About
About Hot Milk Studio
Here's a bit of the background story to my recording studio in Berlin, a studio that was always conceived around musical interaction — from a Kreuzberg 'souterrain' to a purpose-built multi-room facility on the city's leafy northern edge.
Philosophy
Performance Over Perfection
Great recordings will always be remembered for their performances rather than their technical perfection. The moments that move us usually happen when musicians are listening, responding and creating together in real time.
Hot Milk Studio was built around that belief. Every room, sightline and acoustic decision exists to support musical interaction and help artists capture performances that feel natural, human and alive.
Chapter One
Hot Milk Studio 1.0
I started recording in 1999 by producing the bands I myself was playing in as a drummer. I had a modest collection of gear and we would use our rehearsal spaces to record in. The learning curve was steep but I can still remember how proud I was to hear the first productions I had completed and, even better, the bands liked them as well!
In 2009, I built the first incarnation of Hot Milk Studio (version 1.0) in Berlin-Kreuzberg. The space was very cozy and had a neighbourhood charm. My first proper studio, I loved it even though it had its weaknesses: the ceilings were not high, space was at a premium and we had one neighbour who regularly complained about the noise. But that didn't stop us and we made many fantastic records!
Chapter Two
The Move
In 2019, the lease on Hot Milk Studio's original Kreuzberg location was coming to an end. Rather than simply replacing the old space, I saw an opportunity to rethink what the studio could become.
I found a very interesting space in a turn-of-the-century brick building in northern Berlin. Formerly a hospital canteen, it was a single large room with 4 m ceilings, 130 sqm and daylight. This was exciting: I would have more than enough space to build a very comfortable multiroom studio with phenomenal acoustics. What's more, we could operate 24/7!
Chapter Three
Building Hot Milk Studio 2.0
After a few sessions sketching out possible layouts, I came up with a plan. I wanted rooms with non-parallel walls and optimum sightlines between them. I also wanted hardwood floors, a lounge and a storage room. In the end, I designed a pentagonal control room with three isolated tracking rooms with individual acoustics. The large tracking room is lively, the so-called "drum room" is more controlled and the "booth" is very dry and tight. Depending on the requirements, different instruments can be recorded in any of the rooms.
Was the build stressful? Haha, yes as they always tend to be! But now this wonderful facility exists where artists can focus on their work and creativity. Hot Milk Studio is a space that promotes musical interaction and engages us to return to some of the classic recording techniques of yesteryear. It allows artists to utilize their acoustic spaces instead of attempting to eliminate them. It's a place where musicians can feel comfortable and get a vibe going.
Location
A Different Side of Berlin
The studio is located at the far northeastern edge of Berlin, an area covered with forests, lakes and parks. Quite different from the inner-city environs of Kreuzberg where the studio was previously located!
Instead of sitting in a dark basement or windowless room, Hot Milk Studio 2.0 offers full daylight, trees and a chance to work any time of day on any day of the week. It is an ideal environment to work creatively without distraction.
The Engineer
Meet Robert
I started as a drummer in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, way back in the early 80s. I was into mullets, heavy rock and I was fascinated by jazz, although I didn't quite understand it at first. I also loved listening to Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and Brahms.
In other words, I was a musician first and did not become an engineer until much later. Through my drumming, I gradually developed my understanding for how ensembles work together by listening, and how great musicians not only play "correctly" but more importantly make it feel good.
Values
What We Value
We find that the best performances happen when musicians connect and interact in real time. In terms of sonics, great sounds start in the room, not on the screen.
That's one of our key areas of expertise — how to set up a session so that the performers feel comfortable and the signals we capture sounds great. And from many years of sessions, we know that musicians always do their best work when they feel relaxed and supported.
Collaborations
Better Together
Through the course of many productions, we have collaborated with a great many videographers, photographers and audio engineers. When the team is right, synergy comes into play and the results are always more than the sum of the parts.
Our clients know that we can scale to the needs of their project. Yes, more is often much more!
Tell Me About Your Music.
Every project starts with a conversation. Share what you're working on and we'll come back with a plan that fits the music, the players and the sound you want to hear back.
Discuss your project