BlooRoom Studios is my 60 sq. meter recording studio, situated at my home in the beautiful Klein-Karoo town of Ladismith (+/- 300km east from Cape Town). Although it may seem like an unlikely spot for a studio, there is a very good reason behind this: Essentially, what I am offering is a chance to take a break away to the kind of place that you would really want when you are recording - amazingly beautiful, quiet and relaxing - away from the stresses of normal living while working on your project. Most artists who have worked with me once keep coming back for future projects. I also have accommodation available.

The first thing most artists comment on when they come to work here is the vibe. I find it difficult to work in a space that doesn't inspire me, so I don't expect anyone else to have to do so. I've worked hard to give the studio a feel that is warmer, friendlier and more creative than the usual sterile feel of many studios.

  


  The whole facility, including the surrounding house, has been specially designed to serve its purpose optimally. The studio itself a variation of the classic "one-room" studio, favored by a number of legendary producers (Bill Bottrell, George Massenburg, Daniel Lanois, etc.). It consists of an isolated room (for vocals, amps, etc.) and a large open-plan room that is used as a control-room and live tracking area with great results while I'm in the middle of the action and have an open line of sight with all musicians, facilitating easy communication.

This doesn't only make things a LOT more comfortable than with other designs, but it also utilizes the entire space for the best sound quality. A large portion of my studio-budget went into acoustic treatment to ensure that the whole studio sounds great. Most of these treatments are also adjustable to offer a variety of options sound-wise.

The studio also has a bathroom and a kitchen with a hopelessly overworked coffee-machine. As a nice extra there is also a swimming pool to cool off in between takes.

  
EQUIPMENT

Each piece of equipment I use has been hand picked to fit into what I do and I trust it enough to use the studio for all my own band's (the Jo Ellis Band) recordings.

I am a great believer in bang-for-the-buck, especially considering the times we are living in, but I am also a great believer in getting a world-class product for your hard-earned cash. I have done my best to marry these concepts, meaning that I have spent money on the things that really do make a difference so that you benefit at the end.

Recording is done digitally with editing and mixing done "in the box". All of these factors make the studio very functional, flexible and comfortable. That said, the studio is always expanding and upgrading!

To view the full list of gear available, please visit the GEAR page.

Some pictures of the said Klein-Karoo and Ladismith-surroundings are displayed below.