper day rate would be offset by the higher travel costs.

I'm not saying it doesn't make sense for anyone in London to use an out-of-town studio only that it should be based more on whether it's where you want to record than just a lower day rate.

There will always be a market for studios in London because that's where most of the industry live and work.

However it has clearly become uneconomic for large studios in CENTRAL London to work on the day rates the industry can now afford. The market has shifted permanently and the 'good times' are never coming back. I suspect a quick look at their accounts in Companies House would show that they are all losing money fast (Air was showing a massive loss before Strongroom bought it - for a price that looks like it was based mainly on the value of the property).

It is sad but probably inevitable that more of these classic facilities will close once their owners can no longer ignore the fact that they can get a much better return from the capital tied up in them.

On the positive side, those studios that are located in accessible areas of London but not on prime real estate in the centre will begin to do quite well as the competition thins out. Lower overheads and a more sensible business model will mean they can meet the demand for good sounding rooms and high quality gear at a price that is affordable. The launch of new studios like The Way in East London shows the market is still there and I think more will begin to emerge.

29th September 2006	#24
Dot Neck Gear Head Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: UK Posts: 50	[QUOTE=toolskid;899615] Personally, I'm off up to Newcastle to use Blast-Recording! Three and a half hours on the train (about the same from muswell hill to brixton for £10 each way and MAN!!! That place is so well stocked and sounds GREAT! And all for £250 a day BOOK RATE!!!!!!!!! Blast looks like a really good set up and I bet they get excellent results. But is it realistic for most musicians who are based in London to switch to studios a long distance away? £250 a day may be cheaper than comparable London studios but by the time you factor in the full travel costs it could be a false economy. For example, a five piece band plus a producer staying away from home will need somewhere to sleep. Dossing down on someone's floor is not the best way to prepare for a session and even the cheapest hotels will add over £100 a day to the bill. The £10 cheapie train fare to Newcastle is limited availability and for off peak hours only. Most people have to pay £50+ and you also have to get to and from the station at both ends. You also have to cart all your gear there and back. (I wouldn't fancy lugging backline and drumcases on and off a crowded train). Driving the 560 mile round trip will take 6 hours each way, cost about the same and knacker you out. Plus you have to learn Geordie. Maybe it would make sense if it was only a couple of people travelling but for most situations the cheaper day rate would be offset by the higher travel costs. I'm not saying it doesn't make sense for anyone in London to use an out-of-town studio only that it should be based more on whether it's where you want to record than just a lower day rate. There will always be a market for studios in London because that's where most of the industry live and work. However it has clearly become uneconomic for large studios in CENTRAL London to work on the day rates the industry can now afford. The market has shifted permanently and the 'good times' are never coming back. I suspect a quick look at their accounts in Companies House would show that they are all losing money fast (Air was showing a massive loss before Strongroom bought it - for a price that looks like it was based mainly on the value of the property). It is sad but probably inevitable that more of these classic facilities will close once their owners can no longer ignore the fact that they can get a much better return from the capital tied up in them. On the positive side, those studios that are located in accessible areas of London but not on prime real estate in the centre will begin to do quite well as the competition thins out. Lower overheads and a more sensible business model will mean they can meet the demand for good sounding rooms and high quality gear at a price that is affordable. The launch of new studios like The Way in East London shows the market is still there and I think more will begin to emerge.