Capitol Studios Opens New Rooms, Launches New Mastering Options

HOLLYWOOD: There are a few recording studios in the world that need no introduction, and Capitol Studios in Hollywood is one of them. Located in the basement of the iconic Capitol Records Building just north of Hollywood and Vine, this studio has played host to many of the most important artists of the last 60 years. From Frank Sinatra to Paul McCartney, Nat King Cole to the Beach Boys, Capitol has been an epicenter of creativity and host to some of the most famous recordings ever made.

The iconic Capitol tower is label HQ, but also home to expanding studio facilities

Even within the last couple months, millions of viewers of the Academy Awards were notified that, while the pit orchestra could not be found on-premises in the Dolby Theater, they were indeed playing live in Capitol’s Studio A, performing cues and song numbers remotely. Certainly a very contemporary way of keeping such a storied room, literally, in the mix!

Throughout the ups and downs of the recording industry, Capitol has continued to thrive. Their ability to host virtually any type of project, along with an unrelenting dedication to quality and superior sonics has insured that the studio has stayed relevant and well used.

Now, Capitol is extending itself with a couple of new offerings, tailoring the gear and personnel for which the studio is famous to a new wave of clients. We recently sat down with Drew Waters (Head of Studio Operations) and Ursula Kneller (Studio Project Manager) to discuss the details.

CAPITOL BEACON MASTERING

Capitol already has a well-established mastering business. Between engineers Kevin Bartley, Ron McMaster, Evren Göknar, and Robert Vosgien, quite a diverse group of artists have had their albums mastered at Capitol – from Tom Waits to Gorillaz, and Miles Davis to No Doubt.

Capitol’s mastering team includes (l-r): Robert Vosgien, Evren Göknar, Ron McMaster and Kevin Bartley

There are four mastering rooms, all equipped with a diverse selection of gear personalized to each engineer, and custom-made gear like Capitol’s valve compressor, the CM-5511.

With the new Beacon Mastering, Capitol’s mastering house is aiming to extend its reach with an online business model. With a streamlined web interface, new clients can easily register for a personal account and have albums or tracks mastered at Capitol. The relatively economical price of $100 per track includes one round of revisions as well as a DDP master and a ten-day turnaround, maximum.

While attended sessions are always available, Beacon represents a more cost-effective option for projects looking to take advantage of the Capitol Studios staff and legacy from a distance.

NEVE-EQUIPPED PRODUCTION ROOMS

Capitol also has two new production suites available for bookings. These rooms were originally devised with writing sessions in mind, but in the end are capable of hosting recording and mix sessions as well.

One of the production suites at Capitol

Both suites are equipped with a 16-channel Neve Genesys console, Pro Tools HD systems, outboard from API and Universal Audio, full access to Capitol’s venerable outboard gear and mic collections, and best of all, tie-lines into the lauded echo chambers, located 30 feet underground below the studios.

The production suites are available, with a staff engineer, for $75/hour. The price-point makes them an easy choice for finishing a record, but in reality – depending on your needs – you could totally cut a record in one of these rooms as well. The live rooms are of the smaller and midsized variety, but each can easily accommodate a drum kit. And more. Away from legendary Capitol Studios A, B and C, these rooms would just be called “recording studios” – small, but mighty. Capitol also informed us

And with all of the mastering suites conveniently located on the same floor as the production rooms, there’s the option of producing projects of really any scale all under the one roof, start to finish.

Meanwhile, the new offerings are no indication of any lack of attention to the main rooms downstairs. Last year saw a redesign of Studio A’s control room, along with the installation of a brand new 72-input Neve 88R – considered by many to the superlative large-format modern analog console, and with the continuation of almost daily bookings for orchestral tracking sessions, easily the best choice of new gear for such a storied room.

Capitol’s Studio A

In addition, Studio C’s Neve VRS 72 is console going through a major upgrade as well, with new modifications by John Musgrave (of Madlabs fame), improving the console’s overall sound and ensuring reliability in session. There are also plans within the next three years to overhaul this room as well in a style similar to that of Studio A.

Last but not least, Studio B’s Neve 56-input 8068 had just begun a thorough cleaning and maintenance on the day we visited; after years of serving the same client this room is being given the once over and will soon be more available for sessions than it has been in recent years.

Still thriving after all these years, Capitol is newly committed to making its highly talented staff and legendary facilities available to projects of every kind with little compromise.

Visit Capitol Studios at http://www.capitolstudios.com and on SonicSearch, and find out more about Beacon Mastering at http://www.capitolbeacon.com.

Bo Boddie is a Grammy winning engineer/mixer and composer. Visit him at http://www.boboddie.com.

Please note: When you buy products through links on this page, we may earn an affiliate commission.