STUDIO PROFILE: BLACK ROCK

BLACK ROCK

The studio dream that became a reality says Kostas Kalimeris

How long have you been running and why was your space set up?

We started running the studio on June of 2009. Black Rock was inspired by my dream to put Greeceo n the map of the international recording studios. Our space was setup to accommodate artists and bands who are keen to isolate and get inspired from our studio environment and of course of the magical landscape of Santorini.

Who helped you build, tune or upgrade your space?

The studio was designed by Roger D’Arcy of Recording architecture and built by Bogdan Valceanov. Architects Voula Gogorosi and Alexandros Gavriilakis helped with the interior design and building renovation.

What artists pass through your doors?

Our clients roster is One Republic, Justin Bieber, Joe Bonammassa, Skrillex, Björk, Bring Me The Horizon, Youmeatsix, Rita Wilson, Sarah Connor, Sido, to name a few.

What’s your USP as a studio based on feedback from artists and completed sessions?

The studio provides a unique inspiration and vibe which is always imprinted on the music that comes out. It’s a unique great sounding place. It’s a place to come and record something that you feel is special.

Who’s on the team?

The team running the facility except me is the assistant sound engineer, the housekeeper and the pool guy.

Studios have experienced massive change in the last few years and there’s many different types - where do you fit in?

This is true so I had to find a way to build a studio concept able to survive. The domestic music market is small and labels rarely are keen to rent big studios for production. Also there is a huge increase in home studios owned by producers or artists, so professional sound people can only get mixing jobs. My goal was to create a new recording destination for international clients, targeting of course the big markets like the USA, UK and Germany, for artists who are still looking for inspiration, bands who are looking to spend a month together recording in a nice setup and artists who are so busy so a setting that offers a holiday and working environment at the same time would be great for them and their families.

How would you describe the overall vibe of the studio and what’s the balance between creating a great sound vs a great vibe - can they exist hand in hand without compromise?

A fully day-lit recording studio attached to a luxury villa with views to Mediterranean sea and Santorini Volcano, offers a state of the art creative space. I think that we achieved the perfect balance between vibe and great sound, as we paid a lot of attention at the design stage to find the right balance to fit a hi-tech setup into a traditional building. Recreation areas like the large outdoor infinity pool helps as well, offering relaxing time during recording session breaks. The serene surroundings offer the ability even to record outdoors with a view which is very special.

“The live room offers a unique room sound for drum recording because of the high arch-shaped ceiling”

How do you feel about remote collaboration in your studio with apps such as Audiomovers, do you embrace it or does it change the magic in the room?

It’s very rare that there is a need for remote collaboration, but I am always excited to host remote sessions combined with cameras, as it’s so cool to exchange vibes between studios during the same session.

Can artists stay at your studio and if so what’s the set up?

Black Rock is a 400 square metre 3-storey villa, built on a cliff area of 7,000 square metres, enjoying a 360 degree view of the ocean. All five guest rooms have en-suite bathrooms. All bedrooms are bright, airy and enjoy the views. Outside areas include dining areas, jacuzzi and a large infinity pool.

Talk us through your rooms and why they are designed in the way they are...

The control room is designed in order to host enough people as they need to take place in a modern production, with acoustic treatment able to host a big speaker system such as Genelec’s 1035B. The live room offers a unique room sound for drum recording because of the high arch-shaped ceiling. The first booth is mostly used for vocals as the artists can enjoy the pool and ocean view when cutting vocals. The second booth is used as an amp or production room.

What’s your dream recording project or client?

If the Rolling Stones or Mick Jagger are going to record any new stuff then they would be my dream band to have at the studio!

BLACK ROCK STUDIO SPECS

CONSOLE Solid State Logic 9080 J series with Ultimation and Total recall

DIGITAL RECORDERS Pro Tools HDX Digidesign 192 I/0 X 4 (32 in – 64 out) Apple Mac Pro 32 GB RAM

MONITORING Main : Genelec 1035B Near field : KRK VXT 6, Yamaha NS10, 6 x Genelec 8040, 6 x Genelec 8050 Furman HDS 16 Headphone Monitor System Furman HRM 16 remote mixers (4)

HEADPHONES AKG K271 MkII SONY MDR 7509 SONY MDR 7506 Audio Technica ATH-M50x

PRE AMPS / EQS Neve 1081 classic (4 modules) Mic pre/Eq Neve 1073 (8 modules) upon request Chandler TG2 –Abbey Road edition GML 8200

DYNAMICS Manley ELOP ADL Stereo tube CL 1500 Chandler TG1 –Abbey Road edition Focusrite Red 3 Distressor EL8X w/brit mode (2)

FX PROCESSORS Lexicon 960L Eventide Orville

MICROPHONES AKG C-12VR, AKG D112, Cascade Fathead II (2), DPA 4006 , Electro-Voice RE-20 (1), Microtech Geffel 711(2), Neumann U87(2) , Royer R-121(2), Sennheiser MD421(3), Shure SM57(4), Shure SM58 (3), Neumann KM 184(2), AKG C 451 (3) Shure SM7B

ROOMS Control room is 40sqm, Live room 30sqm 5,5m high arch-shaped ceiling, Booth 1 is 15sqm, Booth 2 is 10sqm The design of the studio allows extended visibility between all of the separate areas through soundproof windows and glass doors.