Inside RAK Studios

[@georgegeranios2918]

Recapped every console. Good god, the man's a maintenance monster. Hats off!

[@JezNashMusic]

Awesome studio. I remember playing keys on some sessions in 2 whilst Radiohead were tracking The Bends in 1. We all had a lovely dinner together afterwards in the studio's own dining facilities. Still can't quite believe it, and that was nearly 30 years ago! Little moments like listening to Thom running quietly through a lyric in the kitchen while he was waiting for me to finish using the kettle, and me not yet knowing how much of a positive impact that very album would have on my life! And the staff at RAK were (and evidently still are) absolutely amazing. Sam and Henry (at the time assistant engineers), who went on to form Zero 7, were an absolute delight - such cool guys and knew every inch of those rooms. I will never forget Henry's ability to capture mix downs on two DAT recorders simultaneously - think of the pressure of that! A beautiful part of town as well. Fond memories, and I hope I get the chance to go back there again!

[@EdEditz]

What a great story! I met the Zero7 guys in Amsterdam in 2006 together with Sia who sang with them at that time. Great guys indeed.

[@JezNashMusic]

@@EdEditz Wonderful! Those first three Zero7 albums are staggering pieces of work, and still sound amazing to this day. Sia has ascended some lofty heights since (her vocal on Chandelier is, well, I have no words - never heard anything like it!), but with Zero 7 she showed a totally different, yet totally wonderful, side of her vocal character. For me Tina Dico on 'Home' (When It Falls) just does it for me - that song, the vocal performance, the recording and production gives me shivers, tears, the works, every time I hear it. An absolute masterpiece. I'm sure those boys must have picked up a few tips from working alongside those legendary producers during their formative years at RAK, and I'm bloody glad they did!

[@EdEditz]

@@JezNashMusic Now you're talking :) I actually became a fan of Zero7 because of that song 'Home'. I saw it on the Music Factory loads of time (sort of Dutch MTV). From there I found Sia's own website which had a forum where fans talked to eachother and Sia herself was on there a lot too. So when I heared Zero7 was playing in Amsterdam I asked on the forum if Sia would be singing with them. Sia answered herself! She gave me and a few other fans free tickets to the concert and we got to meet her before and after the gig. We were also introduced to the guys from Zero7. From then on whenever she played the Netherlands, we were on the guest list :) In 2010 at a gig in Utrecht she dedicated a song to me. I also met her again after that gig but after that her career really took off so I had no further contact with her. But that's perfectly ok. I have some great memories that I will always carry with me from that time :)

[@JezNashMusic]

@@EdEditz What a great story, to have been on the forum talking to the artists themselves, and then kind of coming into the inner circle. Truly memorable! I'm putting 'Home' on the system, and dedicating this particular listening experience to you, also!

[@EdEditz]

@@JezNashMusic Haha cool! Thank you :)

[@ednasdiscomachine6049]

Cozy Powell - Dance With The Devil... my Dad had this on a RAK 7" single. I nicked it and played it to death as a kid. That RAK logo makes me smile whenever I see it. Happy days. Great video.

[@djsoomo]

It is wonderful that a fantastic place like this continues to exist in 2023, let's hope this will be the case in the future!

[@philhartleymusicbassfromsp1230]

love working in RAK, ive smoked soo many joints outside that blue door haha, one of the best sounding desks ever made. love it. great lad Jonathan too worked with him first time in steelworks in Sheffield . last session I did in RAK was with Steve Fitzmaurice and Darren Heelis . so much fun

[@st33Npuist]

😍

[@MartinvonBargen]

Haha! It's like the Crawford Arts Centre on steds. 🤘🤘

[@vicesquadpunk]

These wonderful videos are a nostalgic reminder of a time when the UK ruled the world musically and that London was the essential place to be for artists during the 60's, 70's and even the 1980's. ❤

[@bootlegabba7331]

Recorded two singles there, one with Mickie and one with his son. Great studios, and Mickie cooked a mean curry as well!

[@tekis0]

I loved working at RAK with Travis, some time ago.

[@m0wao690]

Let's see how Atmos stand over time... Still remember Quadraphonic ;)

[@ArthurStone]

Thanks. Best for 2023 :D

[@westernnoir4808]

Lovely studio. Nice work SOS.

[@ReferenceFidelityComponents]

“….you might get a sh@t song but you’ll still get a great drum sound.”😂😂😂 What a great insight. Some really interesting characters there. I will never moan again about recapping speakers or amps…what a challenge recapping a Neave mixing desk! Shame about Atmos as things seem to be mixed between AV and hifi more and more which necessarily points to more digital processing. Simple stereo really well done and replayed on dynamic high efficiency speakers with great time domain coherence still impresses me more than any atmos recorded music I’ve heard. Great vid, really enjoyed that.

[@JamieWoodfinJr]

Fantastic tour. 🎶🧐🎶

[@tomwatson283]

Fantastic video.

[@antoh07]

I enjoyed every single second of this. Amazing stuff.

[@trevorjoseph8390]

Absolutely fantastic studio, sat in on a couple of sessions in the 80's and 90's with Mo Michael re: Private Lives and Blow Monkeys. RAK have great links with FX Rentals and Music Control in Cheshire (Ceased trading) for highly sort after retro gear, fantastic heritage long may it continue! 👋

[@eancurtis9333]

Clean studio !

[@TheDinnermoney]

Loving this series.

[@MixandoMeusBeats]

great content!

[@tyremanguitars]

I think this is the studio where Benjamin Clementine did his records? nice studio.

[@griffonmicrophones5941]

Wonderful video

[@simondanielssonmusic]

People like Kevin are rare.

[@peteolson6093]

I used to live directly across the street from RAK (ie. Charlbert St in St Johns Wood, on the west side of Reagent's Park). Although I had heard of RAK studios (as the Stone Roses had recorded there), I had no idea where it was located in London and wasn't entirely certain that the building across the street was 'the' RAK until, looking out our kitchen window at night while doing the dishes, I could see the bouncing lights of a mixing board through their window! As an avid home recording geek, I so wish I had knocked on the door and asked to see inside - but I never did. And although St John's Wood is an extremely posh area of London, the place I was renting was in fact an ex-council flat...

[@fernandoperdomomusic]

Anything mixed in Atmos at RAK should be credited as .. "Mixed in atMOST at RAK Studios"..... Mickie Most forever!

[@BeauStephenson]

MORE rock and roll than Abbey Road? IDK about that, but it's a fantastic studio.

[@LanceisLawson]

Interesting. However when hearing a finished record it is virtually impossible to tell where it was recorded. Beyond entry level of equippment quality one setup sounds as good as another. Tiny Muscle Sholes sounds like the Columbia Cathedral after production.

[@cmddelete2169]

I want Kevin to fix my amplifier.

[@joemeyer6876]

Fascinating that Ms Townsends voice is pegged on a video about sound recording. . . Hot

[@thaexception3406]

Nice

[@lastcall9998]

Teach all the noobs on KZbin to achieve the amazing, clear, not harsh, sound of the people talking on this video. What mike did you use? Honest sounds stellar (just the ASMR girls could benefit from this). Uff.

[@ingoodmusic]

What’s the best album recorded in there? Wanna listen

[@andriealinsangao613]

For one, you've got Vienna by Ultravox.

[@KedTaczynski]

Cool tour thank you. Though it was a little hard to tolerate the distortion on the studio manager's audio feed.

[@jimlutz1290]

I'd love to have worked there in my 20's-30's. What does RAK stand for ???????????????

[@Fastvoice]

It stems from the first company of Most - RAK Records. The name was short for "rack" as in "record rack". Too bad they didn't mention it in the video.

[@jimshomestudio]

I suppose you would drive right by Kate Moss if Emma was at your destination. I would.

[@chizzulwinduh1941]

UAD LUNA Ad: LOL

[@japhy6536]

I'd like to book Emma - she's far cooler than any outboard gear ;)

[@Rhythmattica]

Rak it up, or Rak off.

[@MartinvonBargen]

RAK OFF CHARLENE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@BellsCuriosityShop]

Is Emma Townsend the daughter of Pete?

[@LondonSteveLee]

Pete's daughter Emma is in her 50s - I doubt if this is the same one!

[@tomcarl8021]

Pete spells his name Townshend.

[@georgegeranios2918]

Ever wonder why many studio managers are really attractive women? By the way, a very difficult job. Only master jugglers need apply.

[@zootook3422]

The voice of Emma Townsend sound terrible as the mic is right up to her throat. Not up to SOS standards... Really good reportage otherwise!

[@siriusfun]

Nonsense. She sounded fine. Clean your ears.

[@SAFAMASTR]

No, no, he has a point... But sometimes it's hard. With that shirt and long hair like that, good luck placing it better

[@poofygoof]

her voice sounds a bit overdriven to me, glad I'm not the only one who caught it. could be a resonance with my speakers, but does sound like a recording miss.

[@poofygoof]

gili also has a similar buzz, although not as pronounced. edit: Kevin, too. must be a product of the microphone and placement.

[@jgharding2]

where would you place it, given the hair, clothing etc?

[@morbidmanmusic]

Some questionable sales jabbering ...., not about art. Because you can't do it without rooms like this, while contradicting himself moments earlier. The question is what is the component that made the guy who did great work with limited gear do it? What was the "magic". And it won't be $$$$$$

[@SAFAMASTR]

Ye, especially when he was trying to find more than 2 examples of artists who actually do it like he says 😁