Studio Carquinez
Friends and family residential studio in the hills of El Cerrito, CA
If you’re on tour, visiting the Bay Area, or have a pressing need to record something special, please be in touch!
- Brian Fogg
fogg4444@gmail.comPhotos
Control room console + outboard gear
Jordan Steer at sunset
Milky Way Radio
Brian tracking drums
Eli Carlton-Pearson
Rubix synth rig through vintage Meyer system
Ephemerald
Big Sis + Lillian Francis
Alaska live modular synth set
Video
My dear friend Nate Trachimowicz has been providing artful video collage and broadcasting from the studio for some of our artist showcases. Here's an example feature the band MILM, recorded May 1st, 2025.
Artists, Visitors, Alumni & Friends of the Studio:
- Alaska
- Big Sis
- Blind Lizard Balkan Band
- Bloody Waters
- CAPYAC
- Delphine & the Moss Collective
- Eli Carlton-Pearson
- Ephemerald
- Future Twin
- Graham Patzner
- The Greasy Gills
- Jack Kwon
- Jaidon
- Jas (Gumby’s Junk)
- Jem Sophia
- Julian Ranieri
- Kevin Ink — Repairs all the broken gear!
- Kristian Rodriguez
- Leo Parra
- Levi Downey
- Lillian Frances
- Masha Mitkov
- Matt Cunitz - Vintage Keyboard Repair
- Matthew Farrell — Engineering / mixing + friend of the studio
- MILM
- Mixing Height
- MTN GRL
- Molly Fisher
- My Evergreen Soul
- Nate Trachimowicz - Video collage / video artist
- Neo Pari
- Nico Georis
- Milky Way Radio
- Pink Harvest
- Prog Frog
- Rubix
- Thunderbaby
- Tiny Trees
- Waterstrider
- Whiskerman
- Zoë Winter
Gear
This studio will not be able to compete with larger studios on gear, so I don’t make an effort to list everything here in great detail. I have the capacity to record 32 channels via Apollo convertors and a modified Soundcraft Ghost console. Mic collection includes quality condensors and plenty of dynamic options. The gear sounds fantastic to my ears and I try to spend more of my energy investing in vibes. The space is inspiring and fosters creativity.
The best of what we offer:
- Family house custom built by Fred Fogg + friends circa 1950
- 10 minute walk from BART + ample parking in quiet and safe neighborhood
- EMT 140 Stereo Plate Reverb
- ADC / John Meyer Passive 3-way far field monitoring system
- Westerly facing floor to ceiling bay windows = bay area sunsets nightly in the control room
- 3x guest bedrooms (queen beds) for extended overnight visitors / touring artists
- Philips hue lighting system and beautiful lava lamp vibes
- Persian carpets + inspiring art collection
- Zero latency playback / monitoring via speakers in every room (12 zones)
- Baby grand piano
- Wurlitzer 200 (restored by Matt Cunitz)
- Ever changing analog synth collection
- Drum sets / cymbals galore
- Hammond B3 + Leslie
- Analog mixdowns via console + outboard collection
- Extensive network of local artists, studio musicians and engineers
- Outboard compressors:
- API 2500 Bus Compressor
- Audioscape LA-2A
- Audioscape D-Comp
- Analog de-essers (DBX 902) (2x)
- DBX 160A (2x)
Wish list
The studio is always evolving. We can use donations from the following list:
- Coffee beans (decaf and/or regular)
- Boom stands (∞x) (Atlas preferred)
- Microphones (any variety)
- Avantone Mix Cube (1x)
- Cool records for the studio collection
- Additional studio monitors (to expand multi room listening system)
- Gaff / board / spike tape any / all colors
- Guitar stands / wall mounts
- Powered PA speakers + stands
- Drum hardware (good quality only plz)
- Bryston amplifiers (2B, 3B, 4B) (or any passively cooled, high quality power amps)
- USB audio interfaces
- Direct boxes / re-amp
- XLR, 1/4”, MIDI & network cables
- Empty, large capacity hard drives (3.5” SATA)
- Paintings, art and lighting accessories (philips hue accessories and lava lamps!)
- Stage Spotlight
- Disco ball + motor
