About.
AERIAL
Recording Studio
A deluxe recording studio in the beautiful Perth Hills, mixing warm retro aesthetics, big room acoustics and modern tech.
The studio is equipped with a custom Ekadek console, grand piano, isolation booth, high end microphones and a stack of esoteric musical equipment, including one of Perth’s largest collections of classic keyboards from the 60's to 80's.
Aerial Recording is 30km from Perth CBD in a relaxed, forested rural setting close to local taverns and good food.
Always happy to meet keen musicians so please get in touch to schedule a studio visit for a coffee and a look around.
SESSION PICS.
Recording "Creature" with Sascha Ion & The Elements
Andrew Lippiatt watches for the cue
Yep that's the take
Ricky Malet's trumpet FTW
Chasing a sound
Tech Hound
Dan Di Paola digs deep
Ekadek metering is the coolest
Kate Pass dreams loudly
NEWS.
(Nov 11, 2023)
Drums
A quick pic from a very pleasant Saturday tracking drums and bass for Monolith's new album.
November 19,
2023
For those wondering what that red blanket is doing in this shot, I have a second bass drum microphone at the end of a padded rack case to capture more boom and less clatter from the rest of the kit. Works great to combine with an internal microphone for punch, and in situations where there is no kick port.
Al's snare is the heaviest and loudest brass snare I've ever seen and is captured with a BeesNeez BU67 and Albini-designed Josephson E22S. Also, out of shot, there are a few room microphones 6m out from the kit. Can't wait for this record to be complete as the drums sound truly massive.
This week I remastered Rob Zielinski's grand retrospective album "The Day Dawn" for an international tour. Also a bunch more mixing for Langley Chambers' first album which is also getting really close to release.
(Oct 29, 2023)
OCTOBER 29, 2023
Spring
Been keeping busy this month with some great recording sessions including Rob Zielinski, Manuela Centanni, Langley Chambers, Monolith and Matt Walsh. Plotting another album by Gus McKay and a video production for Rob Zielinski.
All Spring, with any spare moment I could find, I've been painting the old servo exterior. A small lake of paint later, she is now resplendant in ECM green and IMPULSE! orange, in tribute to two of my favourite record labels.
Marked the end of this year's renovation mission by finally putting a little sign up on the marquee and posting the studio to Google Maps.
Gus McKay releases Mojo Grande (From the Vault)
So pleased to hear from Gus that this EP is now available.
These are the remaining tracks from the 2017 sessions for the album "Talisman" and features a fine set of dusty Mad Max style Blues Rock.
Gus McKay's songs are soaked in a raw kind of Australian experience far from the inner city.
"Talisman" received a stack of enthusastic reviews for it's cinematic vibes and it's wide-ranging blues/jazz/folk/Australiana roots . Though recorded at the same time, the tracks from Mojo Grande never quite sat right in the lazy heat haze of that set, so it's fitting that that they finally get their own release.
It's the kind of rough, one take blues rock that would make a perfect sound track to a Kalgoorlie bar fight or sunset behind the wheel of a roadtrain. Gus tells me it's already receiving radio play in the UK.
MOJO GRANDE (From the Vault)
Gus McKay - Vocals, Guitar
Phil Waldron - Bass, Pedal Steel, Trumpet
Ronan Charles - Drums, Hammond Organ, Saxophone
Recorded and Mixed at Aerial Recording
Mastered at Abbey Road by Simon Gibson
Check it out on streaming platforms or
(Sep 29, 2023)
Spring Tuesday Sessions
$250 4 HOUR SESSION
* Special Rate for Tuesday Day or Night Sessions
Additional time at standard rate [$80/hr]
Aerial Recording is open for bookings 7 days a week.
Phil Waldron & Emily Green-Armytage record Dittersdorf's Bass Concerto
(Sep 10 2023)
Perth Session Musicians - Get in Touch
I have a bunch of interesting projects coming up and looking to expand my roster of experienced local musicians who are interested and available for session work.
Drop me an email and I'll be in touch.
Video by Francis Fenner
Community Chamber Collective Session
A crisp, bright Winter's day up here in the hills and just finished a great session with the Community Chamber Collective recording their arrangement of Palladio by Karl Jenkins for a video production. We captured an incredible, inspired performance.
Community Chamber Collective - Palladio (K. Jenkins) [Full Version]
In other news, my favourite synth from my collection, the one and only 1983 Prophet 5 (rev3.3) is back from a service from the genius electronics doctor Grant Ettrick (EAV) and sounds more thick and alive and better than ever. It's a synth from another era, the first ever synth to have an operating system and presets, and one which kind of quirkily cycles a buddhist mantra as it runs the code. Also features a picture of buddha on the circuit board. They don't make 'em like that any more !
Rob Zielinski "Memories of Krakow" Mastered at Abbey Road
Rob Zielinski is one of the finest violinists that you'll ever have the pleasure to hear. He was traditionally mentor-trained in Irish fiddle and tours extensively. In addition, he is also a violin luthier of the highest standard. I've been recording Rob for 6 years now, documenting him with various groups, solo performances and the distinctive sound of each new instrument he makes. "Memories of Krakow" is one of his own finest ballads, shot through with dark Polish folk vibes and I just got word it should be available soon. I'll post a link to it soon.
Thought I'd share an email I just got from him.
"Hey Ronan,
So I'm just back from Europe and managed to duck over to London and get this track mastered at Abbey Road with Andy Walter. He's one of the senior engineers there. Amazing experience. He loved the sound, mixing and everything . He said it didn't need anything and just put it through the software chain they use on everything pretty much."
Video by Elliot Ramsay
Sascha Ion & The Elements to release "Creature" EP on 24th August
Sascha Ion is an immensely talented musician and a great friend. We played and toured together in One Horse Town many years ago so it was a pleasure to work with her again and record her new band's EP at the tail end of Summer. It came together criminally easy.
"Creature" is on rotation on RTR-FM ahead of it's digital release on 24th August, followed by a launch concert at Clancy's Fremantle on the 1st September.
New site to celebrate Aerial's 10th Birthday
Welcome to the new Aerial Recording site. My daughter Neve took some of the photos and studio hound Vinny did his best to get in every shot. Thanks also to Elliot ("Elite") Ramsay for some great shots taken during the Sascha Ion sessions.
RECENT CLIENTS.
- Rob Zielinski & Manuela Centanni
- Langley Chambers
- Monolith
- Phil Waldron & Emily Armytage-Green
- Community Chamber Orchestra
- Matt Walsh
- Nel Begley Quintet
- Jean & Alex
- Sascha Ion & The Elements
- Chagos Population
- Rain No Rain
- Cam Avery
- Huge Magnet
- Radio Repairs
- Joe Leach
- Gus McKay
Nel Begley Quintet - Detour Ahead
London based jazz vocalist Nel Begley recorded this beautiful Billy Holiday song with the quintet live in the Big Room on her recent tour to Perth.
Nel Begley - vocals, Russell Holmes - piano, Luke Fowler - double bass, Joe Fowler - flute, Alex Reid - drums.
Radio Repairs - Big Tree
A live session with bass and piano in the Big Room and drums in the booth.
Ronan Charles - piano, Phil Waldron - double bass, Daniele Di Paola - drums
Gus McKay - Piawaning Suit
Blues legend Gus McKay recorded the critically acclaimed "Talisman" album at Aerial. Here is one of the tracks that always reminds me of chasing a greased pig. :)
GEAR.
Microphones
Wagner U47W
Josephson C700A
Josephson E22s x 2
Beesneez BU67
Neumann TLM 102 x 2
RCA BK11A x 2 *
(* for sale on Reverb)
BeyerDynamic M160 x 4
BeyerDynamic M88
BeyerDynamic M69
Sennheiser MD441
Sennheiser MD21
Telefunken MD21
f
Line Audio CM4 x 2
Electro-Voice N/D 868
Electro-Voice N/D 468
Electro-Voice DS35 x 2
Electro-Voice 635A x 2
Electro-Voice RE11
Shure SM58
Shure Unidyne 545 x 2
Shure Green Bullet
Wasaphone MkII
Preamps
8 Channels Neve 538
(EKADEK CONSOLE)
Neve 1081 x 2
NPNG DMP-2NW x 2
Neve Portico 5012 x 2
Ampex 602 (Tube)
Aphex Tubessence x 2
Alctron MP73
EQ
Neve 1081 x 2
Chandler Tone Control x 2
Valley People Maxi-Q
Compressors
Fat Lady Vari-Mu x 2
Drawmer 1968 x 2
Valley International Comander x 2
FX
Autotone (1920's Acoustic Reverb!)
Roland Space Echo
Roland Chorus Echo
Strymon Timeline
Valley People Kepex II Noise Gate
Valley People DSP De-Esser
Elektron Octatrak
Console
Ekadek Klangenschmitt
Recorders
UAD Apollo 16 (Blackface)
UAD Quad Satellite
Prism Orpheus
Ampex AG440*
(1969 1" 8 track tape machine)
*Additional Rates apply for sessions using tape
Monitors
Quested S8
Computer/Software
Mac Studio M1 | 64gb ram
UAD Luna
Ableton Live
Huge plug-in collection
INSTRUMENTS & AMPS.
Keyboards
.Yamaha G5 Grand Piano
(1964 fully restored)
.Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 (1980s Rev3)
.DSI Prophet 12
.Moog Voyager
.Nord Grand
.Hammond A100 with Leslie (1963)
.Hammond XK3 with Leslie
.Rhodes MKI Piano
.Rhodes MKII Piano
.Rhodes Piano Bass
.Yamaha CP70 Electric Grand Piano
.Yamaha CS30
.Yamaha CP Reface
.Yamaha YC Reface
.Korg Bass Synthe
.Korg Delta
.Solina String Ensemble
.Piano Accordion
.Mason & Hamlin Pump Organ
Instruments
Fender Jazzmaster (MIJ)
Hofner Violin Bass
Nagoya Harp
Modular Synth with 30+modules
Accordions x3
Pedals
Tech 21 Sansamp
Strymon Timeline
Big Muff
BeeGe Fuzz
Vox Wah
Crybaby Wah
Radial DI
Alctron Re-Amper
Sonicake ABY
Drums
.Gretsch Round Badge Kit 1960s (20",16",13")
.Ludwig Black Beauty Snare
.Slingerland Artist Series Snare (1966)
.1930s Ajax Bass Drum 28"
.1960s Premier Bass Drum 20"
.1970s Tama Bass Drum 22"
.Bosphorus, Istanbul, Zildjian and Meinl Cymbals
.Hang Drum
.Balinese Gong
.Miscellaneous Percussion - shakers, tambourines
.Elektron MachineDrum
.Elektron Octatrack
Amps
Kay 30w "Widow Maker" (1950s)
Leslie 142 (1960s)
Leslie 2121
Fender PA100 (1970s)
Rex Bassking (Australian 1960s)
Playmaster PM116 (Australian 1960s)
Speakers
2 x 12” Celestions
1 x 15” Marshall
2 x 8" x 4 Fender
INTERESTING STUFF.
Autotone Acoustic Reverb Device
The main recording room has an intimate hall sound but this stupidly heavy, old 1920s Autotone pianola soundboard has become my favourite natural reverb enhancer for drums, vocals, guitars. Offers a beautiful natural zingy reverb that no plugin comes close to.
Favourite Microphones
Probably two of the finest microphones ever made and get used on everything I record. On the left is the extremely rare Wagner U47W, made from original Neumann parts and favoured by all singers for somehow giving back more than you put in. Beside it is the pristine dual capsule Josephson C700A, immensely capable of stunning realism.
Often use them as a pair on almost any source for a blend of tone and detail.
Ekadek Klangenschmitt Console
This is the electric pulsing heart of the studio. It has been running virtually non-stop since 2009 without a single issue. Commisioned as the first ever custom console build from the now incredibly world famous Ekadek and equipped with classic 80s series Neve preamps, I have always loved the steampunk meets Abbey Road TG desk styling. A beautiful sounding desk that is a pleasure to use every day. So practical and a genuine audio swiss army knife. Mass loads of gain and beautiful fat sound.
Drums in the Booth
Though I've lately returned to tracking more drums in the Big Room, the Dead Room booth is great for getting tight punchy drums sounds or any instrument that benefits from being completely isolated from other live musicians. Spooky green fx here courtesy of led strips embedded in the floor.
SESSION RATES.
HOURLY RATE
8 HOUR BLOCK RATE
Rates include engineer and all studio equipment and instruments.
Aerial Recording Staff
Aerial Recording is owned and operated by Ronan Charles. I've played in bands since the 90s, worked as a session musician, and have been obsessed with recording music since I bought my first 4 track tape machine in 1989.
Always happy to contribute to your recording with parts or ideas but also know when to shut up and work the controls. :)
Vinny - Assistant Engineer/ Good Boy
RECORD YOUR WAY
Aerial Recording is a professional project and album studio offering tracking and mixing services to musicians from all styles and genres from live band performances to working with solo musicians to layer overdubs by themselves or with the assistance of session musicians.
Aerial Recording is well equipped to work at breakneck pace or to take your time and really dig deep.
I am equally at home working with seasoned veterans on their 10th album or a dude just wanting to record a love song for his wife.
I love my work and endeavour to always go the extra mile for every client to get the best result.