Barnhouse Sound Productions/Recording Studios

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Qualicum Beach, BC
Barnhouse Sound Productions/Recording Studios

In the business of making music. Audio production and destination recording studio. Record/Mix/Master

www.barnhousesoundproductions.com

06/24/2026

🎙Do you know what this is? It's a Tascam 244 Portastudio, the 4-track cassette recorder that kicked off the home recording revolution.

🎙Released in 1982, the 244 gave musicians a full recording system in one unit: 4-track cassette recorder, built-in mixer, sweep EQ, and DBX noise reduction. No studio booking required. It's the machine that made multitrack recording accessible to independent artists for the first time, and it changed everything that came after.

🎙Mac DeMarco recorded his debut mini-LP, Rock and Roll Night Club, on one of these, leaning hard into the pitch control and track-bouncing to get that signature warped, lo-fi sound. Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska was recorded on its predecessor, the TEAC 144. Tom Waits, Lou Reed, Four Tet, Wu-Tang Clan… the list of artists who came up on Portastudios is long.

🎙Ours is part of the in-house gear collection at Barnhouse, and you can use it in your sessions. Whether you want to run a track through it for that warm, saturated cassette texture or just bounce an idea down to tape for fun, it's here and ready to go.

#244

06/15/2026

🎙Vulnerable, raw, and hauntingly beautiful: performing live on piano at Barnhouse.

🎙A multi-talented Canadian singer and songwriter, her ethereal, piano-driven, cinematic style feels right at home in our spacious live room.

🎙Recorded and filmed live. Just a riveting performance, real and in the moment.

🎙Hit play, turn the lights down, and let this one sink in.

06/10/2026

🎙Have you tried any of these classic overhead mic methods for recording drums?

🎙The Recorder Man method uses two condenser mics to get a balanced, natural picture of the kit with a tighter, more focused sound. The key is making sure both mics are the same distance from the snare — and often the kick — to keep the core of the kit centered and in phase.

🎙The Glyn Johns method is similar, but usually lets the room play a bigger role for a wider, more powerful overall sound. One mic sits above the snare, the other near the floor tom, with both mics equidistant from the snare to help keep things in phase.

🎙A third approach is a spaced pair: one overhead for the left side, one for the right. Instead of just aiming at the cymbals, you’re trying to capture the whole kit as one instrument.

🎙Different methods, different feel. But in every case, getting those overheads positioned properly is what sets the foundation for a great drum recording.

🎙For more drum recording tips, check out How To Mic Drums on the Studio Tips page on our website.

06/03/2026

🎙Wanna get out of the city and lock in a 3‑song EP or a batch of new tracks?

🎙Barnhouse Sound is a destination recording facility in Qualicum Beach, BC, with a 1,200 sq ft live room and a full collection of vintage and modern gear included in your studio rate.

🎙Our 3‑song EP packages bundle 3 days of recording, dedicated editing and tuning time, plus mixing and mastering for your songs. We’re built so you can arrive with a plan and leave with a finished project.

🎙With our on‑site accommodations, you can stay where you record: 3 bathrooms (2 showers), a master bedroom with a queen bed, a bunk room with 1 queen bunk and 1 single bunk, an outdoor hot tub and shower, fire pit BBQ, lounge with TV and pool table, and 24/7 access to the live room.

🎙Visit the Recording Studio Rates and Accommodations pages through the link in our bio to learn more about EP packages and multi‑day recording retreats.

05/25/2026

🎙Funk, ska, and reggae collective is currently in the studio working on their new album.

🎙If you’ve been to Victoria SkaFest, you’ve definitely seen them. They play the festival every year and have taken the stage as headliners.

🎙We’re tracking the new record right here at The Barnhouse, with Justin LaPointe handling production, mixing, and mastering duties from start to finish.

🎙Check out the crew in action and hear a sneak peek!

05/19/2026

🎙Psychedelic surf rock band .wav have been making The Barnhouse a regular stop, with eight sessions here over the last year working on their album.

🎙Their sound leans into reverb‑drenched guitars and textures that feel right at home in a big room.

🎙We’ve been tracking across multiple visits as their record takes shape, and it’s been a blast watching the songs evolve from session to session.

🎙Follow .wav and keep an eye on our page for more from their time at Barnhouse.

05/13/2026

🎙How to mic an acoustic guitar for studio‑quality tone.

🎙Start with the right mic for the job. Condenser mics (like AKG 451s) are bright and detailed and great when you need the guitar to cut through a mix. Ribbon mics (like the Avantone CR‑14) are warmer and more natural, perfect if your guitar is on the brighter side. Dynamics (like a Shure SM57) have a punchy midrange and less detail, but can add character and vibe in the right context.

🎙Placement matters as much as the mic. A great starting point is aiming the mic at the 12th fret, 6–12 inches away, where the neck meets the body. it balances warmth and clarity. Avoid pointing straight at the sound hole, which usually gives you a muddy, boomy tone. If you want depth and width, try a stereo setup (like a pair of condensers in XY or a spaced pair) for a wider, more natural image.

🎙Don’t forget about the room. A small, reflective room (like a bathroom) will sound bright and lively, while a carpeted bedroom will be drier and more controlled. Reverb is much harder to take out than to add later, so pay attention to how much room you’re printing on the way in.

🎙Most importantly, experiment and trust your ears. Move the mic a few inches, change the angle, try a different room, or swap mics. Even something simple like an SM57 can work beautifully if you put it in the right spot. If it sounds good in the room and in your headphones, you’re doing it right.

🎙Learn more on the Studio Tips page on our website!

05/04/2026

🎙The Sears Silvertone 1484 “Twin Twelve” is a fun amp to plug into.

🎙Originally sold through the Sears catalogue in the ’60s as an affordable tube amp for working musicians and garage bands, it’s become a cult classic for its raw, gritty breakup and ragged tone.

🎙Compared to cleaner, more hi‑fi vintage amps, the Twin Twelve leans into a dirtier, mid‑rich tone that’s perfect for garage rock, indie, and anything that needs a bit more attitude.

🎙It’s also really touch‑sensitive: roll your guitar back for cleaner rhythm parts, then turn up for a thick, saturated crunch that feels alive under your fingers.

🎙If you want to hear what this thing can do, you can plug into it on your next session at the barn.

#1484

05/01/2026

🎙Our studio rates are straightforward and musician‑friendly. No hidden gear fees or surprises!

🎙Day sessions start with a minimum 4‑hour booking including an engineer, and every session comes with access to all in‑house instruments and studio gear.

🎙If you’re bringing your own engineer, our staff engineer is on hand as a session tech so you can focus on the music instead of troubleshooting.

🎙We offer 3‑song EP packages that bundle 3 days of recording, dedicated editing/tuning time, plus mixing and mastering for your songs.

🎙Custom post‑production rates are also available if you’re just looking for mixing and/or mastering.

🎙Head to our website and visit the Recording Studio Rates page to see full details and pricing, and reach out about dates and availability!

04/28/2026

🎙Emerging Artist Maddie Toews came to The Barnhouse in March to record four new songs.

🎙Sitting somewhere between Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Lizzy McAlpine, and Olivia Kaplan, Maddie’s writing leans into modern, emotionally honest pop with a narrative edge.

🎙Her songs are set to be released this June, and we can’t wait for people to hear what she’s been working on.

🎙Keep an eye on .toews and our page for more from these sessions as we get closer to release.

Address

Qualicum Beach, BC

Website

http://www.barnhousesoundproductions.com/

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