Famous Rack

Abbey Road Studios

Abbey Road Studios is without a doubt the most famous recording studio in the world. Abbey Road Studio was made famous by a rock group out of Liverpool, England, The Beatles and the work they did with George Martin.

Alesis Midiverb II Digital Effects Processor
AMS DMX 15-80S Stereo Digital Delay
AMS RMX 16 Digital Reverberation System
Bricasti Design M7 Stereo Reverb Processor
dbx 160 Compressor/Limiter
Empirical Labs Distressor
EMT 140 Plate Reverb
Eventide H3000 D/SE Ultra-Harmonizer®
Eventide Model H910 Harmonizer®
Lexicon 224X Digital Reverberator
Lexicon 300 Digital Effects System
Lexicon 960L Digital Effects System
Lexicon Model 200 Digital Reverberator
Lexicon PCM 70 Digital Effects Processor
Quantec Room Simulator
Roland RSP-550 Stereo Signal Processor
Sony DRE-S777 Sampling Digital Reverb
TC Electronic 2290 Dynamic Digital Delay
TC Electronic M5000 Digital Audio Mainframe
Urei 1176 Limiting Amplifier
Yamaha REV7 Digital Reverberator
Yamaha SPX1000 Professional Multi-Effect Processor
Yamaha SPX90II Multi-Effects Processor

Abbey Road Studios is without a doubt the most famous recording studio in the world and a global music icon. Originally a nine-bedroom house built in 1829, it was purchased by the Gramophone Company in 1928 who went on to build the world’s first purpose-built recording studio. The St John’s Wood address was chosen for its large garden and ideal location which was close enough to the performance spaces of the time, but far enough away from the noise and vibrations of the traffic and trains.

The grand opening ceremony on 12 November 1931 included a performance of Land of Hope & Glory in Studio One conducted by Sir Edward Elgar. The Gramophone Company merged with Columbia Graphophone Company to form Electric and Musical Industries (EMI) in 1931, and the studios later became known as EMI Recording Studios.

Since EMI engineer Alan Blumlein patented stereo at Abbey Road in 1931, the studios have been famed for innovation in recording technology, largely developed by the Record Engineering Development Department (REDD) who were responding to the needs of the artists and producers using the rooms. Their innovations include the REDD and TG desks, as well as studio techniques such as Artificial Double Tracking (ADT), created by studio technician Ken Townsend, who went on to become the studios’ MD, as well as Vice President of EMI Studios Group.

While initially a venue for classical recordings, the studios’ repertoire soon embraced jazz and big bands, too, as well as the first British rock and roll records of the 1950s, including Sir Cliff Richard’s first single Move It. Abbey Road is of course synonymous with the legendary work of The Beatles, who worked with EMI producer Sir George Martin and recorded 190 of their 210 songs at the studios. But Abbey Road’s unparalleled history spans the wild experiments of Pink Floyd to iconic recordings from Shirley Bassey, Aretha Franklin, The Hollies and many more.

Today, Abbey Road Studios has a floating stockpile of effects which can be used in any of their studios, the range is as diverse as the music that has been recorded here. This is a partial list of what is on offer at Abbey Road Studios today.

Location: 3 Abbey Road, St. John’s Wood, London NW8 9AY, UK