Why Choose Monnow Valley Studio for Residential
Recording?
1. Pedigree
Part of the first residential recording studios in the world, Monnow Valley Studio has been chosen by many famous
bands, producers, and artists over the last four decades including Queen, Led
Zeppelin, Oasis, Pigeon Detectives, Blood Red Shoes, etc.
2. Location
The studio is set amongst 400 acres of green rolling hillside located two miles
outside of Monmouth, Wales, which is a lovely picturesque market town with
several pubs, three supermarkets, etc. Monmouth has excellent logistics with two
international airports (Bristol and Cardiff) within 45 minutes drive from the
studio. Abergavenny train station is only 10 miles away.
A map of the location is on our contact page.
3. Equipment
Of course, Monnow Valley Studio has the some of the best
recording equipment available including many
producer's preferred gear such as Pro Tools 7.2 and SSL 4064G+. At 1200 sq ft,
the live room is one of the biggest of any residential
recording studios in the UK and has variable acoustics which makes it easier to
achieve the optimal sound a producer is looking for. It has been described as
the best drum room in the world by producers and drummers alike.
4. Leisure Facilities
When the bands are not recording, there are plenty of
leisure facilities to enjoy in and around the
studio. Our games room has pool and table tennis tables and a dartboard. The
band can relax in the lounge with its sumptuous leather sofas, widescreen TV,
SKY+ complete with all movie and sports channels, and surf the internet with the
studio PC. The entire facility has wireless business broadband internet access
for bands to use their laptops also.
Monnow Valley Studio offers fantastic coarse fishing with its own mile
of private fishing rights on the beautiful river Monnow. Depending on the
season, chub, grayling and salmon can be caught here.
There are many scenic walks around the countryside, which can also be used
for jogs and mountain biking if the band are feeling more energetic!
Golfers have several superb courses to play: The Rolls of Monmouth is four minutes drive from the studio; Monmouth Golf Club, "arguably the prettiest golf
course in Wales", is within five miles; and seven miles away are the two Forest of
Dean courses and driving range. Favourable rates for all the courses can be
attained through the Studio.
Should the band wish to venture into Monmouth, there are several lively pubs with many a tale to be told of previous rock bands visiting the pubs over
the last four decades.
5. Food
At Monnow Valley Studio, all food is home-cooked and prepared in-house, so it
can provide all types of catering to suit a band's individual palates.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided as well as as many snacks and coffee
the band want. A self-catering option is also available should the band wish to
prepare their own food, which can be purchased from any of Monmouth's three
supermarkets, grocers, butchers and shops.
6. 24-Hour Staff
In the studio, we have our live-in engineer, Jim Anderson. Jim has worked at
Monnow Valley for two years and knows the equipment inside out. He has produced
many recordings himself, and has also assisted many top producers such as Bob
Marlette (Toni Iommi, Rob Halford, Tracy Chapman), Owen Morris (Oasis, The
Verve, Ash), Stephen Street (Smiths, Blur, Sleeper, Cranberries) and Andrew Scheps
(Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, U2).
Working hours are flexible so if the band wants to work from 9 to 5 or 3pm to
7am... Monnow Valley Studio can accommodate your requirements. Since taking over
in 2006, the studio has never had to stop a recording session due to technical
problems as any problems have been able to be fixed immediately. The equipment
is regularly maintained and serviced by Richard Griffiths, an SSL specialist
previously of Olympic Studios in London.
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