WCA #606 with Neil Rogers – Eighteen Years of Half-ton Studios, Bootstrapping in Cambridge, and Writing for Sound on Sound

For episode 606, Matt talks with Neil Rogers — recording engineer, owner of Half-ton Studios in Cambridge, and longtime reviewer for Sound on Sound. After a decade of gigging as a drummer with no payoff, Neil found a music tech degree at 26 that rebuilt his confidence, then answered a group email about a ramshackle unit next to a brewery and built a studio there on about £7,000 and favors. Eighteen years on, they talk about the accidental great-sounding drum room, rebuilding bigger during COVID, pricing, being honest with young people about studio careers, and the joy of recording bands live on the floor.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Meeting Matt Over a Pint in Cambridge
• Eighteen Years of Half-ton Studios
• Writing for Sound on Sound
• Learning Drums When School Friends Started a Band
• Why So Many Engineers Are Drummers
• A Decade of Gigging Without a Payoff
• A Music Tech Degree at 26
• Discovering He Could Write
• The Group Email and the Unit Next to a Brewery
• Starting With £7,000 and Favors
• The Accidental Great-Sounding Drum Room
• First Gear: a £700 Soundtracs Desk
• MySpace, Flyers, and Rehearsal Income
• Rebuilding Bigger During COVID
• Working With an Acoustician
• How the New Room Draws Bands From London
• Pricing and the Independent Band Rate
• Honest Advice for Young Engineers
• Workshops and Taster Sessions
• Why He Limits Mixing Work
• Recording Bands Live on the Floor

Matt’s RANT!: CLUTTER!

Links and Show Notes:

• Half-ton Studios
• Neil Rogers at Sound on Sound
• Half-ton recording & mixing workshops

Credits:

• Guest: Neil Rogers
• Host/Engineer/Producer: Matt Boudreau
• WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell
• The Voice: Chuck Smith