The people at Shabbey Road Studios

Meet the people that help you make the music !

Nigel Hart
See Biography
(Studio Director, Piano, keyboards, sound engineer, composer, musical director)

Al Steele
See Biography
(Studio Director,electric guitar, bass guitar, sound engineer, musical director, song writer)

studio spec / how much?

 GENERAL MUSIC 

  HOME  

What is the best/worst thing about being in the music industry?
Nige: The money. And the money.

Al: If you don't work, you don't eat.. and if you work a lot, you can get quite fat!

Why did you decide to open a recording studio?
Nige: I was fed up of going to other studios and ending up doing all the work myself. Some engineers have the technical knowledge without the musicality.

Al: Nigel and I both had studios at home, and were battling with the same problems.. nowhere to record a drum kit, upset neighbours etc. We figured that if we pooled our equipment, and found somewhere that we could be really noisy, we could solve our problems, make some money, and possibly get invited round to the neighbours parties. The last one hasn't materialised yet!

Are there any sessions where you just want to hide under the mixing desk?
Nige: Not "any", many!

Al: No matter how good or bad someone is, they have come to the studio to enjoy it. So we tend to focus on how they can get the most out of their session. No matter what level you are at, there is always something more to learn.. and we havn't forgotten that.

How do you price up a particular session?
Nige: Think of a number and double it.

Al: We work out how much we would have to charge to break even, and then we knock a couple of hundred quid off!

What sort of music do you listen to at home?
Nige: Classical in the morning, pop in the afternoon and jazz at night.

Al: If we have been working on an orchestral project then I wold tend to listen to some more rocky stuff at home, like U2, Robbie Robertson, or David Gray. If, however we are working on a punk album, then it is more likely to be Mozart, or Joni Mitchell.

What does it take to be a good engineer?
Nige: Patience and being prepared to do whatever it takes to get a good result.

Al: It takes a certain amount of know how, and a lot of people skills. For instance, if a singer is in the main recording room, and everyone can be seen in the control room chatting, it is very easy for that person to get insecure about what is being said. Always keep an open channel where possible. Always communicate. you will get a better performance.

What advice would you give to someone who wanted to have a career in the recording industry?
Nige: Don't - not if you want a suntan!

Al: Every year about 5000 students graduate from a music-tech course, and the amount of jobs available is probably less than 50. Investigate setting up at home.. many hit CD's, and film soundtracks are created in very modest studios. If you still want to work in a major studio, learn as much as you can at home, and practice making tea!!