Black Cave Recordings: Edinburgh Studio & Location Recording

Professional recording studio in Edinburgh, Scotland. We offer:

✔ Audio Recording
✔ Mixing & Mastering
✔ Music Production
✔ Voice Over Recording
✔ Audiobook Recording
✔ Mobile & Location Recording
✔ Music Production Lessons

From first idea to release-ready audio – trusted by BBC, Apple, Disney & Universal amongst many others. We’d be happy to provide a free tailored quotation. Listen to some of our previous projects.

VOCAL AND VOICE OVER RECORDING

Feel welcome in the comfort of our fully equipped and treated recording booth located in our Edinburgh city centre studio.

Past projects include songs that have charted; punk, rock, funk, pop, death & black metal and reggae bands; ADR dubbing; hip-hop, rap, grime vocalists; audiobooks; online courses and other voice-over and podcasts. Places we’ve worked on events include The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh Fringe, Fruitmarket Gallery, Liquid Rooms, Surgeon’s Hall and Summerhall.

We’ve worked with: BBC, Disney, Pixar, Alcatrazz, Universal, Apple News, Blumhouse, Cartoon Network, Amazon, Vodafone, Hachette Book Group & Orbit.

A selection of industry-standard equipment is available (also some not-so-standard), with the added option of having your recording edited, mixed and mastered. If you cannot come to us, we have a vocal booth that is fully mobile, which means we can come to you and set up wherever you wish.

The option of session integration with Zoom means that a producer or director can listen in and give guidance throughout the session, and remote recording through SessionLinkPRO, ipDTL, Source-Connect, Zencastr, etc. is welcome.

We have worked on clean, tuned & edited productions to raw & dirty sounds, on factual-based vocals to emotionally charged character acting and passionate vocal styles, pushing your voice to its full potential if appropriate.

Every project is different, so we’d be happy to provide a tailored quotation.

MUSIC PRODUCTION

We can produce, write, compose, arrange and record custom-made music for your project in any genre. If you’d like a backing track created to sing over, for example, or have an idea in your head that you don’t know how to make into a reality, get in touch, and we will definitely make that happen. Electronic and live instrumentation can be utilised, & session musicians can be provided if your project requires it. We’re based in our Edinburgh recording studio, but can create projects online and completely remotely too.

Everything can be customised as you hear it, and songwriting input from us can be extensive or minimal; it’s your vision we’re trying to create. Refer to our examples of projects we’ve worked on. As mentioned, we have worked on all types of music and audio genres, from the shiny, clean and tidy to the raw, gritty, and dirty, real and true to life feelings and sounds.

Most, if not all, of the project can be created at our Edinburgh city centre location, with the option of having parts recorded on location or remotely and sent in if required.

Every project is different, so we’d be happy to provide a tailored quotation.

LOCATION RECORDING

Black Cave Recordings offers studio-quality recording services for your project wherever you’d wish to record in and around Edinburgh and the UK. If you have a regular practice space for you or your band, have a specific location in mind where you’d like any sound to be recorded, or want to record in the comfort of your own home, our mobile unit can be taken to almost all places. We can also advise you on spaces you can hire out for any project, and can offer a package where you record certain parts in a studio, and finish other parts in the relaxed atmosphere of our home studio, a practice space of your choice, or your own home, saving you money.

We’ve worked on events in The Queens Hall, Edinburgh Fringe, Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh Art College, Liquid Rooms, Surgeon’s Hall and Summerhall.

HYBRID EVENTS

If you’d like to live stream an event with audio and visuals too, we can provide a great sounding mix for people present at the event and those online too. We work with great video production businesses in Edinburgh (which we can hook you up with!) and have great success in combining a live exciting element with a watch-live or watch-again feature.

Every project is different, so we’d be happy to provide a tailored quotation.

BAND RECORDING

There are so many ways in which we can work on your music, record it live in a room at any location, record each instrument individually, and everything in between. Get in touch, and we can talk about what suits your music, playing style, and the sound you are going for, and together we can do our best to get what you hear in your head onto a recording. We’re really flexible in our approach here, so let’s talk!

BAND REHEARSAL RECORDING

Take home a multi-channel recording of your band practice. If you need high-quality recordings of your practice session to use as a demo or to get gigs, this is for you. The session can take place wherever you usually practice (or we can recommend a venue if required). Mixing and mastering is an optional extra, but can take your sound to the next level.

Every project is different, so we’d be happy to provide a tailored quotation.

EQUIPMENT

MICROPHONES:

2x AKG C414
1x Shure SM7b
2x Line Audio CM3
2x Bash Audio RM BIV-1 Ribbons
3x Shure SM57
3x Shure SM58
2x Shure SM58 Wireless Mics (SLXD24DE/SM58)
1x sE Electronics V7 X
1x Audix OM7
1x AKG D112
3x Sennheiser e604
1x Red5 Audio RV6
1x Pyle PDMIC78
3x Behringer XM1800S

MONITORING/INTERFACES:

Neumann KH310 monitors
Soundcraft Ui24R mixing desk/audio interface
Avid MBOX Studio
Sonarworks room correction
9x headphones (Beyerdynamic, Audio Technica, Sennheiser, Vic Firth, etc.)
8-way headphone amp
8 channel microphone splitter
Samson MDA1 (active DI)
ART Dual Z Direct 2 Ch Passive DI

INSTRUMENTS:

Jackson SLX DX guitar with EMG 81/85
Fender Squier Contemporary HSS Stratocaster guitar
Yamaha FG800M Acoustic Guitar
Novation Launchkey 37 keyboard/controller
Mapex Mars Pro maple & mahogany drum kit
Yamaha DTExpress II electronic drum kit
Digitech RP 350 guitar multi FX
Boss MT-2 Metal Zone
Pioneer DDJ-RB DJ controller
2x Numark vinyl turntables & DJ mixer

RECORDING BOOTH:

Made by Session Booth. 1.5m x 1.2m for instruments and vocals with window/line of sight with engineer if needed. It can fit up to two vocalists, a vocalist playing guitar comfortably, or guitar cabs/amps, etc.

SOFTWARE:

Pro Tools
Logic Pro X
Ableton Live
Reaper
Plugins by FabFilter, Waves, Neural DSP & many more

5.0

Based on 63 reviews

Jamie Ross

3 months ago

Myself and my band MisophoniA have used Black Cave on multiple occasions and Andy always delivers and if something is not quite right then he is always more than happy to accommodate outside input. l

Amazing service, amazing prices for top quality work. A must know contact for any musicians looking for someone to put the icing on the cake of your recordings!!!

Jay

Jura Bryceland

3 months ago

Had Andy do some mastering work on a couple of my band's tracks. Fantastic work, ended up with two really clear and aggressive-sounding masters. Open to feedback and was more than happy to make tweaks to ensure we got the best product possible. Would highly recommend to any metal band in need of mastering services.

HarmonyChoir Committee

3 months ago

HarmonyChoir engaged Andrew at Black Cave Recordings to record a medley of songs which we wanted for a video production. Andrew came with his kit to our usual rehearsal space and over the course of the evening we managed 3 full takes of the piece.

He was very pleasant and helpful to work with and the final result is excellent.

We would happily use him again if the occasion arises.

Stefan Catona

3 months ago

I’m a songwriter who’s been trying for years to find the right studio to bring out the best in me, and Andrew, at Black Cave, has done just that. His skill and professionalism are top tier, but he also has that intuition and artistic sensibility that only a creative musician can bring to the process, and that is what makes his studio truly unique.

Viktor Malych

5 months ago

I'm an amateur bedroom musician and Andrew was a pleasure to work with, he guided me through the process, was realistic and helpful, as well as fun to work with! I'm very satisfied with the experience and would recommend it.

Christopher Asmar

8 months ago

It's been a genuine pleasure working with Andrew over the last couple of years.

I had a bunch of lo-fi home recordings that I wanted to release as an album, but my amateur attempts at mixing meant they didn't sound up to scratch.

Having never worked with a professional before, I wasn't sure how the whole process would work, so I contacted Andrew and we agreed to meet up at his studio to discuss. He made me feel at home, explained the services he could offer, and we worked out a plan on how to proceed.

For songs where I was happy with the recording, I would send Andrew the audio files, he would work his magic and send back the mixed track. The results were always amazing. He clearly has a passion for his work, and uses his knowledge and experience to create a sound quality that is far superior to what an amateur can do. Not only is the final output great, but his willingness to revise the mixes based on the specific sound I was looking for was massively appreciated.

I had some songs that had to be re-recorded, so we arranged some studio sessions. Having only ever recorded on my own, the thought of this was quite daunting, but Andrew always created a friendly and relaxed atmosphere making the whole experience a pleasure. Again his patience in allowing me to find the right take was always appreciated.

So if you're looking for a professional audio sound, and to work with a friendly experienced engineer, I highly recommend Black Cave Recordings!

FullFat Fraser

10 months ago

Friendly, professional and above all creates amazing work. Both the recording and the mixing have been stellar on all the projects we have worked on with Black Cave, highly recommend.

Akhil Eapen Abraham

12 months ago

Andrew was great to work with—friendly, professional, and very easy to communicate with. The whole process was smooth, and I’m really happy with the final result. Highly recommended!

My songs will out please do check it for his work!

Megan

1 year ago

Andrew is fantastic to work with. The studio setup is really great, and he made the recording experience much less nervewracking than I imagined it would be (it was my first time recording). He’s really experienced and professional, and was able to add in a bass line for my song playing bass guitar, he picked it up so quickly and made my song 10x better! His mixing and mastering is top tier, so professional and crisp and balanced sounding. And very fair pricing. He was patient and worked hard, and quickly, to get the final mix how I envisioned it. I’m so happy with the result and really enjoyed the whole experience. Would absolutely recommend to anyone.

Luke Davison

1 year ago

Andrew was incredible to work with- from the beginning of the process he was communicating constraints and offering advice in a timely and pleasant way. Whatever suggestion I had regarding my voice reel was taken into account and I am very happy with how it ended up. Would highly recommend to anyone!

bea

1 year ago

Went in with a large group to produce and rap over a song we made from scratch. Andrew was an amazing and welcoming host. He was super accommodating and more than willing to help whenever issues arised. Prices were reasonable and the place was clean. Would highly recommend if you're in the area!

C.L. Mackintosh

2 years ago

Excellent experience- Andrew made me feel at ease despite my total lack of recording experience- would highly recommend

Tanner Campbell

2 years ago

Andrew is accommodating, patient, skilled, and friendly. His work is stellar and without him my most recent (audio) book would have been of far lower quality. Thanks for everything, Andrew.

Gabby Beilico

2 years ago

Outstanding Mixing and mastering, goid quality, appreciate it.

Anil Tamta

2 years ago

I have Record a Bollywood Song earlier this month in Black Cave studio, Andrews has Amazing Skills and he is very helpful and supportive. While Recording he assist a lot. Location is very accessible from City centre.
Very professional and Kind.

Highly recommended.
Many Thanks

Calum Barbour

2 years ago

If you are looking to record a voice over, I cannot recommend Black Cave Recordings enough. I called Andrew about making a voice reel, and he managed to fit me into a session in less than a week. Andrew was professional and personable, and gave me plenty of time on the day to retake the scripts as many times as I needed. I never felt rushed in the hour's session. His rates were brilliant, and he edited the reel to such a high standard. I will definitely be coming back to Black Cave Recordings in the future. Thanks, Andrew!

Steven Dalgleish

2 years ago

Andrew - is a great engineer & goes well beyond the extra mile to get the best result for his clients - Also knows a drum kit inside out ( Synth & in reality) and is happy to contribute on the creative/education side - Would highly recommend to anyone who has taken the time and effort to get their musical creation shaped and vocal/accompaniment/playing up to a decent standard - Black Cave well up for bringing the finished article home to a pro level

Lis Faulkner

2 years ago

I’m a professional voice artist and I always know I’m in safe hands with Andrew. He’s fun to work with and I appreciate the feedback he gives on my performance.

gina neacsu

2 years ago

I 'm very happy with Black Cave's services .Andrew is a professional, patient and has a great sense of humour. Recommend 100% !

Gillian Dalgliesh

3 years ago

I recorded an online course with Andrew. I'd highly recommend him - professional, efficient, knowledgable & patient, and he has a very warm, welcoming approach. I'm looking forward to recording my audio book with him in 2024! Thank you, Andrew!

Stephen Dempster

3 years ago

I asked Andrew if he would record some songs I had written, music and vocals.
He arranged a guitarist and vocalist. The end product was excellent, the arrangement and studio mix professional.
Andrew kept in touch and I was always updated on the progress of the project.
I would highly recommend his services.
I will certainly use his studio again.

Matt Pringle

3 years ago

My partner got me a a voucher for a few hours at black cave recording for my birthday. I’m a recreational guitar player and never done anything like this before so was nervous. Andrew was very patient though and talked me through everything which put me at ease and allowed me to play and sing to the best of my ability. His mixing skills were amazing too which resulted in a top quality final recording. Would highly recommend Andrew to anyone that is new to recording.

Ruby Cronin

3 years ago

Andrew was very helpful, I've used other studios but black cave has been outstanding for the quality of work produced

Greg May

3 years ago

Had a great experience with Andrew@Black Cave. I'm a total amateur with some lyrics and a tune in my head. Gave Andrew some ideas about how I wanted it to sound and he produced an amazing backing track. I had time in the studio was fun and he got the best out of a pretty average voice. The end product was exactly what I wanted. Well recommended.

Margaret Ryder

3 years ago

The service provided by Andrew was excellent. He was very friendly, reassuring and professional. The final production of my song could not have been more perfect. Thank you so much for all the support. Margaret Ryder

John Spiteri

3 years ago

I have used Black Cave Recording for a number of projects in different genres;
solo voice and guitar, Acapella, traditional instrumentation and experimental Rock. I am pleased, with the results. The producer being a multi instrumentalist, has also been able to play on tracks. A knowledgeable, friendly collaborator who is able to mix and produce to a high standard, whatever the genre.
I have no hesitation in recommending Black Cave Recordings; great value for money.

Jacob Creighton

3 years ago

I’d never been to a recording studio before I’d been to Black Cave Recordings. Any nerves I had vanished quickly as I was immediately made welcome by Andrew which no doubt helped my performance. I have now been going to Black Cave Recordings for over a year now and recorded many songs there. For anyone looking to start recording music and/or get it mixed and mastered effectively I couldn’t recommend this place enough.

Sam Wyllie

3 years ago

Great experience, would definitely recommend!

Andrew very accommodating from start to finish and allows for a very relaxed atmosphere.

Great studio with good facilities!

Gregor Satti

3 years ago

I asked Andrew to master songs for my New Musical, and he did a wonderful job. The sound from the Tracks are Insane, the vocals Pop incredibly well, the Sound from the Musicians is wonderful as well and he done an amazing job. Honestly, if you want someone for a Job Mastering tracks, I would Always say Andrew is the person you want.

Dawn Evans

3 years ago

I worked with Andrew last year to make a recording as a gift. I am not a singer (beyond concerts in the shower or in the car), and, I'm really shy about singing in front of others - so Andrew certainly had his work cut out with me!

He did an amazing job. He helped me through the whole process and was very patient, somehow what we produced sounded amazing!! I've only had one other experience like this, which was my first attempt to record this gift via a Groupon offer with a different studio. Not only did I dislike the end result from that first attempt, but the process itself wasn't very comfortable - especially for a total novice like me. This is why I looked Andrew up.

To begin with in my initial inquiry to see if he could help I shared the first recording to get his professional opinion, without any sales tactics at all he simply pointed out the post production elements from the first one that had hampered the recording, if I wanted to do this again with him he was confident he could have me sounding much better - which he definitely did! I am really proud of the track we made, and the recipient I gifted it to was amazed.

Andrew has also been really helpful following this experience when I reached out to him via email to ask for some advice on microphones and equipment for hobby/home recording. I had such a positive experience with him and loved how the track sounded so much that I decided I might do more for fun at home. I do love to sing, I just don't like an audience! He responded quickly and with loads of very helpful advice which was much appreciated.

I would definitely recommend working with Andrew if you're looking to record with someone. He's professional, courteous, helpful and supportive. Whether you're a seasoned pro, or a total newcomer like me. His post production skills are amazing, he'll produce a very polished finished product for you I'm sure. I would definitely go back to him for any future requirements. A+ Highly recommend!!

Lamin Najib

3 years ago

Hi everyone!I would recommend anyone to go with black cave studio!Andrew is cool, professional and full of understanding of music! ANDREW IS A Very conscious individual AND RESPECTFUL! THE STUDIO IS CLEAN AND WELCOMING! LOVE IT!I MADE HITS ALREADY! THANK YOU ANDREW!
JAH BLESS!

The RTAAds

4 years ago

I have recorded two audio books with Black Cave recordings and will be doing more. Andrew is a delight to work with. He is very professional and has an attention to detail. He is a pleasure to deal with and the quality of the end product has been commented upon by many listeners. I can thoroughly recommend Black Cave recording and I will return again shortly for more recordings.

Susannah Laing

4 years ago

Fantastic studio. Andrew is great! I highly recommend :)

A K

4 years ago

Very impressive sound booth. Andrew is extremely knowledgeable and creates a very professional and welcoming environment.

Morag Clyne

4 years ago

Highly recommended. Andrew made me feel completely at ease recording for my course. He then spent time reviewing and tweaking it until I was completely satisfied.
I needed the file in a different format after our session and that was also no problem for him.

Stefan Zinonos

5 years ago

A massive thank you to Andrew from Black Cave Recordings. He has made my band’s first single sound absolutely incredible.

We only had a short amount of time to get it done, which he managed to pull off even through Christmas time.

Andrew also helped us with any requests we had for the song and made adjustments accordingly and in a very timely manner.

Thanks for your time and quality of work Andrew, we all appreciate it!

Ian Goulding

5 years ago

Andrew did a genuinely amazing on my record. After I did a home recording of vintage synths, drum machines, and some piano parts, he helped to turn a loose collection of ideas into one cohesive whole.

He's really collaborative, but not afraid to be firm in this decisions - this is something that I found really helpful; we could have spent forever making final decisions that I was agonising over, and Andrew cut through the noise to help me come to a choice. That said, he's also very generous with his time; he clearly puts a lot of effort and care into everything, and his revisions are excellent - he doesn't just pump out another version - he makes careful and delicate tweaks.

The quality of work is evident right from the off - his mixes were so well considered and he took time at the outset to try to understand what I was looking to achieve with the album. Every track I asked him to work on is so much better after his input and work. This might seem like a small thing but he also does a great job of helping to keep the dynamic range intact - he doesn't want to fight the loudness war (again, can't thank him enough for this).

Over the years I've worked with a lot of people in music and Andrew stands alone in being the most reliable and consistently excellent person I've come across. I couldn't recommend him highly enough, whether you're an experienced musician or someone just starting out.

Greg Edwards

5 years ago

Very happy with Black Cave - Andrew kept me informed as he was working and sent over my masters exactly when he said he would. And best of all, they sound great, awesome to hear how he polished up my mixes. Much appreciated and would happily use again. Thanks!

Dean McAvoy

6 years ago

Booked a last time session to record a couple of songs as a Christmas present. Andrew was extremely helpful and accommodating. He gave me lots of advice prior to recording to make sure the backing tracks were good quality and the recording session itself was excellent. Very professional and put me at ease throughout the whole process. Would highly recommend!

Rich Dodgin

6 years ago

I recently took the Beginner's Course (4 lessons covering the use of production software, creating music using samples as well as both electronic and acoustic instruments, and mixing finished compositions). The lessons were brilliant! Andrew did an amazing job of showing me how to use Ableton, clearly explaining what we were doing and why, talking though the underlying techniques, and giving me plenty of opportunity to put into practice what I was learning. The lessons were tailored to my own personal needs, and throughout the lessons Andrew was patient and any questions I had were answered clearly. I've come away with a great understanding of how to use Ableton to create and mix the music I want to make, as well as a good understanding of the theory and techniques involved. If you are looking to learn the basics to get you started in music creation / production, then I highly recommend this course - fantastic!

Gridshifter

6 years ago

I had Andrew at black cave recordings do a mix and mastering job for me recently. He had made the track sound better than I could have imagined but, most importantly to me, I can be quite fussy when it comes to certain changes to be made, and he executed all these perfectly without hassle.
I recommend to anyone to work with Black Cave in the future.

Jim Gray

6 years ago

Went along to Black Cave recordings with my little song and plenty of trepidation. Was immediately put at ease which no doubt helped my performance. Enjoyed the experience and ended up with a very professional sounding recording. Would highly recommend Andrew and Black Cave Recordings.

Video Production Edinburgh

7 years ago

We have worked with Black Cave Recordings always finding it extremely pleasent and easy, thanks to their knowledge, skills and approachability. We are looking forward to using their services regularly!

Paolo Drusi

7 years ago

I have worked with Andrew in more than one occasion, and I have been impressed by his knowledge and professional approach to each job. The quality of the sound he produced exceeded my expetions. Strongly recommended!

OnRed

7 years ago

I worked with Black Cave Studios on a live session recently, they stepped in at a moments notice and provided an exceptional service on the night and the quality of the audio we received back was of the highest standard.

his fees are very reasonable for the service you receive and i will certainly be recommending them to others.

Bob

7 years ago

Top service

TAXI

7 years ago

Very Professional. He really cared to get the best sound he could out of my project and the result was more than I could hope for. He nailed it.

Avril Kerr

7 years ago

Outstanding job from start to finish.
Amazing mixing and finished sound.
Great guy ,very easy to work with and the patience of a saint !!
Outstanding professional....
Would thoroughly recommend !!!

Jordan Niven

7 years ago

Worked with a few music tech producers over the years an this was by far the best quality finished result at black cave , will deffo be back in the future

Adonye Banigo

7 years ago

As a singer songwriter, a producer who makes you feel comfortable from the get-go is highly important. Andrew is exactly that and more, I don't think there's enough space here to describe how good he is but I'll try. Firstly I couldn't believe how good my vocals were when I heard them, just a testament of how comfortable I felt whilst singing. We did several home recording sessions at my place and his and I never felt like we were working on a timer; I thoroughly enjoyed the recording experience. Andrew's feedback was always constructive, he actually helped with some of my vocal harmonies! His musician skills came in very handy; he played the bass guitar on my 2 songs and sounded amazing. He paid attention to my feedback too and got the tracks sounding better than I could have ever imagined. The final vocal arrangement, the mixing and mastering- really outstanding work. And all of that for easily the most competitive price I found. Enough said?

Agnieszka Pelowska

8 years ago

Highly recommend. The producer has a fantastic ear for detail and I really welcomed his input. The final mix and master sounded tasteful and professional. Great prices too. Will be back.

Miguel Ángel Hermida

9 years ago

We did the recording, mixing and mastering with Black Cave Recordings and we couldn't be happier. The result was really really good, I didn't expect it to sound as well as it turned out. Also recording with Andrew was great, he really cared about giving us the best possible result, despite our crazy ideas, and we had an amazing time there. Can't recommend enough!

Alan Tomkins

9 years ago

I recently needed to do a voiceover for a video on my website. I tried using my home kit but the quality wasn't great. I found Andrew in Edinburgh on Google and got in touch. In just an hour (and only £20) we have a great quality recording synced with my video. Andrew was incredibly helpful and made me realise how little I know about audio recording. I'd highly recommend his services.

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Contact us:

VOCAL AND VOICE OVER RECORDING

MUSIC PRODUCTION

LOCATION RECORDING

HYBRID EVENTS

BAND RECORDING

BAND REHEARSAL RECORDING

EQUIPMENT

MICROPHONES:

MONITORING/INTERFACES:

INSTRUMENTS:

RECORDING BOOTH:

SOFTWARE: