The Loft Studio
The “Loft Studio” is a small, home based, studio in Noordhorn, close to the city of Groningen, the Netherlands. All songs for this project as well as other music projects and albums for other artists are recorded at the ZolderStudio.
The official website can be found at https://loftstudio.nl/.
The studio is a “low budget” studio. This has been made possible by buying materials on sale, second hand and because of the fact a lot of the ‘gear’ you see here has been given to me for free!
Apart from that, I use Open Source software (Linux based recording).
Below is a ‘shortlist’ of hardware and software used at the ZolderStudio. Please note, the list is somewhat incomplete.
HARDWARE
- Acer Aspire (Intel i5-9400, 256GB M.2 SSD, 8GB RAM)
- Audio Interface: Behringer U-Phoria UMC404HD (4 in/4 out)
- SoundTech ST162 (16 channel mixer)
- Behringer Eurorack (6 Channel mixer)
- EDIFIER Studio R1280T Monitor Speakers
Additional equipment:
- Behringer UCA222 Interface (Mixer <-> Computer)
- Fostex X-26 (4-track tape deck)
The mixers are both analog mixers, connected to the computer using a Behringer UCA interface. This is not by choice, I happened to have bought the Behringer mixer (on sale) before USB-audio got big and the SoundTech was given to me for free.They both have a true, great, vintage analog sound and great preamps for the (condenser) mic’s.
Software
I love using Open Source since there is no license fee involved and the Open Source concept is one of my favorite ideas. I’ve written several software programs in the past also and distributed them as freeware.
- Linux (Linux Mint)
- Harrison Mixbus (DAW)
- Ardour (free, open source, DAW)
- Audacity Audio software (free, open source)
Microphones
- MXL770 Studio Condenser
- AKG C900 Condenser
- Shure C606 dynamic
- t.Bone EM700, matched pair, Stereo Condenser
- Shure PG81 condenser
Instruments
I have a lot of instruments at my studio/home, so I’m only listing the ones I use on my projects on a regular base. I’ve been collecting these instruments over the years and still buy new stuff (including used stuff of course).
Electric guitars
- Ibanez AS53-TF Hollow Body
- Donner DLP124S – Les Paul
- Hondo H-175/BL (vintage guitar)
- “Starcaster” (Fender) Stratocaster.
- Harley Benton TE-52 Telecaster
Acoustic guitars
- Harley Benton CLD-60SMCE NT
- Washburn WD-42S (acoustic)
Bass guitar
- Harley Benton MM84ASB
Drums
- Millenium HD50 E-Drums (demo-video)
- AVL Drums (software)
Keyboard
- Bontempi Keyboard (midi-out).
Other instruments
- Akai Mini MPK Keyboard
- Tambourine
- Harps (several keys)
Apart from the above I sometimes also use a desktop computer (situated in my home office) for mixing. It is also a Linux Mint based computer with Mixbus. Of course there are several pedals for my guitars also as well as two amps, monitoring system and so on…