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Le Studio

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Coordinates: 45°52′34″N 74°16′11″W / 45.876137°N 74.269848°W / 45.876137; -74.269848
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Le Studio
Map
AddressMorin-Heights, Quebec, Canada
Construction
Opened1972
Closed2003
Demolished2020

Le Studio (later renamed Studio Morin Heights) was a residential recording studio in the Laurentian Mountains near the town of Morin-Heights, Quebec, Canada. Built in 1972 by recording engineer and producer André Perry, along with his wife Yaël Brandeis and Nick Blagona, the studio was seen as one of the top recording venues in North America during its existence, renowned for its retreat-like location and state-of-the-art equipment.[1] Numerous notable Canadian and international artists recorded and stayed at Le Studio, including Rush (most notably),[2] The Police, David Bowie, the Bee Gees, Cat Stevens, April Wine, Nazareth, Queensrÿche, and Celine Dion. Perry described the facility as "like the United Nations. I had people from London, New York, Quebec, all over the world."[3]

Originally having used a Trident A Range recording console, Le Studio then became one of the earliest studios to install a Solid State Logic SSL 4000B mixing console and RADAR digital recording equipment.[4] Perry sold the studio to new owners in 1988, and it remained active for fifteen years before its closure in 2003, after which it was neglected and fell into disrepair.[5] On 11 August 2017, the building was partially destroyed by "a suspicious" fire.[3] What remained of the complex was demolished in 2020,[6] and in 2021, the entire property was cleared and put up for sale for $850,000.[7]

History

[edit]

André Perry gained fame as a recording engineer working for John Lennon, and in the early 1970s was looking to expand his studio, built in a downtown Montreal church. He moved to the remote town of Morin-Heights, where he owned a lake, and built his studio there,[4] with his wife Yaël Brandeis. The idea was to give recording artists a venue where they could record and live in a creative atmosphere, near the Laurentian Mountains.[2] The Bee Gees, who recorded portions of Children of the World (1976) at Le Studio, stayed for five months.[8] Initially it included a guesthouse about a half-hour's drive away, but it was accidentally burned down by Roy Thomas Baker and Ian Hunter, according to studio designer and engineer Nick Blagona. A new house across the lake was later acquired and expanded.[8]

By the early 1980s, Le Studio gained a reputation as a premier recording venue after Rush, The Police, David Bowie, and April Wine recorded albums there. The studio was particularly associated with Rush, even being called their own "Abbey Road"; the band made seven studio albums there between 1979 and 1993 during "the peak and the end" of the Terry Brown era,[2] the albums being Permanent Waves (1980), Moving Pictures {1981), Signals (1982), Grace Under Pressure (1984), Presto (1989), Roll the Bones (1991), and Counterparts (1993).

In December 1980, Le Studio had installed a state-of-the-art computerized Solid State Logic SL 4000 B Master Studio System and expanded to 48-track (created from syncing two 24-track tape machines using video interlock). Other upgrades to the studio included the expansion into video work, with the addition of video post-production and editing facilities.[9][10] By August 1981, the studio had acquired a JVC BP-90 digital 2-track processor at the choice of André Perry, producer Terry Brown, and then-Le Studio staff engineers Paul Northfield and Nick Blagona.[11] It was supposedly first used on a double live LP that The Police were mixing at Le Studio that same month,[12][13] although the André Perry website cites their album Syncronicity (1983) as being the one.

In 1986, Le Studio issued stock on the Montreal Exchange looking to acquire funding for building a second studio, with audio and video capabilities in Washington, D.C. 1.1 million shares valued at $3.50 were sold. Perry and Brandeis retained majority interests. They spent $500,000 on a Quantel Mirage digital video effects unit, hoping to install more equipment to allow the recording of sound effects and film music, as well as a Synclavier room.[14]

In 1988, Perry and Brandeis sold the studio,[2] and Perry retired in the early 1990s. The studio, by then called Studio Morin Heights, was acquired in 1993 by L'Equipe Spectra, an entertainment company best known for the Montreal International Jazz Festival which also had a number of local artists on record. Rush and other bands continued to do their tracking there. The new owners also built an expansion to the builidng, called the "Far Side", which featured a digital RADAR audio recorder and video production suite, as well as an expanded recreational and living space which allowed local bands with modest budgets to benefit from the amenities.[4]

The studio was shut down in March 2003 by Spectra.[2] The 233-acre (0.94 km2) site was listed for sale in July 2007, with an asking price of Can$2.45 million.[15] The property remained for sale until 2009, when the land was purchased with the intent to convert the area to a retreat and spa, but this never eventuated. The complex remained unoccupied and gradually deteriorated, and was broken into and vandalized many times.[16][17] A US $2.4 million kickstarter campaign was begun in 2015 to rebuild Le Studio, but only $4,000 was pledged.[3]

On 11 August 2017, the building was partially destroyed by a fire in a suspected case of arson.[18] The residential area of the studio was completely destroyed, while the original recording area still stood but was severely damaged. Geddy Lee of Rush told the CBC, "it was truly a part of the great Canadian landscape... and literally a home away from home for us. It will always have a special place in our hearts."[19][3] In October 2020, the remaining parts of the building were demolished,[6] and the now empty site was cleared and put on the market in 2021.

Other notable music artists to have recorded at Le Studio include Asia, Barenaked Ladies, Bryan Adams, Cat Stevens, Chicago, Keith Richards, Kim Mitchell, Nazareth, Queensrÿche, Rainbow, Sarah McLachlan, and Sting. In January 1992, Celine Dion recorded "With This Tear", a song written by Prince and produced by Walter Afanasieff for her self-titled album Celine Dion.

Outside view of Le Studio in December 2018. The recording area still stood after the 2017 fire that destroyed the residential area

Some of Le Studio's engineering staff over the years included Nick Blagona,[8] Paul Northfield, Ed Stasium, William Le Gallee Mann, Claude Demers, Leanne Unger, Frank Opolko, Glen Robinson, Robert DiGioia, Paul Milner, Simon Pressey, Jacques Deveau, and George Pelekoudis.

The studio and grounds are featured in the music videos of the recording sessions of the Rush songs "Tom Sawyer",[2] "Limelight", and "Vital Signs",[20] as well as in April Wine's music video for "I Like to Rock". Also, an episode of the show Popular Mechanics for Kids was taped there, with actress Elisha Cuthbert demonstrating recording and mixing techniques.[21]

Albums and songs recorded at Le Studio

[edit]
Title Artist Year
dans l'air des mots Gaston Rochon 1974
J'ai vu le loup le renard le lion Felix Leclerc, Gilles Vigneault, Robert Charlebois 1974
Numbers Cat Stevens 1975
Close Enough for Rock 'n' Roll Nazareth 1976
Children of the World The Bee Gees 1976
Morin Heights (named for the location of the studio[22]) Pilot 1976
1 fois 5 (enregistrement devant public) Robert Charlebois, Yvon Deschamps, Jean-Pierre Ferland, Claude Léveillée et Gilles Vigneault 1976
Lavender Hill Mob Lavender Hill Mob 1976
Vladimir Vysotsky Vladimir Vysotsky 1976
Nanette Workman Nanette Workman 1976
Play 'n' the Game Nazareth 1976
Fountains of Light Starcastle 1977
Izitso Cat Stevens 1977
Expect No Mercy Nazareth 1977
"Well, Well," Said the Rocking Chair Dean Friedman 1978
Street of Dreams Lavender Hill Mob 1978
Safety in Numbers Crack the Sky 1978
Under Heaven Over Hell Streetheart 1978
Under My Thumb Streetheart 1978
Back to Earth Cat Stevens 1978
Chicago 13 Chicago 1979
Harder ..... Faster April Wine 1979
Quicksand Shoes Streetheart 1980
Permanent Waves[23] Rush 1980
Thrillz Walter Zwol & The Rage 1980
Ghost in the Machine (overdubs and mixing)
- "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" single 		The Police 1981
Moving Pictures[24] Rush 1981
You Want It You Got It Bryan Adams 1981
Exit... Stage Left (live album editing and mixing) Rush 1981
Straight Between the Eyes Rainbow 1982
Signals Rush 1982
Power Play April Wine 1982
Synchronicity (overdubs and mixing) The Police 1983
Alpha Asia 1983
In the Red Fist 1983
Animal Grace April Wine 1984
Grace Under Pressure[25] Rush 1984
Tonight[26] David Bowie 1984
Friction Coney Hatch 1985
Boy in the Box Corey Hart 1985
Electric
- "Electric Ocean" song only 		The Cult 1985
The Dream of the Blue Turtles (overdubs and mixing) Sting 1985
Fields of Fire Corey Hart 1985
The Thin Red Line Glass Tiger 1986
Shakin' Like a Human Being Kim Mitchell 1986
Between the Earth & Sky Luba 1986
Paradox (First album mixed on the new G series console)[citation needed] Paradox 1988
Operation: Mindcrime Queensrÿche 1988
Secrets of the Alibi The Northern Pikes 1988
Big Houses Eight Seconds 1988
Diamond Sun Glass Tiger 1988
Talk Is Cheap Keith Richards 1988
Sur Le Chemin des Incendies Paul Piché 1988
Presto Rush 1989
No Respect Vain 1989
Hell to Pay The Jeff Healey Band 1990
When Up Turns To Down Doughboys 1991
Roll the Bones Rush 1991
Good Gone Bad (band vocal recording and mixing) The Scramblers 1991
Gordon Barenaked Ladies 1992
Celine Dion
- "With This Tear" song only 		Celine Dion 1992
Risque Terez Montcalm 1993
...But You Can Call Me Larry Lawrence Gowan 1993
Counterparts Rush 1993
Fumbling Towards Ecstasy Sarah McLachlan 1993
Circle of One Julie Masse 1994
Scenery and Fish I Mother Earth 1995
Matapédia Kate and Anna McGarrigle 1996
No Worries Reset 1996
Creature Moist 1996
Alhambra The Tea Party 1996
Transmission The Tea Party 1997
These Are Special Times Celine Dion 1998
Triptych The Tea Party 1999
Since August Since August 2000
The Interzone Mantras The Tea Party 2001
Daylight Saving SUBB 2002
Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome To The Tangiers Soap Opera 2002

Console history

[edit]

Source[27]

  • 1974-1980 Trident A Range, the first of its kind, now in use at New Monkey Studio in Van Nuys, California
  • 1980-1985 SSL 4000B, Serial No. 11, in use at Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta since 1993[28]
  • 1985-2008 SSL 4000G sold off in parts

Le Studio Mobile

[edit]

First built in 1979, Le Studio Mobile provided recording services for live music and special events. The first truck included a 12-input mixing console and 4-track recording. By 2010, a pair of trucks provided 8 mixing consoles on-board provided a total of 144 microphone inputs and 244 tracks of simultaneous recording permanently installed in a 7.5 foot (2.3 m) wide 5-ton truck.[29][30] It was used to record such live albums as Rush's Exit... Stage Left, The Indspire Awards, Hockey Night in Canada and the Montreal International Jazz Festival.[29] The company covered the Juno Awards for more than 23 years, adding a second truck in 2008.[31]

The final large event handled by Le Studio was the Opening, Closing, and Medal Ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.

Through the years Le Studio Mobile evolved with the industry, focusing first on live recorded albums, then audio for DVD productions before moving more into producing audio for live productions while live music productions for HD television brought new business to Le Studio Mobile around 2010, the remote recording business continued to shrink.[32]

As of 2018, Le Studio Mobile had ceased operation.[33] In 2020, the recording area was demolished, and in 2021, the area was cleared and put up for sale for $850,000.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Myers 95-96.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Mobley, Max (2014). Rush FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Rock's Greatest Power Trio. Backbeat. pp. 259–62. ISBN 9781617136047.
  3. ^ a b c d "Fire destroys legendary Le Studio where Bowie, The Police recorded". CBC News. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  4. ^ a b c Verna, Paul (25 February 1995). "Studio Morin Heights Reaches Far: Quebec Facility Embraces Int'l, Local Acts". Billboard. p. 91. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  5. ^ Kilkenny, Carmel (9 June 2015). "Le Studio, Morin Heights for sale after years of neglect". Radio Canada International. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  6. ^ a b Dwyer, Greg; Michaels, Bill (14 July 2021). "Iconic 'Le Studio' Where Rush, David Bowie, Chicago, Queensrÿche Recorded Demolished". 97X. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Історія покинутої та забутої студії звукозапису «Bee Gees» 1970-х у лісі — «Le Studio» - ottawa-trend.com". 5 September 2022.
  8. ^ a b c Peacock, Ted (July 2011). "Interview with Nick Blagona". Journal on the Art of Record Production. 5. ISSN 1754-9892.
  9. ^ "Studio Track: Quebec Studio's Computerization" (PDF). Billboard. 20 December 1980. p. 78. Retrieved 10 April 2021 – via worldradiohistory.com.
  10. ^ "New York, N.Y." (PDF). Record World. 10 January 1981. p. 32. Retrieved 10 April 2021 – via worldradiohistory.com.
  11. ^ "Studio Update" (PDF). Recording Engineer/Producer. August 1981. p. 121. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Studio Track" (PDF). Billboard. 10 October 1981. p. 5 51. Retrieved 10 April 2021 – via worldradiohistory.com.
  13. ^ "1981-12 Musician - PoliceWiki". www.thepolicewiki.org.
  14. ^ LaPointe, Kirk (16 August 1986). "Le Studio Issues Stock on Montreal Exchange". Billboard. pp. 72–73. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  15. ^ Sale brochure Archived 8 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine The property was still for sale as of November 2008
  16. ^ Kovac, Adam (14 August 2015). "Le Studio: Legendary Morin Heights recording spot in ruins". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  17. ^ "Le Studio: Legendary Morin Heights recording spot in ruins". Montreal Gazette. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  18. ^ Banerjee, Sidhartha (11 August 2017). "Morin Heights' legendary Le Studio the site of "suspicious" fire". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  19. ^ "Remembering Le Studio - Rush React After Fire Destroys Studio". News.cygnus-x1.net. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  20. ^ NeilPeart.net - News posting 26 April 2006
  21. ^ FilmRise (9 February 2014). "Popular Mechanics for Kids Season 1 Ep 22 "Music Production"". CTV. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  22. ^ "Canada! Quebec Scene Reflects Rich Diversity". Billboard. 2 October 1976. pp. C8–9, 12, 20. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  23. ^ Popoff 79-80.
  24. ^ Popoff 94.
  25. ^ Popoff 110-11.
  26. ^ Trynka 432.
  27. ^ LeStudio Channel (9 April 2014), LE STUDIO - TEMPLE OF SOUND - Episode One - 1080p, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 6 September 2018
  28. ^ "Studios". treesoundstudios.com. Archived from the original on 16 December 2006.
  29. ^ a b "Le Studio Mobile". www.studiomobile.com. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  30. ^ Music directory Canada (8th ed.). Toronto: Norris Whitney. 2001. ISBN 0969127286. OCLC 51375980.
  31. ^ "Le Studio Mobile, Le 30". Mix Magazine. September 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  32. ^ Jones, Sarah (February 2010). "Remote Recording | Shifting Gears". Mix Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014.
  33. ^ "Le Studio Mobile". www.studiomobile.com. Retrieved 3 September 2018.

Bibliography

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45°52′34″N 74°16′11″W / 45.876137°N 74.269848°W / 45.876137; -74.269848

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