Accessibility statement

The Garage Recording Studio

Studio training courses

Run by our Colleges Music Coordinator and Vanbrugh Rock Tutor, Steven Burton, these sessions guide you in learning how to use the Garage Recording Studio, attached to The Garage practice space.

Once you have been signed-off to use this space, you will be able to hire it to make your own recordings, record your band or earn some money by recording other bands.

Do the course consisting of a 3-hour Introductory Theory Session, 6-hour Practical Practice Sessions (until you feel confident) and a 6-hour Sign-Off session.  This is priced at £20 for Garage members and £30 for non-Garage members.  Experienced Studio Engineers who don't need any training can get signed off by signing up to a Fast-Track Briefing Session.  

See below for dates and links to sign-up, or email college-music-scheme@york.ac.uk to register your interest about future dates.

All training takes place in The Garage Recording Studio, next door to the Warren on Vanbrugh Way (the purple garage doored house opposite the Information Centre on Market Square).

Complimentary hot drinks are provided at The Warren and there is a kitchen you can use.

Introductory Theory Session - recommended starting point for beginners.

Learn about the basics of recording and how the equipment works in this introduction session.

We recommend that all students new to studio recording start off with this session before advancing to the practical session.

Book by using the links below:

Semester 1, 2024

Practical Practice sessions - 6 hours practicing recording a band

If you have attended the Introductory Theory Session OR used recording studios before AND you understand the theory of what you are doing, but need to get some practical experience, you can advance straight to the "Practical Session".  This is a six-hour session practising recording a band, including learning to set up and take down equipment, recording various instruments including drums.

Semester 1, 2024

A single additional place is reserved to assist during sign-off sessions and benefit.

Contact college-music-scheme@york.ac.uk if you want to be on the waiting list for any of the following sessions:

  • Week 4, Wednesday 16 October, 12:30-18:30
  • Week 7, Wednesday 13 November, 12:30-18:30
  • Week 11, Wednesday 11 December 12:30-18:30

Sign-Off Sessions: to qualify for using the studio by yourself

When you feel confident enough to record by yourself, you can request a sign-off session.

We will organise a band (or you can arrange with a band you know) for a six-hour recording session where you will be responsible for the recording, under supervision.

We usually try to do this in pairs so you have a buddy to work with.

If our tutor is happy that you can confidently run the studio then you will get a course sign-off certificate and can then hire the facility.

Dates currently reserved for this are:

  • Week 4, Wednesday 16 October, 12:30-18:30
  • Week 7, Wednesday 13 November, 12:30-18:30
  • Week 11, Wednesday 11 December 12:30-18:30

If you are keen to reserve a sign-off slot, or are feeling confident about this following a practice session, please contact college-music-scheme@york.ac.uk.

Fast-Track Briefing sign-off sessions, for experienced sound engineers to get signed off to hire the recording studio

For experienced sound engineers, we run single sign-off briefing sessions, to introduce you to the specifics of the Garage Recording Studio as well as the rules of use.

After completing this session, you can hire the studio to record yourself, record your own band, or maybe even earn some money recording other bands.

Depending on how much advice or support you want, this session may last only 45 minutes but we allow three hours.

Semester 1, 2024

 

Payment

Once you have reserved your place on your preferred session(s), please secure you place by making your payment via our online store.

You are asked to pay for the full course, even if you feel you have sufficient experience to skip the Introductory Session, and go straight to the Practical Sessions.  However, if you have not completed the course by the end of the academic year or you decide you no longer want to proceed with the course, then we will issue you with a partial refund, depending on how many sessions you have booked on. 

Free Recording Session for Your Band?

If you have a band and want to get some free recording, we are always looking for bands to practice on for both our practical and sign-off sessions. You'll get copies of your tracks and an opportunity to get a sense of what being in a recording studio is like.  Contact college-music-scheme@york.ac.uk to register your interest.