Our Philosophy
People often ask how the great records were made from the 60's and 70's. Well, it's easy, the producers and engineers focussed on the feel and performance, rather than trying to create a totally perfect recording.
In our opinion you can achieve a truly magical recording if the band is playing together in the same room and our studio specialises in recording artists this way. Bob Dylan said: "You can't buy feel"...
Listen to George Harrison, The Band, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Neil Young, CSNY and you will get the idea.
We also love more ambitious and progressive projects in the style of Mike Oldfield / Pink Floyd and have the ability to record as many overdubs as necessary to realise your vision as the artist, but they all start in the same place - together.
The Studio
Many legendary musicians from those halcyon days hung out at each others homes, jamming, writing and recording music together in a relaxed, friendly and fun environment. This ethos lies at the heart of the Supertone Studio.
Simon and Suzy's dream was to create a warm, characterful and vibrant space; a place that is inspiring and fun to hang out helping you relax to achieve the best musical results possible.
As full time musicians themselves, they understand the importance of a client having their own intimate creative space and therefore have separate accommodation on the ground floor of the house. The property and grounds are more than large enough to enjoy your own company if you so desire.
The whole cultural experience of travel, writing and recording in this beautiful and magical mountain village location truly adds something you just cannot buy off the shelf!
Our clients tell us it's the best residential recording studio in Europe and who are we to argue!
The Recording Space and Control Room
This is situated on the first floor with easy access through large doors and wide stairs.
Unlike many other studios, there is an abundance of natural light in the recording spaces and control room, with two large glass doors opening out onto the veranda which has chairs and a table in a retro bistro-café style, overlooking the orange groves, riverbed and mountains.
The main recording space and control room are fully air conditioned throughout although being in the mountains, there is a light, natural breeze throughout the day.
It's not unusual for us to track instruments and vocals in the open air either; there is plenty of room...
The Weather
The Valencia area has a Subtropical Mediterranean climate with long warm-to-hot summers and very mild winters.
The light is amazing and most days the sky is blue and cloudless, which makes you feel very happy. It does rain occasionally, but mostly at night.
You can sit outside in the evening and use the pool anytime, but best between April and November.
Overall, the weather is fantastic and very similar to the hills of Los Angeles. Certainly one of the best in Europe.
Stay connected
We have fast unlimited satellite broadband with wifi coverage throughout the studio and grounds plus gigabit Cat6 cabling with CISCO switch between areas for data transfer.
We use VoIP telephony, SKYPE and Google Hangouts as there is no conventional telephone line installed.
Chill Out
OK. You're the drummer or guitarist and we are tracking vocals; what do you do?
Well, hang out in the extensive gardens, cook, sunbathe or cool off in the large, lightly chlorinated outdoor swimming pool; complete with large rubber duck.
Inside we have a powerful InFocus cinema projector, Satellite TV, Apple TV, BluRay/DVD player, Playstation, vintage hifi system (with record deck and 70's QUAD amplifiers) plus a large collection of DVD, BluRay, CD's and vinyl records.
The studio is set in three hectares of gardens which are very private and secure, fully monitored 24/7 alarm and CCTV. The paddock can be used for landing helicopters.
If you want to read more about the village and the wider area, take a look at the location page.
Food, Drink and Catering
We can arrange for onsite catering if required, although there is easy and quick access to the very inexpensive local restaurants and bars.
Our home is your home and we have found many musicians are also fine cooks!
The kitchen is equipped with everything you need from a KitchenAid Food Processor, Wusthof knives and Le Creuset pans plus of course fresh herbs and vegetables from our gardens!
The 'Californian' climate is perfect for 'al fresco' cooking which is a big tradition in Estivella and we have both a Paellero (that's a building with an open fire and chimney specially for cooking Paella outdoors) and a traditional Weber Kettle BBQ.
We love our coffee and tea!
We love our coffee and have a professional La Spaziale S1 Vivaldi II coffee machine and MAHLKÖNIG Vario grinder plus a large selection of teas from across the word, including of course the mainstay of any studio, Yorkshire Tea.
The accommodation rate includes all soft drinks, coffee, tea, wine and beer!
Accommodation
You will certainly sleep well. The mountain air is fresh and clean and the Egyptian cotton sheets crisp and inviting :)
The water in Estivella is very 'hard' which we believe is the reason why paella cooked here is the best in Valencia! Not so good for showering however, so we have a water softening system to get your suds up. Guests share two bathrooms with huge walk in showers and in the summer, solar heated water.
Tower Room
Surprisingly, this is in the tower above the studio featuring a custom made, double futon stuffed with natural organic cotton; the room is decorated with driftwood furniture and a pyramid salt crystal lamp. A real 70's feel...
Producers Suite
This is a very large bedroom connected to the control room with super king bed, salt crystal pyramid lamp, BluRay player, 40" flat screen monitor / TV and air conditioning.
Blue Bedroom
A bedroom with doors opening onto the terrace and swimming pool with two single beds and salt crystal pyramid lamp.
Green Bedroom
A bedroom with doors opening to the terrace and swimming pool with a three quarter bed and salt crystal pyramid lamp.
Further accommodation
With the large sofa beds we can easily accommodate a further four people.