Walnut Tree Studio

28/04/2026

A message from Rob.

Hi everyone!

As of today, when you book for the studio via the booking link, or via myself, you will be asked if you want the basic or premium services.

The basic service will be a simplified setup where users will hold the majority of responsibility for performing their sound setup and sound, via a ZED14) mixing desk (https://www.allen-heath.com/content/uploads/2023/06/AP6822_6-ZED14-ZED18-ZED24-User-Guide-Issue-6.pdf).

Users won't have access to the studios foldback, but they can bring their own to plug into the desk.

I will still meet and greet and assist in a limited capacity, and answer any questions that you may have about running things through the desk as we are not interested in making the studio entirely personnel free or totally self catering.

The Premium service is the same service everyone has been using for 18 years, but with an additional cost on top to cover my time.

A list of what each service provides can be forward to emails, and are in full viewing upon booking. It also has a suggestion on what type of acts that service would possibly benefit.

Also when you book, you will receive a form that will detail the terms and conditions for using the studio that has to be signed, regardless on if it is actually read or not.

The studio is informed when this form is agreed to digitally, and if it isn't agreed to digitally, an in person one will have to be signed or the booking will not be allowed to go ahead.

This will only have to be done once by the studio user who the bookings name is under. It won't have to be done every subsequent booking. I may ask to have a top up signature every now and then.

The terms and conditions are in place to make sure that there is no doubt over the actions that can be taken if certain circumstances happen, for example, damage to equipment or delays because of tardiness on behalf of the studio or the booking party etc.

Communal equipment is still the studios equipment, so if it is damaged by drinks, and fall damage that wasn't the studios fault, then the studio will not be covering the repair costs.

I've talked with around 90% of the bands so far about what service I think would suit them, and I will slowly transition the bands that I have said the basic service would be suitable for in the next few weeks as part of a trial run.

I'd like to thank all of the bands who have said that they completely understand and agree with this course of action being fair for all, I am very lucky to have such a good client base.

Rob.

12/04/2026

So preparations are already happening for the transition to the two different services.

The basic service will be the room rental with access to the front of house speakers that you can turn in to get a reference sound.

You get access to this beauty, an Allen and Heath ZED14, and some complimentary XLR leads, and mics for you to get sorted. I'm waiting for an FX unit to turn up so reverb can be added to channels as well.

You also get the backline included, bass amp, full drum kit, guitar amp if needed.

Compatibility with the desk in terms of leads from instrument to desk will be the bands responsibility or will have to be covered within the fifteen minute allowance I will provide for assistance.

This will be covered by the current room rate.

The premium service will be as it is now, where you'll get access to my services in terms of setup, the QU16 Allen and Heath, front of house and fold back access and mixing for a £10 extra charge.

Still working on the terms and conditions for each service so bookers can understand what exactly is covered in each service, but the wheels are in motion.

The basic setup will also allow for quicker turn around for bands, so more slots should become available..

09/04/2026

Message from Rob.

Hi everyone.

I know this might disappoint some, but after 18 years of providing my services in setting up bands as part of the slot price, I can't continue to give as much of the time i do for free.

It's been a perk that everyone has told me they appreciate but for a number of reasons I am no longer willing to do it for free.

I like to think I'm quite flexible, but down to a bunch of circumstances, I need to reign it in a little for my own well being and sanity.

I'll talk with every band that uses the studio about what they want to do going forward but rest assured If you're booked in at the moment you'll get the same service as usual.

The ideas I'm looking at is to have a basic room service that the slot will stay at the same price as it is now, and will just have a small analogue mixer and some xlr leads and mics in the room for bands to setup and do their own sound. I'll give them fifteen minutes of my time to assist, and then go about my other duties.

This would suit smaller bands with less needs and is also fair on me that I don't have to wait around to do very rudimental setups in the case of band members being late for rehearsals.

I'd also have an advanced service that will be everything I currently provide free but with an additional charge based on the hourly rate of a sound engineer. I'd also swap out the Wharfedale's with the RCF speakers so there's a better quality of sound .

This would probably suit higher piece bands with higher needs and a higher channel count and is fairer to me in terms of work load.

Still nailing down how I want to proceed, but fair warning, there are going to be some changes.

10/10/2025

The studio and all services will be closed 16th - 30th October as Rob is getting married and the on honeymoon.

03/07/2025

The Studio will be shut for three days whilst Rob goes on his stag weekend. Thanks for understanding.

23/01/2025

Possible future services for the studio:
- USB reference mix of rehearsals.
- Hard Drive multi track rehearsal stems of rehearsals.

21/01/2025

We've had a lot of requests for residency slots, or regular slots.

We don't do these. It is first come first serve.

15/01/2025

OK so what have we been doing for the new year!

Well we swapped the desks over. What does this mean?

It means that when you use our studio once, your mix is saved and then instantly recallable for the next time you visit.

It also gives Rob greater control of mixes, and lots of lovely production stuff at the touch of a button.

It also means if you have your own in ear or monitor speaker you can download mixstation and do your own monitor mix from your phone or tablet.

If you use our monitors Rob will do your mix. Simply put we'd rather a repair bill be because or something we've done rather than a client.

We've also replaced the old clunky trunking with strips so no more trips 😂.

We're looking to upgrade the monitors next.

If you're wondering why our bookings are stretching into March already, you get a lot of bang for your buck here in nice surroundings, which is why we're in high demand.

24/12/2024

Happy Christmas to all our bands, musos, and students :). Hopefully we'll have a new lay out by the time you come back.

10/12/2024

One of our regulars the 'Mimic Street Preachers' filming their latest promo video at a familiar looking place.

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Flinktr.ee%2FMimic_Street_Preachers%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1Olw4j8YWXFIvKKoAiQx7vqcxwBAxLWdWhWFdGQsl8FyC8...