chateau d'Hérouville to open in the future?

[2N1305]

I searched here on GS to see if someone had posted this already.
While looking for boobs on youtube (shouldn't be hard to do) I found a recent (2010) video of people visiting the Chateau in Hérouville.

Is this news to you? it was for me, as I've been following everything I could about the famous chateau since 2008. I figure Mr Ernould in France would have sent me a message to inform me about this (not that I'm entitled to such info, but I did email back and forth with him, in french, to discuss about the Chateau).

anyway, check out : Ch
I am wodnering how serious these people from Tennessee are...
I hope they are very serious!

[coffeecup77]

Hi 2N1305,

I'm happy to see that Hérouville still carries a vibe outside France, even though, if I were you, I wouldn't be too optimistic about the "renaissance" of the Château d'Hérouville.

Why ? Because the trend here in France, studiowise, is the same as in any other country, meaning :
- all the biggies are coming down and going out of business due to lack of budgets and no long term investments in music,
- all the main artists have their proper studios and rehearsal rooms at home,
- the overnight fame TV shows (Star Academy, La Nouvelle Star, ...) are now long gone, and TV is probably the only possible investor in that type of resort (other than the hotel industry for seminars, not audio),
- Hérouville is AT LEAST an hour away from Paris, and that would have to be driving at 3 or 4 in the morning, otherwise count 2 hours,
- the rates announced are real, real HEAVY when you compare,
- etc ... etc ...

So, unless this "operation" is backed up by a multi-millionaire who doesn't know what to do with his/her dough, and/or by public funding (and that would be very surprising considering the branch), I don't think the Honky Château will ever rise from its' ashes. If it should, I don't see it lasting more than a 2-3 year stretch before closing down again. I checked out your link and looked around for some info (I'll even be calling some "audio/music" friends in Paris and elsewhere), I didn't find anything very conclusive. I read that this is supposed to be launched january 2012: qui vivra verra, n'est-ce pas ?

Bonjour chez vous !

[2N1305]

Originally Posted by coffeecup77

Hi 2N1305,

I'm happy to see that Hérouville still carries a vibe outside France, even though, if I were you, I wouldn't be too optimistic about the "renaissance" of the Château d'Hérouville.

Why ? Because the trend here in France, studiowise, is the same as in any other country, meaning :
- all the biggies are coming down and going out of business due to lack of budgets and no long term investments in music,
- all the main artists have their proper studios and rehearsal rooms at home,
- the overnight fame TV shows (Star Academy, La Nouvelle Star, ...) are now long gone, and TV is probably the only possible investor in that type of resort (other than the hotel industry for seminars, not audio),
- Hérouville is AT LEAST an hour away from Paris, and that would have to be driving at 3 or 4 in the morning, otherwise count 2 hours,
- the rates announced are real, real HEAVY when you compare,
- etc ... etc ...

So, unless this "operation" is backed up by a multi-millionaire who doesn't know what to do with his/her dough, and/or by public funding (and that would be very surprising considering the branch), I don't think the Honky Château will ever rise from its' ashes. If it should, I don't see it lasting more than a 2-3 year stretch before closing down again. I checked out your link and looked around for some info (I'll even be calling some "audio/music" friends in Paris and elsewhere), I didn't find anything very conclusive. I read that this is supposed to be launched january 2012: qui vivra verra, n'est-ce pas ?

Bonjour chez vous !

Hi coffeecup77

Thanks for the reply,
it's good to see a response so early! I think what you're saying makes a lot of sense, especially given that you're in the region.

I would have figured anyway that most of the "big" studios are closing down (or slowing down) and the prospect of opening a new big studio is a strange, risky idea. But I'm counting on the fact that it was quite famous (Okay, not as much as The Record Plant or Abbey Road studios) to attract attention.
I personally believe the idea of the Hotel is much better given that it has the size to do that. I mean, that's what it used to be, right, in the 1800s?

It's true that most of the stuff on the website was just, how to say, "du fla-fla", pictures and such, proposed layout, stuff to get people who know nothing about it interested enough to contact the website owners.

whenever I see interest in a place that was famous in order to make it famous (or even open) I wonder: is it better to let Dead dogs lie or ressucitate them and maybe ruin their reputation? It's kind of like the Police, they stopped at an excellent time. It was sad, but at least they went out with a bang.

The studio would be filled with new equipment that would NOTHING to do with what the studio was made famous with, so there's a contradiction there: no new studio manager would want to use old equipment (IF you could even lay your hands on even some of the original equipment) because it's "too hard to work with" and unprofitable.

Nonetheless, I can't help but be excited about this idea. I really think the Hotel idea would be better. Honky Hotel!

[2N1305]

Originally Posted by coffeecup77

qui vivra verra, n'est-ce pas ?

Bonjour chez vous !

en effet...

Merci, de même à vous! Un bon gros bonjour plein de neige et de slush dégeu du Québec!

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by 2N1305

en effet...

Merci, de même à vous! Un bon gros bonjour plein de neige et de slush dégeu du Québec!

Ah oui, la neige du Québec! Il n'y a même pas de neige ici à Toronto!

[coffeecup77]

Hi "all" 2 of you et une Très, Très Belle Année 2012.

Pas de neige ici non plus, on verra en février ou mars.

Well, I asked 2 friends around Paris, they have no news on this. A third is going to try to pick up some "inside" info too but has also heard nothing about a re-opening, and he's typically the guy who would be invited to that sort of "operation", maybe even consulted for the project.

You know, I would be really happy to see that place "rejuvenate", as James Cull puts it, sincerely. A friend lent me the DVD of the making of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", album that was "cut" there. I can only try to imagine the atmosphere of that area (Hérouville) in those years (early '70s) with these british pop artists sometimes wandering out in a little village of 300/400 souls, at that time. So good !!

But looking at this video gives you an idea of what needs to be done. Seems to me the walls are in pretty good shape, but to turn that place into a Top studio meeting today's standards means a lot of $$$$$$$$$ ... and even more $$$$$$$$. You must also not forget that, although many parisian artists or technicians & engineers have cars, they barely use them to go around Paris because they prefer bus or metro. And those don't take you to Hérouville in 10/20 minutes. Also note that, although, like you said, they are slowing down, there are major "historical" studios still running in Paris or the close outskirts : Guillaume Tell, Davout, Marcadet, Ferber, Plus 30. Even Dominique Blanc-Francard's (who worked with Michel Magne in the opening years of the Château) Labomatic Studios, where he recorded our "First Lady's" (yes, Carla B.) last album, are located right off the Champs-Elysées. So to compete with them today is going to be quite tough.

So I'm not saying that the Rejuvenation of the Honky Château is never going happen (and hopefully it will), I'm just expressing a big doubt about it.


Tiens, un hommage à l'époque, pris sur le site de dbf :






Cheers.

[2N1305]

Originally Posted by Chris Lago

Ah oui, la neige du Québec! Il n'y a même pas de neige ici à Toronto!

well well, Mr Lago, you speak french too? Actually, even here around Ottawa winter has been lame... I went out on the 416 yesterday and there was no snow around. But I had my share of shovelling on the 30th...

In any case, my use of another language on the forum is scarce and is only to respond to certain people whom I am sure will understand (I know it's "against" the rules).

So it actually does snow in Paris?

Do you have "la charrue"? (city snowplow, eh!)

[2N1305]

[QUOTE=coffeecup77;7389595]Hi "all" 2 of you et une Très, Très Belle Année 2012.

Pas de neige ici non plus, on verra en février ou mars.

Merci encore! Pareillement, hein!
sortez vos pelles!

Originally Posted by coffeecup77

"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", album that was "cut" there. But looking at this video gives you an idea of what needs to be done. Seems to me the walls are in pretty good shape, but to turn that place into a Top studio meeting today's standards means a lot of $$$$$$$$$ ... and even more $$$$$$$$. .

I have this DVD, it's awesome. there'sa whole bunch of footage from inside the Chateau, and IM sure there's much more that they didn't put in. But for someone like me I'd eat that up and ask for more!

Originally Posted by coffeecup77

So to compete with them today is going to be quite tough..

I guess so. I saw the price in the ad you posted there, 560F/day! At first I was thinking dollars (cdn or Us, doesnT' matter), but even francs which at the time were, correct me if I'm wrong, 1/4 of US$, that's expensive! I think that would be nearly like 1000$ today!

Originally Posted by coffeecup77

So I'm not saying that the Rejuvenation of the Honky Château is never going happen (and hopefully it will), I'm just expressing a big doubt about it.

I think we all are. And I'm not even in the business! Although, I would have wanted the custom-built console (Maurice C Van Hall) in my little home studio, which isn't even complete at the moment!

Originally Posted by coffeecup77

Tiens, un hommage à l'époque, pris sur le site de dbf :



Cheers.

[2N1305]

Damn, I was wrong, it was DOLLARS! That's insane... that's like todays' prices, isn't it? I checked a small studio here in Ottawa and they asked 250$ for a four hour session...

[coffeecup77]

Hi 2N1305,

Sorry, just a quick note for you, I got a little info by mail from JC but I don't have time right now to synthesize it. Plus, I have a couple of things to re-check before. This is just to keep you updated.

Uuhhh ... also, concerning the maths above, I think it's a little more "complicated" than just a currency change and an inflation cutdown. We'd have to check out what the average start-off salaries were (salaire moyen d'embauche), compare that to the INSEE reference of what common products prices were at the time, oil and energy prices, etc ... to have the beginning of an idea of what those prices meant. And watch out, I think you took the prices on the Studio Fremontel ad, not the prices mentionned in the article on the Château H.
Just remembered, a friend told me last week that in the '90s, a half day session he did at Guillaume Tell Studios cost him 4K Francs. Mimimum wage salary was 5300/5700 FF if I remember correctly.

@ David C. :Sorry David, I don't have thorough info on Marcadet. I'll try and see what I can find though, ok ?

Cheers et mes Respects aux Canada ;-D !

[2N1305]

Originally Posted by coffeecup77

Hi 2N1305,

Sorry, just a quick note for you, I got a little info by mail from JC but I don't have time right now to synthesize it. Plus, I have a couple of things to re-check before. This is just to keep you updated.

who?

Originally Posted by coffeecup77

Uuhhh ... also, concerning the maths above, I think it's a little more "complicated" than just a currency change and an inflation cutdown. We'd have to check out what the average start-off salaries were (salaire moyen d'embauche), compare that to the INSEE reference of what common products prices were at the time, oil and energy prices, etc ... to have the beginning of an idea of what those prices meant. And watch out, I think you took the prices on the Studio Fremontel ad, not the prices mentionned in the article on the Château H.
... ok ?

Cheers et mes Respects aux Canada ;-D !

Yes, indeed I did... I mess up like this sometimes when I do things hastily.

Thank you! We got freezing rain yesterday! It was awesome? what am I saying I mean, it was freakin' disgusting! Quand on dit qu'on passe le pic à glace su'l char au Québec, c'est pour enlever la couche de glace dessus...

[coffeecup77]

Originally Posted by 2N1305

who?

Him


En résumé, I asked if I could have a list of the equipment and gear housed at Hérouville, and an idea of the spaces of the live and control rooms. I also asked if there was a picture gallery somewhere (so I could get an idea of the actual state of the project of course, considering they planned the re-opening for the end of this month). What I got was a very polite and personal answer, explaining what business model they have in mind ("envision") and what type of suites (mastering & video editing) they also wish to build. Unfortunately, absolutely no factual info about what was actually already done and installed.

Like I said somewhere before: "Qui vivra, verra" ... (I'll add) "... ou pas !"

Bonjour chez vous !

P.S : Temperature has also come down here, the ground freezes over during the night. Bbbbrrrrrrr ! Wish I was in Tahiti !

[2N1305]

Originally Posted by coffeecup77

Him


En résumé, I asked if I could have a list of the equipment and gear housed at Hérouville, and an idea of the spaces of the live and control rooms. ...
What I got was a very polite and personal answer, explaining what business model they have in mind ... Unfortunately, absolutely no factual info about what was actually already done and installed.

Like I said somewhere before: "Qui vivra, verra" ... (I'll add) "... ou pas !"

Bonjour chez vous !

P.S : Temperature has also come down here, the ground freezes over during the night. Bbbbrrrrrrr ! Wish I was in Tahiti !

Ah, Ok, Ok, so there is someone there. But is there really someone physically there? In the Chateau, doing the renovations? I don't really need an answer these are just questions from my curiosity. IT's not like I'm going to invest in the chateau or go to France in the near future. Not that I'd refuse that!

Tahiti... nice place I guess, but can you buy guitar strings there? No matter I can't stand super hot temperatures. Just as much as super cold (-30°C) temperatures...

[_Ludovico]

Je connaissais pas ce château? C'était un studio et c'est sur le point d'en redevenir un? Nice spot

PS : Maudite neige, j'men passerais. Haha On peut pas se plaindre trop trop cette année par contre...

[2N1305]

Originally Posted by _Ludovico

Je connaissais pas ce château? C'était un studio et c'est sur le point d'en redevenir un? Nice spot

PS : Maudite neige, j'men passerais. Haha On peut pas se plaindre trop trop cette année par contre...

Oui. Are you from(in) France? Ou ben êtes-vous au Canada?
ps: J'men passerais aussi mais Noel serait platte en E%*i...

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by 2N1305

well well, Mr Lago, you speak french too?

Yes! French is my native tongue.

[2N1305]

Originally Posted by Chris Lago

Yes! French is my native tongue.

Same here... Although you wouldn't know by hearing me speak English.

Anyway, while I'm here doing nothing, does anyone know why the Rolling Stones chose to exile to Marseilles to record Exile on Main Street? (well, not specifically to record, but just to exile (evade) taxes)

[_Ludovico]

Originally Posted by 2N1305

Oui. Are you from(in) France? Ou ben êtes-vous au Canada?
ps: J'men passerais aussi mais Noel serait platte en E%*i...

Tcheubek

[2N1305]

Originally Posted by _Ludovico

Tcheubek

euh, what? never heard that...