EastWest Studios (formerly known as Western Studio, a component of United Western Recorders and later Ocean Way Recording) is a recording studio complex located at 6000 West Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.[1] Originally constructed by Bill Putnam in the 1960s, the studios are currently owned by sound developer Doug Rogers and managed by Candace Stewart.[2][3]
 | |
 6000 W. Sunset Boulevard | |
| Industry | Music |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Cello Studios |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Area served | US |
Key people | Doug Rogers |
| Products | Recording studios |
| Website | eastweststudios.com |
Background
editEastWest Studios was first known as Western Studio, one half of the United Western Recorders studio complex located on 6000 and 6050 West Sunset Boulevard. In 1984, United Western Recorders was sold and renamed to Ocean Way Recording. In 1998, the former Western Studio half at 6000 Sunset was divided from Ocean Way Recording, sold, and renamed to Cello Studios. In 2005, Cello Studios ceased operation.[4]
On January 17, 2006, Doug Rogers acquired ownership of 6000 Sunset. Rogers commissioned designer Philippe Starck (SLS Hotel Los Angeles, St. Martins Lane hotel, London)[5] to refurbish and redesign the artist lounges, kitchen, and reception areas,[2] which had previously suffered water damage. Careful to preserve the integrity of the original recording facilities, Starck and Rogers implemented a brand-new design to create "a place where artists can meet, mingle, and be inspired".[6] The studio complex became Starck's first and only recording studio design.[6][7]
In March 2009, the renovated studios, renamed EastWest Studios, opened to the public. Since then, its clients have received over 120 Grammy nominations from recordings made in EastWest Studios,[clarification needed] more than any other studio in the world.[8]
Live rooms and consoles
editEastWest Studios consists of three main studios.[1] Studio 1 features a live room which is 58' × 42', an isolation booth measuring 20' × 23', 9' Bechstein piano, concert lighting system and one of a limited number of classic Neve 8078 consoles remaining in the world today. Studio 2's live room measures 35' × 24', with a 10' × 14' isolation booth and 8' × 6' vocal booth and a classic RCA custom Neve 8028 console.[9] The smallest of the rooms, Studio 3, is 31' × 15' with a Steinway piano and a classic Trident A Range console. All three rooms are fitted with flying fader automation and ATC main monitors.[10]
Virtual instruments
editEastWest Sounds virtual instruments are recorded in EastWest Studios.[11][12][13]
One of the company's many endeavors was their Hollywood Orchestra virtual instrument, recorded at Studio 1 with some of Hollywood's film score orchestral session players and sound engineer Shawn Murphy. The Hollywood Orchestral series is, according to EastWest's webpage, one of the most detailed orchestral virtual instruments in the world. Another of the company's most successful products is their Symphonic Orchestra, a 24-bit orchestral virtual instrument. The virtual instrument was conceived by producers Doug Rogers (head of EastWest Sounds) and Nick Phoenix (co-founder of Two Steps From Hell) and recorded by Grammy-winning recording engineer Professor Keith O Johnson.[14] Recording took place in a 2200-seater concert hall, starting in August 2002. The resulting multi-channel recordings would later be edited and programmed for another year.[14] Four editions of the library have been released: Silver, Gold, Platinum and Platinum Plus.[15] Complementary to their symphonic virtual instruments, they released various, orchestral solo instruments (such as solo violin, solo cello and solo harp) and two choir virtual instruments "Symphonic Choirs" and the 2019 NAMM TEC Award winner "Hollywood Choirs".
Apart from their symphonic virtual instruments, they also released over sixty other collections, each of them specialized in a certain genre. All of these collections are available in EastWest's ComposerCloud subscription.
References
edit- ^ a b Harvey, Steve. "(Welcome to) Studio 2.0". ProSound News Magazine.
- ^ a b "Studio Espresso".
- ^ Baur, Bernard (1 June 2012). "Recording Studios Sound Off". Music Connection: 44, 45.
- ^ "EastWest Studios -- History".
- ^ Neil, Lanee (April 2009). "Press Release" (PDF). FABRIK (5). Retrieved 2012-06-27.
- ^ a b "Starck Official Website".
- ^ "Starck Goes EastWest". Venue Magazine. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
- ^ "The Incredible History of Hollywood's EastWest Studios". 21 June 2020.
- ^ "ATC Reference Monitors For Newly Opened EastWest Studio In Hollywood". ProSound Web. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
- ^ "EastWest Official Website". Retrieved 2012-06-27.
- ^ About Us. Soundsonline.com. Accessed from August 14, 2012.
- ^ Halaby, Chris. "KVR: Interview with Doug Rogers". KVR Audio.
- ^ "Sounds Online".
- ^ a b Dave Stewart & Mark Wherry (June 2004). "East West/Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra". Sound on Sound. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
- ^ Symphonic Orchestra Virtual Instruments. Soundsonline. Accessed from August 14, 2012.