Charlie Atkinson Music

recording studio/producer

I am a music producer based in the south of the U.K. I record/produce all music, but specialise in recording rock/indie/heavy music. I own a small but incredibly well equipped home studio which I have built and work out of including a selection of mics, vintage tape and an analog Tascam recording console with enough space to track any instrument.

I offer devoted recording time for a very low and competitive price which is perfect for all genres, especially those that require instruments such as guitars and drums as the studio is equipped with guitar and bass amplifiers as well as a 6 piece drum kit and a variety of cymbals and percussion.

I also am able to provide session musicians at an extra price if required. I also offer analog mixing as well also for a very reasonable price and have access to vintage outboard gear and high quality plugins in order to deliver an authentic, characterful and vintage sounding mix.

Musically, I have grown up playing guitar drums and bass in several different bands which gives me an understanding of different musical concepts and music theory as well as a rounded knowledge of creating tones and which gear to use to achieve specific sounds and aesthetics to suit different genres. I am also doing a degree in music production as well and have studied recording and mixing since I was in school which gives me access to even more facilities and resources.

Send me an email through 'Contact' button above and I'll get back to you asap.

Interview with Charlie Atkinson Music

  1. Q: What are you working on at the moment?

  2. A: I'm working on some students who are recording projects for their courses as well as a few different solo artists.

  3. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  4. A: definitely analog, even though digital maybe crystal clear, it lacks the character and personality of analog recording.

  5. Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

  6. A: I promise that I will be as focussed on making a quality product as the artist I am recording.

  7. Q: What do you like most about your job?

  8. A: meeting people who are doing something new and inventive musically and sharing that process with them.

  9. Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

  10. A: That it gets repetitive, Every time I work with someone new there is always an atmosphere of excitement that comes with it.

  11. Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

  12. A: I tend to ask whether they want a more pop focussed sound or a more authentic and individual aesthetic (radio 1 or radio 6). I also ask they're opinions on they're instrumentation and how willing they would be to alter parts of their song.

  13. Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

  14. A: Look for someone who is providing a service that suits you're artistic vision.

  15. Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

  16. A: they would be my recording desk, my laptop, my guitar and amp and my drum set

  17. Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

  18. A: I started playing in bands when I was 14 and trying to play dhows for money (which I am still doing) but at the age of 15 I started obsessing over recording songs that myself or other people had written and decided I want to work in studios recording bands and artists.

  19. Q: How would you describe your style?

  20. A: I would describe it as vintage, I much prefer the product that is produced from using analogue equipment whether its on a blues song or a pop song, it adds a subtle warmth to a track that gives it more character and life.

  21. Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

  22. A: Dave Grohl, purely because he has worked with so many musicians and I would love to learn not only from him but from the people he has worked with.

  23. Q: Can you share one music production tip?

  24. A: Be honest with yourself about how well a song sounds structurally. All parts of a composition should have to earn their place and actively add another dimension to the song.

  25. Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

  26. A: I tend to work on heavier rock music but I also work frequently on solo singer songwriters or pop musicians.

  27. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  28. A: recording drums and guitars is probably what I have experienced most as I play both of them. I can alter guitar tones to match the mood and aesthetic of a song as well as create a drum sound that is punchy, full and high in energy.

  29. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  30. A: I bring honesty and constructive criticism where I see fit whilst also maintaining a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. I feel this is essential in order to both create a well structured song with the right dynamic and sonic changes as well as maximising the level of performance that is achieved.

  31. Q: What's your typical work process?

  32. A: Ideally I will have a pre-production meeting with my client (for free) to make notes on what they want to achieve musically and sonically in a song/reccord. This then allows the session in the studio to run very smoothly with an agenda to stick to to maximise production. Typicall with a band I record the drums and bass first before adding harmonic and melodic aspects.

  33. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  34. A: I have a 32 channel Tascam M600 analog recording console which sounds warm and full especially on distorted guitars and drums, I then record that into Logic Pro x. I also add tape saturation and delay through a WEM Copicat tape delay unit which can make vocals sound full, thick and rich by adding analogue saturation as well as helping add width to guitars.

  35. Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

  36. A: Josh Homme is a huge inspiration to me especially the way he writes his songs and his methods of productions such as his work on albums for the arctic monkeys. I am also heavily inspired in the innovative and inventive recording techniques of Tony Visconti especially on his work with David Bowie and the vocal sound he managed to produce.

  37. Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

  38. A: I mostly offer recording especially of live drums and guitars which cannot be easily recorded in a home studio due to being confined by space.

Terms Of Service

for mixing I offer 3 free revisions and then £8 per revision after that.

GenresSounds Like
  • Queens of the Stone Age
  • Royal Blood
  • Arctic Monkeys
Gear Highlights
  • Tascam M600
  • WEM Copicat tape delay
  • AKG c414
  • Lewitt 040 (pair)
  • SM57
  • Audix D6
  • Shure PGA56
  • Mapex armoury
  • Zildjian S Series
  • 2x Marshall MGFX
  • fender blues deluxe