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Our 5 New Favourite Pieces of Gear

The club has undergone a refresh! We’ve made some exciting new additions to our collection and we just had to share our top five favourites with you. From vintage classics to modern favourites, there’s nothing quite like delving into a new piece of equipment and figuring out how to get creative with it. 

Here’s a very small insight into some of our favourite new gear!

 

Eventide H300, Recording Studio London

Eventide H3000

It seems only fitting to start with something that’s been described as the “holy grail” of multi-effects units. Since its inception in 1987, Eventide’s iconic H3000 Ultra-Harmonizer and its later iterations have proved to be unique creative tools and staples of many studios – including now Ten87! We were so excited to get our hands on this unit.

The H3000 can handle everything, from pitch manipulation and harmonisation, to complex delays and a myriad of reverbs, to dynamic processing tools.

The diatonic pitch shifting (which Eventide pioneered) is one of the most exciting and fun features to play around with. It makes it easier to maintain musicality and avoid dissonance when using the unit to add harmonisation, and works equally well on instruments as it does on vocals.

Navigating through the menu and generally using the unit becomes second nature very quickly, the creative possibilities the H3000 has to offer are endless, and we are very excited to add this to our collection!

 

Teenage Engineering OP-1, Recording Studio London

Teenage Engineering OP-1

The OP-1 has become a cult favourite for many electronic and crossover artists in both the studio and live, including Bon Iver, James Blake and Flume.

The tiny device manages to pack in a lot. Not only is it a synthesiser; it’s a complete portable recording an

d production unit. The intuitive interface and colour-coded controls make it a breeze to navigate, even for beginners.

While it really does function amazingly as a standalone piece of gear, it’s also something that’s fun and simple to incorporate into more extensive recording sessions, as both a jumping off point for creativity, or for adding a few final touches to an almost finished composition.

One of our favourite parts is the tombola sequencer, which allows you to throw notes into a visual tombola and create random sequences, from ambient synth sounds to percussive progressions.

This unit feels as though it could inspire endless creativity and experimentation. The most portable of our picks today, you could quite literally take the OP-1 wherever you wanted, however we think the club is a pretty good home for this little toy!

 

Rhodes MK8, Recording Studio London

Rhodes MK8

The latest and greatest evolution in the legendary line of Rhodes electric pianos, the MK8 seems to have taken everything musicians love about the classic Rhodes and elevated it to new heights.

Here are a few reasons why the MK8 feels like the perfect addition to our live room:

The Rhodes MK8 is all about that classic, warm, and punchy sound that’s been a staple in countless hits across multiple genres. This piano manages to retain the vintage Rhodes sound we all know and love while also bringing a bunch of modern enhancements to the table. The range of tones it offers means that it works equally well as a lead instrument and for a softer chordal sound. It’s also extremely customisable – from different hammer tips to various preamp settings there are so many possible sounds you can get out of this instrument – whilst simultaneously feeling super intuitive and overall just comfortable to use! Plus, it looks beautiful!

We really couldn’t ask for more out of this piano. Sleek, versatile, reliable and simply one of the best sounding instruments we’ve heard, we think it’s safe to say you’ll love it too…

 

AEA A440 Ribbon Microphone, Recording Studio London

AEA A440 Ribbon Microphone

Released as AEA’s version of the legendary RCA 44 mic, the A440 is one of our favourite mics we’ve tried to date.

The A440 is an active ribbon microphone and houses a built-in preamp which gives it a few advantages over other ribbon mics. Firstly, it delivers a stronger signal than a lot of other ribbon mics which means there’s less risk of noise. The built-in electronics also ensure a consistent performance regardless of the preamp you use, making it more versatile in different recording setups. We’ve loved using it on strings, vocals and guitars especially! Additionally, most ribbon mics are notoriously delicate, and while we will not be throwing this microphone around, the A440 is a much more sturdy and reliable choice than most ribbon mics out there.

If you’re looking for a warm, rich, smooth sound, we think we’ve found the mic for you!

 

AMS S-DMX, Recording Studio London

AMS S-DMX

We’ve given a few rave reviews to some of the newer pieces of gear and touched on the benefits that new technology and manufacturing can bring to the table, but sometimes you just can’t beat a vintage classic, and so we thought we’d round off the line up with another recording veteran – the AMS S-DMX.

The best way to describe the unit is that it just seems to add depth and character to everything it touches. The vintage vibe is undoubtedly present, the textures it can provide your sounds with are so unique, and it performs beautifully whether you want to subtly enhance or dramatically change your recordings. We tried it on guitars, vocals and synths; and after hearing what it can do, we’re going to be using it on everything else too.

If you love experimenting with sound, the AMS S-DMX Effects Processor is a piece of gear that’s 100% worth checking out. It’s a piece of history that continues to influence modern music with its distinctive sound, and spending a bit of time in the studio with it is going to provide you with some crazy sonic rewards.

’23- Long Term Welcomes

This year, we welcomed more incredible artists and creators into our studio community. We’re truly blessed to expand on the family we’ve built here at the studios.

A heartfelt winter welcome to some of our latest arrivals! 🫶

Sherelle and the Beautifulmusic studio, in collaboration with aiaiai.audio: providing an, “inclusive studio space for Black and queer artists, fostering creativity and empowering marginalised communities in music. (Creators can apply for studio time via the link in their bio).

Moko tottenham – Our on site Hi-Fi Music Bar & Restaurant, Serving delicious vegan soul food from Sisterwoman vegan,  celebrating the sounds & flavours of the African-Caribbean diaspora.

Quantic music – musician, DJ, and record producer blending tropical, cumbia, salsa, and soul, & Andreya Triana – singer-songwriter, known for incredible albums ‘Lost Where I Belong’, and ‘life in colour’ and hits like ‘Gold’ and ‘Woman,’.

Dan Parry – Grammy winning producer / mixer. Clients include Adele, Loyle Carner, Amy Winehouse to name but a few.

Dj Boring – aka Tristan Hallis – known for helping reshape modern house with tracks like  ‘Winona’. His sets and live shows blend classic and contemporary, a unique musical fusion.

Jasper TygnerNinja Tune latest signing  a producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist creating kaleidoscopic arrangements of rave-inspired, melody

Legendary producer and DJ Dance System – aka L-VIS 1990. responsible for Systemrecords and there legendary Night slugs

Keep Hush – a global underground dance community whose primary mission is to ‘Back the Underground’

For more information on joining our long term community, feel free to get in touch with a member of the team here

’23 – Session Highlights

It’s been a mad year for sessions here at the studios  

Our first full year of recording has been a whirlwind. With close to 170 sessions (and counting), we’ve been lucky enough to welcome some of the most exciting artists the UK has to offer . below we have complied some of our favourite moments. We hope you enjoy.

1. Jay O –  various tracks – (forthcoming) Engineered by Matt Hua & RZ2. AJ Tracey & Kwollem – Grandmas kitchen, Engineered by Sanjeev Shajan

3. Joel Culpepper – Happiness Is Only A Few Miles Away – (Live) with super band including Tom Misch. Engineered by Oliver Middleton

4. Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes – Dark Rainbow (various tracks). Engineered by Sanjeev Shajan & Matt Hua

5. Tsha – (live) Engineered by Joe Clegg and Sanjeev Shajan 

5. Nissi – ‘Higher’ from the album – Unboxed. Engineered by Jay Withers

6. Ash Walker –  Various tracks (forthcoming). Engineered by Sasha Marley

7. EJIJAH & JAMMZ – ‘Close The app’ album (vocals recorded in one day.) Engineered by Sanjeev Shajan

8.Superjazz Club – Live from London. Engineered by Sanjeev Shajan

 

For more information on booking a session or to check our availability for 2024. You can get in touch with one of the team here

Ten87: Europe’s Largest Solar Powered Studio Complex

In an effort to embrace sustainability we are excited to share a recent milestone: the installation of a 30 kWp, 60 panel solar panel array at our Markfield Road complex in Tottenham. 

This transformative project was made possible through a generous grant from Haringey Council’s Carbon Community Fund. Their ambitious initiative reflects our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint, protecting our business from rising energy costs, and giving back to the incredible Haringey community that has supported us throughout the years.

This panel array is thought to be the largest of its kind used solely for a recording studio in Europe, possibly globally. 

Our Vision: Moving Toward Carbon Neutrality

Our primary goal with the solar panel installation is to take meaningful steps toward becoming carbon-neutral. While we celebrate this progress, we understand that there’s much more work to be done. Our vision extends beyond our studio doors, and over the next 5 years we will be making considered changes business wide in an attempt to move towards carbon neutrality. 

Supporting Our Community: In Gratitude

We are deeply grateful for the support of our community, and we’re dedicated to giving back. The savings generated from this solar power project will be reinvested into the Ten87 community and the broader Haringey area. This will be actioned via access to free studio time through partnerships with local youth/arts organisations, we hope to alleviate some of the challenges and barriers faced by those who may be experiencing economic hardship. 

Measuring Our Impact: The numbers

Over the next five years, our solar panels are expected to generate 50,000 kWh of clean energy. To put this in perspective, it’s equivalent to planting over 2,000 trees or powering 13 homes annually. Every kilowatt-hour generated is a testament to our collective commitment to a greener future.

Certified B Corp: A Start to Positive Change

As the first Certified B Corporation recording studio, we’re taking our newfound recognition with humility. Being a B Corp means holding ourselves to the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility. It’s a journey of continuous learning and growth, fuelled by our sincere respect for the values we uphold.

Our journey toward greener business is ongoing. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Haringey Council’s Carbon Community Fund for their support and vision. 

Stay tuned for more updates on our sustainability journey, where we’ll continue to share our progress.

Ten87 Studios isn’t just a recording studio; we are a community of artists, creators, and music lovers coming together. We hope to make a positive difference. We invite you to join us on this collective journey toward a brighter, more sustainable future—a journey guided by the belief that even the most humble steps can lead to profound change.

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