Lou's Studio - Construction Phase

Congrats! I've been living vicariously through your build for some time now, and although my sense of relief can't possibly be the same as yours, there is an almost deep "exhalation" when I read your hard-fought successes. One can see the sense of accomplishment and pride in the many pics you have posted- especially the ear-to-ear grin on you face in quite a few of the ones near the end of the work. :) Now, in the ever-demanding world, gimme gimme... can't wait for the vid walkthrough, some audio demos, etc. You're such a tease Lou... Andy

Fantastic, lou! The finishing... What can I say. Just stunning! All cables and everything. I wait to see the place totally finished, shiny and clean. Hope you can really soon sit on your chair, look around and say, done!

Lou, as always, mate, well done. Well done indeed. Truly this is one of the best examples I've seen on the forum, not only your studio, your Brit-Latvian craftsmanship, but also your thoroughness in documenting everything. This thread is a great resource! Thanks for your generosity! Next time I get back to the UK, I'll buzz you for a tour of the place! you have to post some recordings that you make in the place.... whatever. I'm a guitarist so I'd love to hear some solo acoustic guitar from your room! Video tour will be great as well.

Congratulations Lou - fantastic studio and a wonderful report on it's design and construction. Best of luck with it mate :) cheers john

Wow, that's amazing stuff! The attention to detail of everything is just brilliant! :) Congratulations!!

:shock: I love wiring up studios.... no, really. Gimme a soldering iron and a few yards of cable and plugs and I'm off! Doesn't get much hornier than this, Lou. You'll be cutting records in no-time. Congratulations!

JUST DAMN AWESOME LOU :D May success befall you like snowflakes in the arctic brother 8) MOSHON DAVE

Aloha Lou, Fantastic job, Lou! Love the attention to detail you've accomplished throughout your build. Best of success to you! Aloha 8)

very nice

Hi fellow builders, as always, I sincerely hope you and yours are fine. :wink: This is not really an update, but more of a ‘diary type’ post (if I may) to let you know about the next phase of Studio 4’s existence! Still no mics, still no rug, and still no finished kitchenette and restroom, but stuff to share that might be useful to others nonetheless. First of course – The replies. DH – Sarah divorced me a month ago – Her girls hate me for what I’ve put them through – My home has been condemned – The Council say I can’t operate – The Motorway comes through our close before the end of the year, and, my sub-woofer has packed up and there’s no way I can get it out without tearing my desks and workstation apart! Other than that everything’s cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You’re a star dude! Snowdog99 – I’m not teasing my friend, I promise. The chap who I’m trying to get hold of to shoot the publicity walkthrough, is currently filming abroad! So I guess that once again – Patience is a virtue. :roll: VK – Thank you buddy, real nice of you to say, and, the pic you require is included! JWL – Nice to hear from you Sir, I hope you and yours are well, and of course, like James, you’d be made most welcome. I play a bit of guitar occasionally too. John – Mate…………………………………..what can I possibly say to that? Other than thank you. I really hope that one day, somehow, our paths will cross and I can show you first hand Studio 4. Much warmth my friend. :wink: Lord Tim – Be lucky mate, your talent clearly deserves it, and thank you! Ro – Right, you and I are definitely due a session together, bass, guitar, keys, drums, you name it we can do it. Hell dude, you’re less than half a day from me. Let’s make this happen, it would be great for the forum as well. Sorry forgot to mention beer, great food, and fine hospitality for you and yours. (Awesome build you’re on btw!) :shock: Mosh – Mosh on as always! If you and Brien epitomise Alabama, I can’t wait to visit. Sarah's been several times and says it's beautiful. Kendale – Ken forgive me when I just ditto remarks to John. It’s not laziness, just a warm thank you to you as well for all your help over the last 15 months, including, of course, all the stuff in the background. How are the roses btw? And, Mrs Kendale? :wink: Yul Rarse – Much appreciated my friend, and, ahem, weren’t you coming to visit? Yes people I need witnesses. So chaps, believe it or not, there’s been enough going on to keep me busy, but the real stuff will kick in from January. There is still much to do re: marketing etc, however the word is already getting out. Now I know some of you (like me) are the sentimental types, so if I may, I’d just like to quickly share a really special moment with you all. :oops: Last week I had a guest of honour visit. It was a bit fiddly getting him in and I’m not sure he was completely certain where he was or why (he has alzheimers), but this fellow was last seen here a year ago on his 80th birthday. As an ex-drummer, and one of my main heroes in life, I present to the forum ……………..My Dad! Having a great time listening to Gordon Goodwin, Nat King Cole, Billie Holliday, Sarah Vaughan, et al!!!!!!!!!! (He didn’t ask me to turn it down once! – 2.5 kw rig nearly full on! - Result). :D Three and a half hours of free time, getting his wheelchair in and out, blah blah blah………………lovely! Ok, sorry guys but I know my mates up here would see the nice side of that pic. On then, to what I’ve been trying to squeeze in around work. One can have a nice studio, one can also have a reputation for being capable of delivering results, however, one must always accept that no matter what you have, it becomes worthless if people don’t know about it. Time then, to get the marketing machine going. 8) 8) You know I love my pictures, (nearly 2,000 on this thread) but, when it comes to publicity and marketing you just have to accept that for brochures and websites, you need to employ a good photographer with good kit. Introducing then another guy called Andy. An absolutely smashing chap who, if he wasn’t a photographer, would have made a great musician because he’s so easy to work with. He was totally cool to let me art direct the first of three shoots, and had no problem with me photographing him working, basically he couldn’t do enough to help. Incidentally, for the geeks like me, what he’s got in his hands costs around the same as my desks, monitoring and focusrites put together!!!!!!!!!!!! (28 megapixel Mamiya). I purchased the copyright for these of course, so here are some of the results (low-res) of our first encounter. The other two sessions are booked for when the mics arrive and I get drummer Andy back down to help me fine tune the kit in a recording situation. All in all I’ll eventually end up with enough images for the website and brochure. When you get into these pictures properly, there’s enough detail to create ten times more! The following images are provided by kind permission of Andy Brown Photography. Panoramic with me looking untidy – To be re-shot. Right hand rack. I love this one – 96 khz L Sur! How sad am I? Left hand rack. ‘Arty heaven’ Depth of field is everything! :wink: The shot that the Tascam people didn’t publish. (To be re-shot). Yes, of course the faders are automated, hence the intended blur. :wink: :wink: What portholes on Peter Keeling’s awesome doors? :shock: Line 6 also get a mention! Not to mention Mr Parker himself. Live room to control room. People make these shots work better – I think. (Even if it’s me!) Another panoramic. Moody, but nicely so! And finally, especially for VK – It’s done mate!! :D :D :D There you go for this one guys, More soon, Thanks as always for reading, Warmest regards to all my mates, Lou.8)

Lou wrote:

And finally, especially for VK – It’s done mate!! :D :D :D

External image, not preserved — original: http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z194/m2uso/album%20name/Untitled00100.jpg

Lou.8)

:D :D That's what I'm talking about! I didn't even say that you must raise your legs on the desk (I really thought about it) but you did it. A perfect picture! :D Again, a great update Lou! I know when I have closed this page, I will come back in a minute. Your pictures are just so addictive. What's next? Session pics? Oh man... Can't wait to see them! You must take thousands of pictures to your website, capture every little detail! Thanks buddy, this update made my day!

What a fantastic read - all 28 pages nad excellent results. We ll done mate, you must be really proud. If I may, a couple of questions and they are not meant to be negative in the slightest! 1 - Is there anything you're not happy with? :shock: 2 - Is there anything you would have done differently? 3 - If you could give 1 piece of advice to any prospective studio builders, what would it be? 4 - Did I miss the video walkthrough? :wink: Well done again on a fantastic build; heres to many years successful production. All the best Mark (why I chose 'Yellowfever' I'll never know!!!

weres the bloody web pages!!! its just soooo awesome, ooozzze the man? yooouuuuze the man

Great shots Lou!!! Now I see the benefit of a great photographer with great gear. Thanks for adding another expense on top of everything else! Looking forward to the rest of the shots and the web page. (BTW... I almost had a heart attack when you said you and Sarah got divorced. BASTARD!!! I believed you at first!!! :) )

DH........................................... :wink:

Lou I have to say the studio is beautiful and should be in the MIx Mags :D Suppose to be in Brum Xmas but I have too many projects and getting ready for the Winter Music Conference in March Good news I will be in Exeter in the Spring; working on an project with artist who on Cafe de Mar..me and the wife will definately swing by

doublehelix wrote:

(BTW... I almost had a heart attack when you said you and Sarah got divorced. BASTARD!!! I believed you at first!!! :) )

Yeah, man. You had me there for a moment! One proud owner of a studio, eh! Back in studio 4, good grief!

Ya know, with all the excitement regarding the pending divorce ( ;) ) and the professional photographer, I forgot to comment on the "Senior Mr. Lou". That is so great Lou! It actually brought a tear to my eye! My father has passed several years ago, but I have been bringing my (87 YO) mother to my studio to watch the progress as well, and she of course praises my talents to no end!!! (That is what mothers are for! If you are ever feeling down, just show your mother the results of some silly project you are working on, and VOILA! Instant praise! :) ) It is really great that he is still around to show him all of this stuff, and that you have had such a role model in your life. Priceless!!! You do know however that it is now YOUR TURN to be a role model for the next generation? No more sex, drugs and rock and roll for you, young man! From now on, only classical recorded music played by old eunuch men, most of them have to be priests that are being watched by even older nuns that have large sticks in their hands at the ready!!! No hanky panky going on in Studio 4!!!

DH Wrote:

Ya know, with all the excitement regarding the pending divorce ( ) and the professional photographer, I forgot to comment on the "Senior Mr. Lou". That is so great Lou! It actually brought a tear to my eye! My father has passed several years ago, but I have been bringing my (87 YO) mother to my studio to watch the progress as well, and she of course praises my talents to no end!!! (That is what mothers are for! If you are ever feeling down, just show your mother the results of some silly project you are working on, and VOILA! Instant praise! )

Thank you so much my friend, that was a really lovely thing to say as it genuinly was, such a special moment. - He absolutely loved it. However, stay tuned buddy 'cos there's one hell of a rollercoaster still to come, aside from the video walkthrough! :shock: :shock: :shock: Proper replies to everyone's (yet again) very kind words at the weekend. Gtr and click tracks to get out before 8.00pm tonight, first album project starts at 9.00 in the morning, and Sarah and I are devoted to each other................believe me, with this lot going on, we'd (she'd) have to be! :wink: I love my angel. X Be cool friends, Kindest regards, Lou. 8)

And btw DH, Please give your 'Mom' (Mum) a massive hug, and a big 'I love you so much' type hug from me when you see her next. :wink: You know it'll make you both feel better, instantly, no matter what. I'm with you on all of it dude - Trust me. Much warmth and respect buddy, Lou. 8)

Hey Lou, got a question over here @ Exit 4. Isn't "chips" the enharmonic equivalent of "french fries"? Don't leave me hangin' here, I'm trying to place an order on the phone and it just so happens the order taker is a transplant from the UK! Much props as always ;)

Xspace Wrote:

Isn't "chips" the enharmonic equivalent of "french fries"?

Yes my friend, just as, 'crisps' are enharmonically equivalent to 'potato chips! :? :? Regards, Lou. 8)

This thread is a massive resource. I am in the design phase, and by reading your so well documented journey, I have learned so much. Your attention to detail is astounding and I am sure shows in any project you are a part of. Thank you for posting all of this. I too, will use this as a resource while starting my own journey. You've made it abundantly clear that anything can happen building a room. I really felt for you on the HT/RC post. But the end result, I am sure, will deliver many years of reliable decision making and client satisfaction. Thanks for sharing. W

Hi guys – No time for an update I’m afraid, but I just had to quickly share this with you: Check out the sixth client down!!!! :shock: http://www.studiopeople.com/portfolio.asp To all my mates up here and their loved ones, we wish you a terrific Christmas, a great New Year and a healthy and prosperous 2009. :D :D Proper post and replies next week. Have a good one folks! :wink: Regards as always, Lou. 8)

Hi Lou Well, it's the top one, isn't it? ;-) Same to you and yours! Merry Christmas!