The History of Studios 301
Established as a subsidiary of the Columbia Graphophone Company in 1926 to later become EMI Records then Studios 301, we have the largest recording space in the Southern Hemisphere and the only Tier One recording studio in Australia. An industry leader in professional audio rivaling the sounds from heritage studios abroad, the new Studios 301 facility boasts music recording studios, production suites, mastering rooms and digitisation facilities, showcasing some of the best acoustic spaces and cutting edge technologies in the world.
The Studios 301 History
2023
opening of Studios 301 Frankfurt
The studio was planned and built in 2015. At that time, it was operated by the Abbey Road Institute GmbH as a training facility in cooperation with the renowned Abbey Road Studios in London.
2018
New Multi-Million Dollar Facility Grand Opening
Dr. Tom Misner committed to a multi-million dollar ground-up reconstruction and relocation project that took 16 months and an incredible 134,000 hours of labour to complete. The result is a no-compromise studio that now ranks as one of the top five studios in the world.
2016
Australia’s longest running professional recording studio
Studios 301 celebrates its 90th birthday as Australia’s longest running professional recording studio
2015
Studios 301 Byron Bay Studio closes
2012
Six new music production studios
Six new music production studios open next door to the mastering facilities, occupied by composers, engineers and artists
2009
10th Birthday
Studios 301 celebrates its 10th birthday at the Alexandria facilities in November
2006
Studios 301 Mastering relocates
Studios 301 Mastering relocates to the extended premises at the 301 complex in Alexandria, Sydney
2004
SSL 9000K
SSL 9000K series console is installed in Sydney Studio 2
2003
Studios 301 Stockholm
Soundtrade Studios (Stockholm, Sweden) re-opens after a major refurbishment and is renamed Studios 301 Stockholm
2002
Studios 301 Byron Bay opens
2001
Studios 301 Cologne
Studios 301 took over the renowned Sound Studio N in Cologne. This was announced on March 9, 2001 at the Musikmesse during a press conference by Tom Misner. The job as studio manager was taken over by recording engineer and producer Ulli Pallemanns. In the following years, numerous music productions were carried out with well-known artists and bands. The most important ones today still include recordings and mixes with Robbie Williams, Die Höhner, Nena, Die Toten Hosen, Scorpions, Thomas Blug, Ronald Keating, No Angles, Guano Apes and many others.
The studio had a large recording room that could accommodate a large orchestra with up to 120 musicians. In control room A there was a 72 channel SSL 9000J console installed. The control rooms B & C were each equipped with a Sony Oxford console. There was also a high-end mastering studio.
The studio had a large recording room that could accommodate a large orchestra with up to 120 musicians. In control room A there was a 72 channel SSL 9000J console installed. The control rooms B & C were each equipped with a Sony Oxford console. There was also a high-end mastering studio.
1999
Studios 301 recording facilities are relocated to Alexandria
Studios 301 recording facilities are relocated to Alexandria at a cost of AUS$8 million under the direction of Tom Misner
1998
Soundtrade Studios, Sweden
Studios 301 sold to a private investor. The 301 Studio Group takes over Soundtrade Studios in Stockholm, Sweden.
1996
STUDIOS 301 sidney
EMI sells Studios 301 in a management buy-out. Studios A & B closed down and the facility consolidated to one recording and mixing studio, a programming suite, and the mastering operation
1985
First SSL console
The studio’s first SSL console is installed. (Richard Lush records Debbie Byrne album)
1979
First fully digital recording
Australia’s first fully digital recording is made at Studios 301. (Kerrie Biddell and her band)
1978
Studios 301 renaming
In 1978 the entire facility was rebuilt, re-equipped and expanded by EMI to provide 4 studios and was renamed Studios 301
1975
Transition to Studer 24 track 2″ recording
1973
“Abbey Road” Console
The EMI “Abbey Road” Console with a 16 track 2″ machine is installed
1969
3M 1″ machine
Transition to 8 track recording using a 3M 1″ machine
1965
4 track 1/2″ recorder
A Scully 4 track 1/2″ recorder introduced for music recording
1962
First transistor mixing console
The first fully transistorised mixing console is installed. (Designed and built by EMI)
1958
Stereo Recording
Stereo Recording is introduced. (First Stereo recording is of Don Burrows All Star band)
1954
301 Castlereagh Street
The studio was re-located to EMI’s new head office building at 301 Castlereagh Street in the city and renamed EMI Studios. There were 3 recording studios: A, B & C plus disc mastering facilities. As well as music for release on record labels, much of the work undertaken in the early days was for local radio broadcast including the immortal “Dad & Dave” programmes. Jingles for commercial radio & TV, as well as film scores were also a significant part of the studio’s business.
1950
First symphony recording in Australia
Recorded the first symphony in Australia. (John Antill’s ballet suite with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra)
1932
Australia’s first recording of ABC Radio
When the ABC was less than 4 months old, Columbia Graphophone was tasked to record the 1932 Melbourne Cup and release it to the public.
1930
First Experimental radio transcription was made in the studios
1928
Kingsford-Smith and Ulm
Recording made of the arrival of Kingsford-Smith and Ulm from their America-Australia Flight
1926
Columbia Graphophone Company
The Columbia Graphophone Company (later to become EMI Records) opened Australia’s first record factory and recording studio
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