Renowned engineer/producer Mike Exeter visited Middle Farm Studios where producer Jack Trubshaw was producing Santù. We have previously visited Middle Farm to record a tour with owner/engineer Peter Miles but he’s a hard man to capture so it was great to have Jack take us on a tour of the studio he was working in and was hugely enjoying the charm and overall vibe of the studios which comes out in the video.
The studio is what some might term ’boutique’. A studio that is completely geared around making bands feel comfortable, relaxed and able to focus on their record. The selection of equipment is spot on, a great amount of instruments and drums to choose from means that if you decide you need a dampened piano, there is one, if you want a different guitar – take your pick. There is so much here it’s impossible to list it all.
Further down the page is a partial list of some of the equipment available – it’s not exhaustive so after watching the video scroll down to the foot of this page and click the Middle Farm web link to view the unbelievable list.
The studio has loads of nice and affordable accommodation and there’s a lovely kitchen. Outdoor seating offers tranquil views over the Devon countryside – some producers might not want to go anywhere else after visiting this place and that might explain why they are so booked up.
To help give us a flavour of what the studio is like to work in, Jack briefly stopped the session to give Mike a studio tour and session walk-though while the band, Santù, grabbed some lunch so that we could rove around the studio and check out their recording setup. The band also very kindly shot some footage of their recording session and gave us a bit of audio to use so that Jack could show the sounds that they were getting at Middle Farm. We thought the band sounded great and look forward to hearing the finished record!!!
Jack Trubshaw is a producer, engineer and mixer based in Birmingham, UK. Having started out as a live sound engineer and then transitioned into studio production, Jack specialises in working collaboratively with bands and artists and prides himself on his ability to capture an artist’s live sound on a record. Jack has had the privilege to work with, and be mentored by some incredibly talented producers including Steve Osborne, Mike Exeter, Gary Stevenson, Simon Duggal and Rupert Christie as well as working with a wide range of incredibly talented artists both live and in the studio.
If you’re interested in working on a project with Jack, please feel free to email jacktrubshawproducer@gmail.com or reach out on Instagram @jack_trubshaw
Live Room Camera Footage – Ryan Ridley – @VisualsByRyan
Vocals – José Santos – @sepolleugimez
Guitar – Sam Atkins – @amsatkins
Drums – Jono Antill – @jonoantilldrums
Engineer – Izzi Warburton
The Band’s page is @santuofficialuk
Middle Farm Studios Equipment
Studer A80 VU MK II 2” 16/24 trk
Ampex ATR 102 1/2” 2trk
Trident Series 70 desk
2 x Neve 33135 Channels
8 x 1978 Tweed Audio c515 Channels
8 x Focusrite ISA Preamps (ISA 828)
4 x Shure M267 70’s mini mixers with ‘Devil Loc’ limiters
Neve 33609
Empirical Labs Distressor EL8 x 4
Empirical Labs Mike-e
POM Audio Design POM-PYE
Manley Langevin ELOP
DBX 160A x 4
DBX 117
DBX 118
Hairball 1176 LN
Shure M267 Limiters x 4
Rupert Neve Designs 500 series rack loaded with:
– DBX 560a x 2
– DBX 520 x 2
– Empirical Labs Derr-Esser x2
– CP4500 Stereo SSL style Bus Compressor
Microphones
Neumann U87 x2
Neumann KM184 x2
Neumann KMS105 x 4
AEA R44CE
AKG 414 ULS x2
AKG 414 XLS x2
AKG 414 XL II x2
AKG D12
AKG D112
Coles STC 4038 x 2
Coles STC 4021 ‘Ball & Biscuit’
Coles STC 4035 ‘Hand Grenade’
Telefunken M80 x 2
Peluso 2251
Warm Audio U47 x 2
Sennheisser 441
Sennheisser 541
Sennheisser 421 x5
Shure SM7
Shure SM7b
EV RE-20
EV 3088
Beyer M88
Shure SM57 x6
Shure SM57 Beta
Shure Beta 91A
Sure Beta 52
Shure KSM 32 x2
Sontronics Halo
SE VR1 Ribbon x2
Crown PZM x2
Instruments
1878 Steinway Model C Concert Grand Piano
1966 Yamaha U3 Upright Piano
1965 Hammond C3 & Leslie 122
1973 Rhodes MkII Electric Piano
Wurlitzer 200a Electric Piano
Kemble Upright Piano
19th Century Harmonium
Moog Subsequent 37
Sequential Prophet 6
Roland Juno 106 (Kiwi Mod)
Roland SH-101
Moog DFAM
Roland TR-08
Arturia MiniBrute
Amps
1968 Fender Twin
Bad Cat Black Cat 30
1973 Marshall JMP 100w
1977 Ampeg VT40
1979 Ampeg V4
1995 Mesa Blackface Dual Rectifier
2003 Diezel VH4
THD Bi-Valve
Groove Tubes Studio Series Tube Preamp
Darkglass Microtubes 900
‘The Doctor’ 1950’s projector amp
Two Cats 18w Marshall Clone
Leslie 147 (w/preamp for line in)
Fender ‘64 Custom Princeton Reverb
1959 Selmer Truevoice TV8
80’s Roland JC120
1973 Traynor YGM3 RetroAmps Custom
1969 Marshall 4×12 (25w Creambacks)
1978 Ampeg v4 4×12
1993 Mesa Rectifier 4×12 (Vintage 30’s)
Bad Cat 4×12 (Bad Cat 30’s)
Zilla Super Fatboy 2×12 (12H 30w Greenbacks)
Zilla 4×10 (Ampeg VT)
1970’s Fender 2×15
1970’s Fender 2×12 (Jensen)
Weird old 50’s radio 1×12
Ampeg SVT 8×10
Ampeg SVT 4×10
Mills Acoustics 2×10
Drums
70’s Ludwig Black Beauty 14×6.5”
70’s Ludwig 400 14×5″
Ludwig 402 14×6.5″
Gretsch Bell Brass 14×6.5”
Guru Staved Walnut, Ash & Ovankol 14×5″
Guru Steambent Ash 13×6″
Pearl Custom Classic Single Ply Ash 14×6.5″
Q Drum Co. Copper 24×18”
Yamaha Recording Custom 22×16”
Yamaha Recording Custom 24×18”
Yamaha 9000 26×14″
Tama Bubinga Elite 22×18″
Guru Origin 22×17”
1971 Rogers 22×14”
1972 Ludwig Olive Badge 20×14”
Q Drum Co. Copper 13, 16ft & 18”ft
1971 Rogers 13 & 16”ft
1972 Ludwig Olive Badge 13, 14 & 16”ft
Guru Origin 10, 12, 14ft, & 16ft
Yamaha Recording Custom 8,10,12,14ft & 16”ft
Yamaha 9000 13,14 & 18″ft
Guitars
1976 Gibson LP Custom
1974 Fender Stratocaster
1987 Epiphone By Gibson Sheraton
2004 Fender Custom Shop ’63 Relic Telecaster
2015 Manson Guitar Works MA Custom
Jackson So-Cal 2PT
1975 Fender Precision Bass
1978 Fender Mustang Bass
2012 Dingwall Afterburner Bass
2012 Gibson Hummingbird Acoustic
1995 Simon & Patrick SP6 Acoustic
1978 Alhambra S.A. Spanish Acoustic
1950’s Parlour Rubber Bridge Acoustic
