Welcome.
We record bands, solo artists, voiceovers, audiobooks, podcasts and more. We also consult on home studio setup and provide one-to-one lessons on how to record your own performances.
Hidden in the leafy suburbs of north Leeds, Valley Wood Studio is a comprehensive boutique facility specialising in acoustic and performance-based music.
As a professional recording studio built into a family home, we take a holistic approach to the business. Music is infused into the life of the house, and creative exploration is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that the setting can profoundly influence the performance, and we pride ourselves on making clients feel at home.
The result of this philosophy is a relaxed, organic space in which creativity can truly thrive.
Barkley is a brilliant engineer. Easy to work alongside, he is always calm, assured, patient, hugely professional and above all brilliantly musical. It is this amazing musicianship which sets him apart from other engineers. At Valley Wood, you will get wonderfully balanced sounding records with a depth and warmth to them that is hard to find elsewhere.
Barkley is undoubtedly one of the best in the business when it comes to mixing your album. Mine was signed by Robin Millar CBE who instantly praised the work of the mixer. Barkley's help, expert guidance and perfect vibe within his Valley Wood Studio is second to none. Barkley - your ears are the best!
Barkley is one of the very few people that I fully trust in a studio setting. His skills as a technician are matched by his extraordinary abilities as a highly-experienced musician, resulting in invaluable advice and suggestions before, during and after the recording process. Recording at Valley Wood is a very special experience.
Barkley has recorded and mixed both of my big band albums, and working with him in the relaxed, easygoing surrounding that is Valley Wood Studio was a pleasure. It was great to work with a producer who speaks so fluently the language of the musician, and is a top bloke too!
Having worked with Barkley both at Valley Wood Studio and on location, I am always impressed by his friendliness, efficiency, excellent problem-solving skills and knowledge. It's good to have someone you know you can trust to work to high standards and whose thoughtful, encouraging presence brings out the best in the musicians involved.
We’ve worked with a wide range of artists and labels since starting up in 1999. Here are a few examples; click below for more.
Discography
Recording Production Mixing Performance
Barkley McKay
Barkley’s 35-year career has spanned performance, recording, engineering, education and composition. He toured with The Pretty Things in the early ’90s and since then has worked both as a touring and session musician on guitar, piano and Hammond organ with artists as diverse as Crystal Gayle, Jon Langford, The Mekons, The Waco Brothers and Khaled Mouzanar. He started working as a recording engineer in the late ’90s and set up Valley Wood with Katherine in 1999.
Barkley has taught on and developed courses at FE, HE and post-graduate level since 1994, working at Leeds College of Music and Leeds Beckett University, as well as running workshops for York St John University and the University of Leeds.
Katherine Axel
Katherine manages Valley Wood’s development and has set up numerous initiatives at the studio over the years. She is also an experienced project manager, having worked in both the arts and tech sectors. She’s responsible for maintaining Valley Wood’s links with education and industry networks and enjoys delivering guest lectures and workshops to music students and young entrepreneurs.
Katherine is a singer-songwriter herself, and heartily enjoys the role the studio plays in bringing creative projects to fruition. Her work is motivated by a clear insight into the artistic process and a desire to support artists to achieve their goals in an industry that is facing profound and exciting changes.
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FAQ
Is Valley Wood a residential studio?
We can be! Our studio has three full sized sofabeds across three separate rooms and a single futon that can be made up on the floor if needed. There is a shower and toilet solely for the use of studio guests as well as a fully equipped drinks station and a private entrance via our garden. Residential prices depend on the length of stay and size of your ensemble so please get in touch to discuss.
What types of project do you record?
Our studio is equipped to record many types of music and our musical interests are diverse. Past projects include jazz, pop, rock, country, folk, classical and punk – just to name a few! Our clients have hailed from all corners of the globe and we’ve been fortunate to have recorded many styles of music that defy categorisation. We’ve also recorded audiobooks, commercial voiceovers, podcasts and music for film and TV.
Where do you record?
Our home has two live rooms, one of which incorporates the grand piano. But we tend to get creative and set up in any useable space. We also have a mobile recording rig which can travel to any specified location.
What happens in a recording session?
- The engineer sets up the desk and auxiliary equipment, live space and acoustic separation. Appropriate microphones are chosen and set up, and the engineer makes all preliminary connections and readies the headphone monitoring mixes.
- The engineer organises the positioning of musicians in the studio, taking into account factors such as separation and sight lines. Microphones are positioned and levels are set. This step can take up to two to three hours depending on the size of the ensemble. Time invested at this stage – with care and close attention paid to sonics – will guarantee a more successful mix outcome and thus a higher-standard finished product.
- Next is the tracking of the material. The band does a couple of run-throughs to allow the engineer to tweak levels, create click tracks if needed, and make minor adjustments. All material is captured. Overdubs, fixes, and corrections are all done during this stage, either on the same day or over additional sessions.
- A rough mix – or monitor mix – can be prepared at the end of the recording sessions for musicians to take away and listen to before the mixing stage. This will enable the client to make critical considerations, for example which take to use on a track that had multiple takes.
- Lastly, after the client leaves, we tidy up from the session and clear the studio. This can take up to an hour. Microphones and leads are put away, all equipment is cleared from the studio floor. Digital files are backed up to a removable hard disk.
What is mixing?
Mixing is where the captured takes are balanced and brought up to the standard of a commercial release. This must take place at a separate time to the actual recording, as aural critical objectivity diminishes during the course of a recording session. It is important that the engineer comes to the mixes fresh, and if musicians are involved in the mixing session they too will benefit from some time away from the recording.
Mixing Part 1 – The engineer will set up the mix to bring it up to the technical requirements of the medium; for example any necessary compression, equalisation, general effects, editing of noise, panning, etc. The project will be set up on the analogue console with outboard processing and effects, prior to:
Mixing Part 2 – The client attends the final mix-down session. All final decisions are made in collaboration with the artist, with attention to the finer details of balance, style, vibe, etc as required. Mixes are printed as stereo files (in real time) and are now ready for mastering.
What is mastering?
Mastering is where the entire project is listened to holistically, and commercial polish or ‘sheen’ is added, via minor EQ and dynamics adjustments. Levels are monitored to ensure they are consistent track by track. Mastering limiting can be applied if necessary to increase the perceived loudness of the material. Fade-ins and fade-outs are applied digitally. Tracks are compiled in the agreed running order, and a digital and/or physical album is compiled and produced.
NB: Whilst mastering can be done by Valley Wood, we normally outsource the mastering of our projects, as it is beneficial to have another set of ears at this final stage of the project. We have mastering engineers we can recommend to ensure excellent results.
Do you do live recordings at other venues?
Yes; examples include Kirsty McGee’s No. 5 and James Hamilton Jazz Orchestra’s The Causeway Suite.
What are your rates?
Our charges start at £300 per 8-hour session and £175 per 4-hour session. If the piano is to be used, we strongly recommend it be tuned prior to your session; our tuner’s charge is £80. Our day rate includes use of all equipment and instruments; there is no additional studio hire fee, unless an external facility is required (for example, for a big band or orchestral ensemble).
We understand the commercial challenges facing musicians and can provide quotes for recording projects of any size. We can also consult with you about how to achieve the goals of your project within the confines of your budget. (Please note that mastering is a separate process and is not included in any quotes we provide.)
We also offer a loyalty scheme and discounts for bulk bookings – contact us for more information.
Do you offer private tuition?
Yes. Private tuition rates are £75/hour. Tuition rates for small groups are negotiable.
What are your terms and conditions?
Work is undertaken in line with negotiations, and daily rate is agreed in advance. A 25% deposit is taken to secure the booking. Final mixing will be done in the presence of clients, with their full consultation. At the close of this session, the mixes will be considered final; any subsequent changes requested by the client will require further negotiation and are subject to a set hourly rate. Payment should be made within 14 days of invoice.
Project files will be released to the client upon receipt of payment. The client agrees to credit both the engineer and the studio on the album’s liner notes and/or digital platform. If an album is being pressed, the client agrees to provide Valley Wood with a copy of the completed project for inclusion in the studio’s portfolio. Valley Wood Studio never shares client information with third parties.
Contact us.
We’d love to hear from you. Drop us a line using the form, or email us at info@valleywoodstudio.com
