lojo Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) Just wondering if its just me Putting together a new set , we've done a few session in a house , everyones on it and knows there stuff, sounds great , big smiles, and some productive tweaking of arrangments, keyboard sounds, parts and endings etc. Totally inspiring all round, amazing sound. Roll on to last night, final run through in a rented rehearsal room, PA monitor on ceiling only worked for 1 channel, which took us ages to figure out and really didn't help as it was not good enough to put clear BVs out on the other ones behind the drums, also the general sound was impossible. We are all experienced weekend functions players (warriors) and have dealt with all the live issues that exist over the years, and experienced quality rehearsal space. Some blame is of course on us, but how much, is it just me , or are these rooms often awful, at best it could be used to gain confidence with arrangements/structures, but nothing else ? Edited March 20, 2015 by lojo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Quality of rooms varies wildly! There is a massive amount of quality spaces with decent bass/guitar and drum equipment. However in my experience it's rare that you'll find a rehearsal studio with a good PA... I certainly never have anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) Hardly done any rehearsals with the band I've been in for last 2 years but before that used to rehearse fairly regularly with previous projects. There's a big range in standard and usually you get what you pay for though having said that the new guys I'm rehearsing with use a place which isn't bad and it's probably as cheap as anywhere. The big drawback is it is up an iron fire escape type set of stairs as it is on a first floor. I only take minimal gear with me but it's still a pain. On the other hand a band I was in years ago used to rehearse in a textile factory basement and it was awful. We'd have to go round other unused rooms 'borrowing' bits just to get a half decent drum kit together. I recall kneeling down to try to coax a usable EQ from the bass combo that was provided and when i stood up there was a dark patch soaked through on my knee due to the carpet being so damp. As Chris says, often the PA isn't up to much and you have to fill in your imagination how the performance will actually sound through your own PA. As a final check its worth having the occasional full band set up its own gear in an empty room to fine tune the sound. Edited March 20, 2015 by KevB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Some rooms are just awful and the money they charge for it is a joke. I wouldn't go back there. Either the guy has idiot bands or he thinks that the kit supplied doesn't have to be good. Either way I'd avoid. One reasonable way to determine what a studio is like...is to check out what refreshments are free.. ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) We took all our own gear/amps , as its really set up with specific sounds / settings from guitars, keys and bass (varied 80s) which is why it was so disappointing, it wasn't just a run through with any old amps, we where really looking at sounds, levels on different parts etc. Edited March 20, 2015 by lojo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 As above, they vary wildly, it's not always proportional to the cost either. But if you have any problems with the equipment you are paying to hire you should immediately get them to sort it out rather than struggle with unfamiliar equipment. Partly because trial and error can lead to breaking something accidentally (which is why alot of practice room stuff doesn't work properly), and partly because you are paying the facility to provide a functioning PA (and usually backline too). IF it does not work properly, it's no different to turning up to play a gig and saying "we've only learnt half the set, but we want to get paid in full". I.E not acceptable! The audacity of some of these places makes me rage actually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 If you're ever unfortuante enough to have a rehearsal at Enterprise round the back of Denmark Street make sure you have your jabs beforehand... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) Used famous rooms near London Bridge for a while until we realised we really didn't need a 48-channel desk and a Turbo PA... now using a nice room under railway arches in East London which is perfect for our needs. Good, basic kit and great sound (when there are no trains running overhead...) When I was in a touring band back in the day we used John Henry's in north London which is excellent... trouble is there is every conceivable bit of kit you can possibly imagine in a huge warehouse there, and it's all for sale or hire... GAS! GAS! GAS!! Edited March 20, 2015 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lw. Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Yes they vary hugely, I have to agree with above as well; Enterprise are (were?) the worst I've used though those ones in Borough come a close second. Is there much point in using all your own kit & trying to get the levels right in a rehearsal studio? I'd have thought the levels (and EQs) would be completely out compared to what you'd need in a big open room for a gig... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 used Berkeley studios in Glasgow which had pretty good quality PA. The guys would come round start of your hire period and set up or adjust PA to suit you and what you needed. Ampeg bass gear with some Ashdown, Aguilar amps with Marshall gtr amps and Pearl drum kits. All pretty good i have to admit for £30 / 3hrs. Now using FM Studios in Cumbernauld. Similar feel to these guys too altho the PA is good it's not good enough to take keyboards but they do supply Roland KYS amps which seem pretty good. Big rooms, plenty of space and all very clean and tidy. Recommended. Have been in others charging same amount but gear sh*t and stuck in a basement room you couldn't swing a cat in. If its not don't go back but get the studio eng to sort problems. Its you that's paying for the kit not to sort it for them. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1426845282' post='2722523'] Is there much point in using all your own kit & trying to get the levels right in a rehearsal studio? I'd have thought the levels (and EQs) would be completely out compared to what you'd need in a big open room for a gig... [/quote] I agree, It was more to do with sounds (effects, and keys sounds for each song etc) along with some individual understanding of volume control within song parts, as the kind of gigs we will be doing we wont always have an engineer. The great thing about this 80s set is that every song requires a different sound, unlike the previous stuff weve been doing. Edited March 20, 2015 by lojo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pqs Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 We use Storm rehearsals on the Holloway Road good equipment clean as well, before that we used Enterprise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number6 Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1426844615' post='2722507'] Used famous rooms near London Bridge for a while until we realised we really didn't need a 48-channel desk and a Turbo PA... now using a nice room under railway arches in East London which is perfect for our needs. Good, basic kit and great sound (when there are no trains running overhead...) When I was in a touring band back in the day we used John Henry's in north London which is excellent... trouble is there is every conceivable bit of kit you can possibly imagine in a huge warehouse there, and it's all for sale or hire... GAS! GAS! GAS!! [/quote] Where is the arch in East London please?.....i travel to Holloway Road to rehearse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number6 Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 [quote name='pqs' timestamp='1426846398' post='2722544'] We use Storm rehearsals on the Holloway Road good equipment clean as well, before that we used Enterprise! [/quote] We use Storm too at Holloway Rd.....pretty good but does get some noise problems at times from the railway lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lw. Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Blue Studios in Dalston are pretty good, we're mostly using them at the moment - they're new so everything is at least clean & they've built a bar/chillout area too which is nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) Is it compulsory that they are run by idiots? We used one once a week for two years, they charged more than anywhere else and a membership fee, e had to renew the membership fee every year and when the guitarists Mom died the day before our rehearsal they charged us the full fee. Now I'm all in favor of charging if you cancel to stop kids booking it and not turning up but after two years money plus drinks etc you'd think they might wave that one? We've never been back so that's £120 a month lost to save them £31.50 Edited March 20, 2015 by stingrayPete1977 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Sausage Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 The guitarist in my band runs a rehearsal/recording studio. This is the second one he has owned. His first one was full of good gear, had good rooms etc. he even had a cleaner who cleaned all the rooms. He set it up like this as he was fed up with sh*tty rehearsal spaces with sh*tty gear that he rehearsed in with bands. However, he quickly realised why. People treat your gear like sh*t. Bands not knowing hoe to use equipment properly. Blowing speakers channels, drum kits etc. He shut down that studio and opened a more modest one with more modest gear. Saved loads of money constantly getting stuff repaired and saved on rent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanx Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 We've had some places so dire you wouldn't believe. We let our drummer sort us out a room once. It was on this lock up on a traveller encampment. There was someone (and a rabbit) living in there the whole time. Patched electricity from a pole, etc. Anyway it transpired that someone had been kidnapped and tortured in the very lock up next door - while we were actually there! We never went back after that. But my Dad got to say "Poor f**ker really was being tortured if he had to listen to you lot" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 [quote name='urbanx' timestamp='1426850561' post='2722644'] But my Dad got to say "Poor f**ker really was being tortured if he had to listen to you lot" [/quote] :-) Dad's eh? Bless 'em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1426849332' post='2722608'] Is it compulsory that they are run by idiots? [/quote] Seemingly, but I imagine if you had brain surgeon or rocket scientist potential you'd probably opt for more gainful employment... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzodog Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 My biggest gripe is PAs are usually nowhere near powerful enough. We dont rehearse particularly loud but in some places we've been to, we have had to turn right down on amps just to hear vox. Current one we use though is only a small place with 2 rooms and only a handful of people use it so everything is in good nick. Problem is unless more people use it it will probably fold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHW Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 This is where we go- it's worth a post after having been on a tour of some of the pits around GM, old canalside units, old crumbling mills where I've had to carry kit up wobbling fire escapes, and wander around in the dark tripping over paint pots. This place is clean, and reliable and the owner is a genuinely nice guy. And (having just checked it out to make sure I got the link right- I'm on the front page) http://www.shure5studios.co.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 [quote name='urbanx' timestamp='1426850561' post='2722644'] But my Dad got to say "Poor f**ker really was being tortured if he had to listen to you lot" [/quote] Someone was going too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 Anyone know of a good rehearsal room (pa only) situated somewhere between KT10 (elmbridge, esher area) and the west side of Croydon ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) Does no one check out the studio and have a walk round before they book? My locals (Hertford/Welwyn area) are: FarmFactory Graphic Nature The Practice Roomz Although I don't think I've been to any in at least 5-6 years now. Probably longer. Edited March 20, 2015 by TimR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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