Ravenscourt Studios in West London is a unique sound and music production facility owned and run by Australian producer/engineer Sam Farr (Robbie Williams, John Legend, Shakira, JLS, Jeff Beck, Nigel Kennedy). Situated in Ravenscourt Park just a few minutes from the tube station and 15 minutes walk from Shepherds Bush, the studios opened in 2011 and provide a broad spectrum of services ranging from music production and audio post production to songwriting sessions, mixing and remixing, voiceover recording and sound design.
Sam told us a bit about why he chose to launch a new studio at a time when many others in London are struggling, “To be honest, setting up a studio is something I have always wanted to do, so when the opportunity arose I grabbed it. Although I’m aware that big studios are finding it hard to command the higher rates necessary to cover their overheads, the market for smaller studios is really growing. At Ravenscourt we cater mostly for songwriters, producers and developing artists, people who bring in their own laptops running Logic or Pro Tools and maybe a vocalist or musician to record. We can also accommodate bands and small string sessions. In fact, whether you need a fully equipped room for a day or if you prefer to bring in your own equipment for a month or more, our three studios can accommodate pretty much any kind of session requirement you have. All the rooms are sound-proofed, with booths or live rooms, air-conditioning, wireless internet, 24 hour access, security alarms and shared use of the kitchen and toilets. There are even tie-lines between all the studios for maximum flexibility.â€
STUDIO ONE is the largest suite at Ravenscourt with a 15’3 x 14’9 control room and 18’8 x 15’5 live room. Until recently, both rooms were leased exclusively as a dry hire suite to a high profile songwriter. However, they have now been completely refurbished and are available for recording sessions including live band tracking, small string sections and overdubs. The control room centres around a brand new Audient ASP4816 analogue console, with a 24 i/o Pro Tools HD Native rig and a choice of PMC or NS10 monitors. There are also tie lines through to Studio Two which provide additional recording spaces with backline (Mapex/Pearl Export drum kits, various guitars, basses & keyboards) available on request.
STUDIO TWO is the smallest studio in the premises, and is ideal for programming, songwriting or vocal overdubs. It can easily be used as two separate programming rooms with its 10’4 x 9’10 control room and 9’7 x 7’3 booth large enough to fit a drum kit. A Universal Audio Apollo Quad interface (Thunderbolt ready) and a Universal Audio LA-610 channel strip have been recently added to the spec. Sam commented “It’s a great little writing/programming room based around a Mac-Pro running Pro-Tools 10/11 and Logic 9. Monitoring is via Quested and KRK with pre-amps from Universal Audio. There’s also a fully weighted Roland keyboard plus various instruments available at no extra cost. Both rooms can be used as additional recording spaces for Studio 1.â€
STUDIO THREE is the largest songwriting room in the complex and is available for short or long term lease. Fitted with a Pro Tools HD2 rig, Quested monitoring, pre-amps from Universal Audio, Focusrite and Avid, and various instruments, Studio 3 is set up for music production and is usually occupied by Sam himself (although you are more than welcome to bring your own engineer.) This studio has a relaxed and comfortable vibe and is perfect for getting ideas down as quickly and easily as possible. The control room is 15’8 x 10’6, with a 14’6 x 8’6 booth. Various guitars, basses, samplers and keyboards are available at no extra cost.
Recent clients to have recorded or mixed at Ravenscourt include Rita Ora, Maverick Sabre, AlunaGeorge, One Direction, Wretch 32, Iggy Azalea, Olly Murs, Ellie Goulding, Noah Francis and producers/writers Quizz & Larossi, Jamie Scott, Jim Eliot, Wayne Hector, The Invisible Men, The Nexus, Ash Howes, Jakwob, Katie Taylor, Chloe Leights, Natalie Sims, Cass Lowe.
Ravenscourt also provides an exceptional audio post production service (mixing, foley, tracklaying, voiceover recording, casting, library music sourcing, music production and ISDN). Experienced staff and world class facilities make it an appealing alternative to the more expensive Soho studios. Sam and ex-Sarm colleague Edd Hartwell have also set up London Studio Engineers: a pooled resource of self-managed freelance engineers and assistants, all fully qualified to run the Neves and SSLs in the big studios, but also able to bring those same projects back to a more affordable studio for overdubs and mixing. The LSE roster includes Edd Hartwell (Tony Visconti, Guy Massey, Stephen Lipson, Jim Abbiss, Trevor Horn, The Noisettes, Ed Sheeran, Jeff Beck, The Kooks, The Prodigy, Kt Tunstall and Yes); Mark Lewis (Robbie Williams, Michael Jackson, Mark Ronson, Fabolous, Matt Cardle, Basement Jaxx, Kassidy, Lux, Dive Bella Dive and Missing Andy); Joe Fields and Sam Farr.
Ravenscourt Studios is set in a great location offering some fantastic peripheral benefits. There is a selection of pubs and cafes nearby including gastro pub The Eagle Hotel next door with one of London’s best beer gardens available for a quick break from the studio. Ravenscourt Park is only two minutes walk away if you feel the need to stretch your legs. The Hammersmith and City, Circle line, District line and Central lines are all nearby with both Goldhawk Rd and Ravenscourt Park tube less than a 10 minute walk away; and Shepherds Bush central line and Westfield shopping centre are less than a 15 minute walk away. Various buses can get you to the tube stations in a couple of minutes.
To find out more about Ravenscourt, or London Studio Engineers contact Sam or click here.
