The future of music

11 Best New York Recording Studios

December 29, 2023
Best New York Recording Studios

The Big Apple is patiently waiting for your Big Talent.

Why not get your own dynamic career started in one of the most compelling and magnetic cities on earth? Yes, for all the uninitiated, I am referring to NYC. 

I don’t have enough fingers or toes to count off all the generation-defining, iconic bands that come out of the city every decade, but rest assured many of your favorite bands and soloists call the city home. 

Want to get on the same wavelength as The Ramones, The Strokes, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and elevate your natural-born talent into something culture-defining? You’ll need the ingenuity and technical finesse of one of the best New York recording studios. 

Here are the goods, based on reviews, star power, equipment quality, legacy, and creative ambiance.

Don’t forget to give me a nod in the acknowledgments when your debut work hits the stratosphere. 

1. Pirate Studios NYC

Pirate Studios NYC.

Pirate Studios are changing the game when it comes to affordable, high-quality recording spaces in NYC.

With locations in Gowanus, Bushwick, and Ridgewood, Pirate offers over 30 creative spaces for producers, rappers, and songwriters to record, mix, and master.

Their spaces are self-service and open 24 hours, every day of the year – so you have no excuse not to find time to lay down some new beats!

You can choose between two types of recording studios. If you’re rocking up solo or as a duo, book their ‘Lite’ studio, or go for ‘Pro’ if you’re bringing your whole crew.

Both come equipped with an audio interface, MIDI keyboard, microphone, headphones, and monitors.

Their community is home to professional producers, and complete beginners alike, that get together to showcase their skills in ‘open sessions’ evenings, beat competitions, and online workshops.

Keep an eye on their website and Instagram to join the next event.

The nitty gritty:

Mobile: +1 (866) 606-0065
Website: https://pirate.com/en/recording-studios/new-york/ 
Address(es): Bushwick – 110 Scott Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237, USA; Gowanus – 156 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215, United States; Ridgewood – Box Factory, 1519, Decatur St, Queens, NY 11385, United States.

2. Electric Lady Studios

One of the best New York recording studios, Electric Lady Studios.

Want sixty years of music heritage and retro credentials behind you? Want the spirit (literally and figuratively) of legend Jimi Hendrix vetting you on your journey?

One part psychedelic, two parts practical, this studio is a fixture on the landscape of America’s most creative city. 

If it’s good enough for Patti Smith, Led Zeppelin, and David Bowie then it is certainly good enough for you. Imagine the look on your childhood friend’s faces when you tell them where you got your heady, cinematic start.

They have four studios and one mixing suite, and more state-of-the-art equipment than you can shake a stick at.

If the best gear in the industry isn’t for you, they have a vintage treasure trove of retro amps, guitars, and mics for you to play around with, too. They are easily one of the best recording studios in NYC. 

The Nitty Gritty:

Telephone: 212-677-4700
Website: https://electricladystudios.com/studios/
Email: [email protected] | [email protected]
Address: 52 W 8th St, New York, NY, 10011 

3. Threshold Recording Studios NYC

Threshold Recording Studios NYC.

A one-stop shop and then some for all your recording needs.

Voiceovers, mixing, sound engineering, and more. And best of all? They don’t discriminate: whether you’ve never stepped foot in a recording studio or if you’ve been around this block before, they will welcome you. 

Unlike some well-reputed studios, they are willing to customize a price for you and they offer hourly, full-day, and per-song/project pricing. Every booking gets an engineer and a producer included in the price – value at its finest. 

They also have you covered for audition tapes, writing sessions, and photo shoots.

They have a client and creator-focused modus operandi in everything they do.

This is perfect for the musician who wants a streamlined, non-pretentious experience without sacrificing any of the technical wizardry. 

You’ll have to contact them for pricing. 

The Nitty Gritty: 

Telephone: 212-244-1871
Website: https://thresholdstudios.com/
Email: [email protected]
Address: 517 W 45th St, New York, NY, 10036

4. Platinum Sound Recording Studios

Platinum Sound Recording Studios NYC.

A luxurious and bespoke experience that will transform your music and have you feeling like part of the glitterati.

Sleeker than a private jet, and a heck of a lot more environmentally friendly, you can record in stereo and Dolby Atmos in their futuristic sound lab.

With a design ethos that feels like Blade Runner meets 2001, A Space Odyssey you’ll be feeling like part of the new age of music. Oh, and it was founded by music king Wyclef Jean.

They are noted for their outboard gear with 26 simultaneous inputs and insane mic pre-amplifiers.

They have two isolation booths, where you can elevate your vocals and instrumentals to soaring heights. Being effortlessly intriguing is part of their allure – you’ll have to contact them via the form on their website to get a quote.

The Nitty Gritty:

Telephone: 212-265-6060
Website: https://www.platinumsoundny.com/
Email: [email protected]
Address: 122 W 26th St, New York, NY, 10001 

5. The Cutting Room Studios

The Cutting Room Studios in New York.

A collective of professionals and creatives obsessed with mixing, mastering, and recording killer beats.

They’ve been around for 25 years and have built up a cult buzz around them for their passion-driven approach. When it comes to music studios in NYC, they have a rep you can trust.

They have a classy seventies aesthetic with natural light galore. Their location in the heart of Greenwich lends them a preternatural cool.

Their clientele represents the best of contemporary music, with a special emphasis on rap and hip-hop. They have rock credentials, too: Carly Simon is a former client.   

Their main studio has a 48 Channel Solid State Logic Duality Console and a Yamaha C5 grand piano. They also have atmospheric mood lights for late-night creative sessions.

You’ll have to contact them for a quote.  

The Nitty Gritty:

Telephone: 212-260-0905
Website: https://mirrortone.com/
Email: [email protected]
Address: 14 E 4th St Suite 602, New York, NY, 10012

6. Mirrortone Studios

Mirrortone Studios NYC.

Grammy-winners and indie sleeper stars alike worship at the altar of New York recording studio Mirrortone.

They cultivate an atmosphere of relaxed, nonchalant focus and dedication. These are the people who put in the work that counts without the shimmer and fanfare. 

Their gear is the stuff of legends. They have a Trident 65 Recording Console, one of the best vintage boards in circulation.

If that’s not good enough, they have a Yamaha U1 piano and a Pearl Studio drum kit. If you can think of a stellar, unparalleled piece of equipment, they have it.

They also have a wood-lined solo booth, so your iso vocal sessions will sound honey-warm. 

Their client list is stocked with a who’s who of NYC garage rock legends. They say it themselves: their ears are their best gear.  

You’ll have to call them for a quote.

The Nitty Gritty: 

Telephone: 347-921-0576
Website:
Email: [email protected]
Address: 146 W 29th St Suite 11R, New York, NY, 10001

7. JAMBOX Entertainment Studios

JAMBOX Entertainment Studios.

Chelsea’s finest, JAMBOX is a big name in rap, hip-hop, and popular music.

They are renowned for being owned by a black businessman and a female creative and they seek to expand the scope of the music industry.

They’ve been a top-rated recording studio for 23 years and they have a visionary outlook that will take your music further than you can imagine.

They will guide you through every stage of the process: recording, post-production, remastering, and mixing.

They also offer listening sessions and vocal training to get you to the top of your game. If you value a full-service approach and want expertise and honest feedback, this will be your best bet. 

Their renowned blue room is the vibey, moody, sensual favorite of rap and pop musicians alike. Looking for a recording studio in Manhattan? Look no further. 

They have a winter special going on right now: 75$ per hour for three hours. And if you book six hours you will get one free. Check back for seasonal specials.

The Nitty Gritty:

Telephone: 212-979-8324
Website: https://jamboxstudio.com/
Email: [email protected]
Address: 352 7th Ave, New York, NY, 10001 

8. Flux Studios NYC

Flux Studios NYC.

Retro and terribly glamorous, with a touch of Old Hollywood, you can basically feel the ghost of Sinatra cheering you on from the deck at Flux Studios.

They have sleek pianos, well-appointed wall fixtures, and opulent interiors. They brand themselves as a recording studio with a “vintage heart and a modern mind”.  

They have a 4000 sq foot recording space, with expertly-guided engineering, production, and mixing programs. They have a reputation that precedes them, and their clientele will sell you if I don’t.

We’re talking about Sean Lennon and David Crosby. Paul McCartney even left a review for them, thanking them for providing such a great space. 

The staff at Flux are the epitome of thoughtful, low-key professionals who let the results speak for themselves. 

You’ll have to reach out for a room-by-room quote. 

The Nitty Gritty: 

Telephone: 917-512-3489
Website: https://www.fluxstudios.net/
Email: [email protected]
Address: 154 E 2nd St, New York, NY, 10009 

9. Lounge Studios

Lounge Studios.

One of the best of the best NYC music studios, Lounge Studios is one of those rare unicorns that has managed to maintain 4.9 stars with 350+ reviews. This aint easy, y’all.

They take style and silhouette to a daring, sartorial level. They have four curated, well-appointed rooms: the Ivory Lounge, Ebony Lounge, Vanilla Sky Lounge, and Brown Sugar Lounge, and more. Oh, and the Throne Room for when you’re feeling like the voice of your generation.

Their Grammy-award-winning mixing engineer Blue will master your song into something of note.

Their team has also been behind Billboard Top Albums across the spectrum of genres: rock, Latin, pop, and Hip-Hop. They’ll also help you with all the promo and visuals for your band, whether that is album cover photography or promo shots.

They have seasonal specials. Their two-hour recording quick mix package is currently $350.

The Nitty Gritty: 

Telephone: 212-268-8522
Website: https://www.loungestudiosnyc.com/
Email: [email protected]
Address: 315 W 39th St, New York, NY, 10018 

10. Power Station at BerkleeNYC

Power Station at BerkleeNYC.

Rocking eardrums since 1977, these professional renegades are the gold standard when it comes to recording.

Their spacious, soaring recording space is decked out in acoustically-enhancing wood panels, with an emphasis on raw, organic vocals. 

What makes them special, in addition to their swoon-worthy architecture? They are a landmark public-private-nonprofit partnership, fusing a love for music and creative exploration. 

Their legendary clientele, which includes Bruce Springsteen, the Dire Straits, and The Rolling Stones, are certainly happy with the quality and skill of the team.

They offer a wide range of instruments, a grand piano, and a variety of studio sizes, depending on the intimacy or impact of the music you want to produce. 

You’ll have to fill out a form with project details for a quote.

The Nitty Gritty: 

Telephone: 212-765-7500
Website: https://powerstation.nyc/
Email: [email protected]
Address: 441 W 53rd St, New York, NY, 10019

11. Quad Recording Studios NYC

What could be more notable and glittering than recording in the heart of Times Square, that beacon of creativity and commercial prowess?

Location aside, their focus is on creating crisp, acoustically-superior sound in a relaxed, downtempo environment. 

Their space is minimalist, airy, and designed to foster a sense of creative expansion and self-assurance. They also have pool tables for when you need to release your creative tension.

Some of rap, pop, and indie hip hop’s biggest names are regulars at Quad, and value the expertise, attention to detail, and full-suite production-engineering support.

Their engineering quartet is renowned in the NYC music scene, and they embrace a client-first approach. Of the moment equipment and sound decks will elevate your craft and leave you in awe at how professional your creation can sound.      

You’ll have to contact them and describe your project to get a quote!

The Nitty Gritty:

Telephone: 212-730-1035
Website: http://quadnyc.com/
Email: [email protected]
Address: 723 7th Ave 10th Floor, New York, NY, 10019

Best New York Recording Studios – Final Thoughts

Now that you’ve been primed on the best of the best NYC recording studios, why hesitate?

Sometimes all it takes is some insider knowledge to sort the wheat from the chaff, if you will.

Whether you want to explore your talent in rock, folk, hip hop, or songwriting, there is an expert at one of the above studios to make it happen.

They’ll take the raw marble of your skill and turn it into a sculpture rivaling anything of Michelangelo’s.

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Will Fenton

Will, the founder of MIDDER, is a multifaceted individual with a deep passion for music and personal finance. As a self-proclaimed music and personal finance geek, he has a keen eye for futuristic technologies, especially those that empower creators and the public.

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