Music Recording Studios

Music recording studios have played a large role in shaping the sounds of most albums ever produced. The type of equipment chosen, whether it's digital or analogue, has a large effect of how a song sounds like through speakers or headphones. Some of the equipment often found in music recording studios includes mixing consoles, multitrack recorders, microphones, reference monitors, workstations and isolation booths. In addition to equipment, factors such as the setup of acoustics and soundproofing of recording booths have an effect on a song's overall outcome.

Though often overlooked by casual listeners, music recording studios are of the utmost important to both audiophiles and music historians alike. While a music fan may be interested in matters of sound and equipment, many others are just as interested in the legends that surround certain studios, which have historically served as sites for artist meltdowns, breakups, fights and creative breakthroughs.

Famous Music Recording Studios

Abbey Road Studios

Perhaps the most famous of all music recording studios, London's Abbey Road Studios is well-known largely due to the Beatles naming 'Abbey Road' after recording the album there in 1969, as well as many of their others. Originally used for recording classical music, many contemporary rock bands followed the lead of the Beatles to turn it into a rock studio more often than not. The studio famously has two different studio rooms: one for full orchestras, one for a 35-piece symphony. While most recorded in studio one, the Beatles were the first to break this tradition with others following suit. Other bands that recorded in the studio include Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Oasis, and the Killers. Abbey Road Studios was also home to the engineers who took on 2009's Beatles remasters.

Gold Star Studios

While it closed in 1984, L.A.'s Gold Star Studios still stands as one of the most famous music recording studios of all time. Shortly after opening in 1950, a young Phil Spector began hanging around the studio, eventually learning the basics as well as recording many of his "Wall of Sound" recordings there. Over its 34 years of existence, Gold Star helped record the Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds' as well as albums by Leonard Cohen, Buffalo Springfield, the Who, and many others.

Electric Lady Studios

Originally founded by Jimi Hendrix and manager Michael Jeffery in 1970, Electric Lady is arguably the most famous recording studio in New York City. The night after the studio's founding, Jimi Hendrix would record his final song, 'Slow Blues,' at Electric Lady. The rocker died a few weeks later, but the studio lived on, becoming a legendary recording spot for artists such as Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, John Lennon, David Bowie and more.

Windmill Lane Studios

Nicknamed "U2 studio," Dublin's Windmill Lane Studios is most famous for recording Bono and company's early albums. Prior to U2's use of the recording, Irish bands like Thin Lizzy were the most famous visitors to Windmill Lane. The studio eventually moved locations while keeping the name, and aside from U2 the studio has hosted R.E.M., Elvis Costello, and Kate Bush.

Sun Studio

What many consider to be the recording studio that gave birth to rock and roll, Memphis, Tenn.'s sun studio was founded in 1950 and a year later hosted Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats' 'Rocket 88,' what many consider to be the first rock song. After this breakthrough, Sun Studio recorded a wide variety of revolutionary country and rock and roll stars, including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and B.B. King.