Recording & rehearsal studio on Vancouver Island
Strangeways is a turnkey recording and rehearsal studio on Vancouver Island with a large sound stage wired for fast, no-nonsense sessions. You're tracking multitrack audio through Class-A converters and preamps within minutes, with multicam HD video and Sessionwire remote access available out of the box. From indie bands to choirs and jazz or string ensembles, the room, routing, and rates are tuned for artists who need great results without burning time or budget.
- Optimised for independent artists
- Pristine multitrack audio + HD video
- Remote collaboration via Sessionwire
Services
From first demos to full-length records, Strangeways Studios offers recording, production, rehearsal, and remote sessions from our 1,500 sq ft studio on Vancouver Island.
Recording & production
Songwriting, overdubs, and full-album production in a treated studio built for live bands and detailed edits.
- 1,500 sq ft facility with a 750 sq ft sound stage for live-off-the-floor tracking.
- Antelope Orion Studio Synergy Core conversion with Trident-powered Audient preamps.
- Four individual stereo headphone mixes with zero-latency FPGA effects and amp modelling.
- Remote collaborators can join via Sessionwire with bi-directional, high-quality 2-channel audio pass-through between studios.
Mixing & mastering
Hybrid in-the-box and outboard mixing with mastering-grade conversion and an accurate listening environment.
- Mastering-grade converters with a noise floor down to -130 dB for detailed, transparent monitoring.
- Balanced, acoustically treated control room for critical mix decisions that translate.
- Flexible delivery: singles, EPs, full albums, stems, and instrumental/TV mixes.
- Clients can sit in on mixing sessions remotely via Sessionwire with 400 Kbps high-quality audio pass-through.
Rehearsal & pre-production
Use the 750 sq ft sound stage as your rehearsal room with studio-grade PA, backline, and recallable monitor mixes.
- Three floor wedges with 15-inch speakers plus a subwoofer for clear stage-style monitoring.
- Three vocal mics, a selection of guitar and bass amps, and a Taye drum kit included with the room.
- In-ear monitor setups welcome—bring your own IEMs and we’ll wire you in.
- Monitor mix configurations can be saved and recalled across successive sessions for a consistent sound.
Mobile recording & broadcast
Bring the Strangeways rig to concert halls, churches, theatres, or other favourite rooms for on-location recording and broadcast.
- Portable road-case system with Mac Pro, Antelope conversion, and Audient Trident preamps.
- Multi-mic capture for ensembles, bands, choirs, and live events in acoustically interesting spaces.
- Optional multi-camera HD capture and live switching for performances, sessions, and livestreams.
- Custom quotes for location, scale, and technical requirements—tell us about your venue and goals.
Why Strangeways
- 10+ years in business serving independent artists through writing, production, mixing, and mastering.
- Performance-first workflow with four recallable stereo monitor mixes so you're ready to record within minutes of walking through the door.
- Remote collaboration with Sessionwire so producers, bandmates, or clients can join sessions from anywhere in the world.
- Flexible sound stage that works equally well for rock bands, choirs, jazz ensembles, and chamber groups.
How we work
Start with a free 30-minute consult, then book your session and 50% deposit online. After recording, everything is delivered through your own Nextcloud account for easy collaboration.
Free 30-minute consult
Start with a no-pressure call to shape your session.
- Book a free 30-minute consultation to ask questions and talk through your goals.
- Discuss songs, arrangements, references, and what you want to leave with.
- We’ll recommend session length, setup, and any pre-production to get the most from your time.
- Perfect for first-time studio visits or new projects.
Book your session
Choose a date and lock it in with a 50% deposit.
- Use the booking calendar on this page to pick a day and time that works for your band.
- Secure the session with a non-refundable 50% deposit; the remaining 50% is due at the end of the day.
- We’ll confirm your booking, send a brief checklist, and answer any last-minute questions.
- Need to reschedule? We’ll move you to a comparable time slot at no extra cost.
Session & delivery
Record, then access everything via your own account.
- Record in Logic Pro X, Ableton Live 11, or Reaper; Pro Tools can be arranged on request for a small additional fee.
- Instant backup: project and audio files are uploaded to our secure Nextcloud server straight after the session.
- You’ll receive your own Nextcloud account for ongoing collaboration during production and mixing.
- Download via share links or sync everything to your computer with the Nextcloud app.
Process
Consult
Book a free 30-minute call to talk through your songs, goals, and budget, and decide what kind of session you need.
Book & deposit
Choose a date and time with the online calendar and secure it with a 50% non-refundable deposit; the balance is due at the end of the session day.
Record
Track in Logic Pro X, Ableton Live 11, or Reaper (Pro Tools available on request), with live-off-the-floor options and flexible overdubs.
Deliver & collaborate
We upload project and audio files to your Nextcloud account so you can download or sync them and keep collaborating through mix and master.
Rates
Rates are for time in the studio, in Canadian dollars (CAD), before GST and deposits.
Recording day rates
- Weekday (10am-6pm): $600.00 (promo $500.00)
- Weeknight (6pm-10pm): $300.00 (promo $250.00)
- Weekend day (10am-6pm): $650.00 (promo $550.00)
- Weekend night (6pm-10pm): $350.00 (promo $300.00)
Rehearsal rates
- Weekday (10am-6pm): $315.00 (promo $250.00)
- Weeknight (6pm-10pm): $157.50 (promo $125.00)
- Weekend day (10am-6pm): $450.00
- Weekend night (7pm-11pm): $300.00
Hourly engineer rates
- Senior Engineer: $110.00/hour
- ADR / VO Sessions: $250.00/hour
About
Strangeways Studios didn’t start as a business plan. It began in a shared jam space in Gastown where I’d write and record into the wee hours of the morning. Somewhere around 2008 I started composing music for films in Vancouver, scoring several features, and earning some encouraging accolades along the way.
Eventually that scrappy setup migrated to Tiger Mountain—a makeshift music venue on Vancouver Island that I co-founded in 2015. It grew into a full recording and rehearsal space and a music school. At its busiest, more than 130 students came through each week, with local bands filling evenings and weekends. Friends like Arlen Thompson of Wolf Parade helped stock the room with consoles and microphones, and before long Wolf Parade were writing and demoing Cry, Cry, Cry in the same space where the young and old from the community were taking their lessons.
Then 2020 hit. The pandemic emptied the rooms overnight. Lessons moved online, and I threw myself into building a remote learning platform called Riffable.com while recording two albums with a new band, Music Hall. It was an immensely creative but draining period. By 2023, I was burnt out enough to put the studio on hiatus and step more fully into software engineering.
But walking away never stuck. The studio had given me some of the best moments of my life—underground shows, kids racing in after school, late-night sessions where a song finally clicked on the thirtieth take. It introduced me to artists I’d never have met otherwise. So instead of closing the chapter, I chose to return with a clearer sense of what the studio should be.
Strangeways Studios is that return. The name reaches back to my time living in the northwest of England, riding past the gothic Victorian era Strangeways prison while listening to Strangeways, Here We Come. It’s a word that has become rich in relevance and double-entendre to me.
And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.
Today, Strangeways is a modern recording studio built around how artists actually work. The room is tuned to be pragmatic while still feeling inspiring. Tracking, mixing, and collaboration are designed to be as turnkey as possible, so ideas don’t get smothered by setup time or technical friction.
As a producer and multi-instrumentalist, I can slot in wherever a project needs me—drums, guitars, keys, arrangements, or simply steering the session. Clients come back because they get a room that sounds great, a process that respects their time and budget, and a collaborator who cares about both the emotional storytelling of a recording and the technical details that make it translate.
In the next few years, I plan to deepen Strangeways as a home for ambitious independent records while returning more fully to composing for film and television. If you sometimes feel like you’re dancing to music no one else can hear, we should talk. You’ll feel at home here.
Frequently asked questions
What does the 50% deposit cover, and when is the rest due?
The 50% non-refundable deposit secures your session date and time. The remaining 50% is due at the end of the session day, along with GST and any additional fees (for example: extra editing time, Pro Tools surcharge, or overtime). A detailed invoice is provided at the end of the day.
Can I reschedule or cancel after paying the deposit?
Yes. A reschedule link is included in your initial booking email, and you can move your session to another available slot within our 90-day booking window at no extra cost. Deposits are non-refundable in most cases, but we make exceptions for serious health or injury situations. Rehearsal bookings are refundable if cancelled at least 3 days before the booking date. For dates beyond 90 days, contact us via the form or email.
How long is a full-day session? Do you offer half-day or hourly bookings?
A full-day session is 8 hours, typically 10am-6pm. We also offer half-day and hourly bookings (2-hour minimum), which are arranged directly via email or the contact form rather than through the online calendar.
Are recording and rehearsal rates the same?
No. Recording includes an engineer for the full duration of the session. Rehearsal includes an engineer for roughly the first 20 minutes to help with setup and soundcheck, then you have the room. Current rates and options are outlined in our pricing table, which we can share during your consult or on request.
What’s included with the rehearsal space, and what should we bring?
Rehearsal bookings include three floor wedges with 15-inch speakers plus a subwoofer, three vocal mics, a selection of guitar and bass amps, and a Taye drum kit. Many drummers prefer to bring their own snare and cymbals, but we can provide those if needed. Please bring your own expendables like sticks, picks, and strings.
Can we leave our gear set up between rehearsals (lockout)?
Yes. Lockout can be accommodated for recurring or multi-day use of the room, but it incurs an additional charge. Let us know what you have in mind and we will quote based on schedule and storage needs.
Are rehearsals recorded?
We don’t multitrack record rehearsals by default—that’s part of our recording service. However, you're welcome to record a 2-track mix off the board for reference. Our engineer can help you set this up at the start of your rehearsal.
Which DAWs do you support, and can I bring my own sessions?
We currently run Logic Pro X 11.2.2, Ableton Live 11, and Reaper 7.38. Pro Tools can be arranged on a per-project basis for a small additional fee. You are welcome to bring your own sessions; we will print any important mix or buss effects before you take the project back to your home studio to avoid plugin conflicts.
What sample rate and bit depth do you use, and what can I receive after the session?
We typically record at 48 kHz / 24-bit. We can deliver stereo mixes, instrumentals or a cappellas, stems, cut-downs, and other formats requested by your distributor, publisher, or mix/mastering engineer, as long as we can complete the exports within your allotted session time. Overtime is billed at $110 per hour.
Do you offer editing, tuning, and drum quantization?
Yes. We provide full editing services, including vocal tuning, drum quantisation, and tightening/comping takes. Editing is billed at $110 per hour (2-hour minimum) and can be booked as part of a session or as a follow-up block.
Can I attend mixing or mastering sessions remotely?
Yes. You can sit in on mixing and mastering sessions via Sessionwire. We use assignable two-way high-quality audio streams between studios and can host up to 50 guest seats if you want bandmates, producers, or label contacts to join. Our mixing rate includes two rounds of revisions; additional revision time is billed at $110 per hour.
What do I need to join a Sessionwire session?
All you need is a microphone and headphones (a camera is optional), a stable internet connection, and either Google Chrome or the free Sessionwire desktop app. Sessionwire lets us pass audio directly into another studio’s DAW for true studio-to-studio collaboration. If your session requires this then you will need to download the Sessionwire DAW plugins for your operating system from their website. We can help you set this up if needed before the session.
How does mobile recording work?
Mobile recording means we bring the Strangeways rig to your venue or space—concert halls, churches, theatres, and more. Before the date, we do pre-production to understand the room, power, and stage layout, decide which audio and video gear to bring, and clarify what the venue provides versus what we supply. We will consult with you ahead of time to design a setup that matches your goals and budget.
Where is the studio, and what is access like?
The studio is located in North Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. The exact address is provided once you submit a booking request and deposit. There is ample parking, a ground-level load-in door for gear, and the studio is wheelchair accessible.
What are your session and rehearsal hours?
Recording sessions typically run 9am-5pm or 10am-6pm on weekdays, 10am-6pm on Saturdays, and 11am-7pm on Sundays. Rehearsals run 6pm-10pm Monday-Thursday. The building has a hard limit of 50 people to comply with building and fire codes.
Do you have a lounge or place to eat and relax?
Yes. The studio includes a lobby and lounge, a kitchenette (hot plate, kettle, microwave, mini convection oven, coffee machine), a bathroom, and an outdoor patio—plenty of room to take breaks, eat, or work between takes.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept e-transfer (preferred), credit/debit card, cash, and cheque. Card payments are processed through Stripe and a transaction fee is added at the time of payment. This fee can be avoided by paying via e-transfer, cash, or cheque.
Who owns the recordings and masters?
By default, artists own their masters and underlying compositions. If a member of our team is working with you in a producer or co-writer capacity, those terms will be defined in a separate contract agreed upon in advance.
Can you help with funding or grants?
Yes. Our facility is approved by Creative BC for Music and Sound Recording grants that can cover up to 75% of a recording budget, and we have worked on projects funded by the Canada Council for the Arts. If you would like to explore funding options, book a free 30-minute consultation and we can talk through what might fit your project.
Contact & location
Strangeways Studios is a recording and rehearsal studio in North Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, serving independent artists across Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and greater British Columbia.
Email: studio@strangeways.co. Mailing address: Strangeways Studios, PO Box 204, V0R 2H0, British Columbia, Canada. Book a free consultation or session at https://booking.strangeways.co.