Analogue recording in London isn’t nostalgia — it’s a deliberate creative choice.
Most artists working today understand digital recording inside out. The shift back towards tape and analogue hardware isn’t about rejecting that — it’s about choosing a different sound, workflow and mindset when the music calls for it.
At 123 Studios in Peckham, South East London, analogue recording sits alongside modern production, not in opposition to it.
What analogue recording actually means
Analogue recording is about capturing or processing sound through physical systems — magnetic tape, analogue consoles, compressors and equalisers — rather than keeping everything entirely in the box.
The difference isn’t just sonic. It changes how decisions get made in the room.
Tape naturally compresses transients, adds harmonic saturation and introduces a sense of density that’s difficult to replicate exactly with plugins. Not because digital tools are lacking, but because they’re modelling something that happens physically in the medium — the relationship between the magnetic oxide on the tape and the record head, the way the machine responds to signal level, the subtle nonlinearities that give tape its character.
The same applies to large-format analogue consoles. The summing, the transformers, the circuitry and bus compression all contribute to a sound that has shaped records for decades. Running audio through a real SSL console sounds different to summing the same audio in software — not dramatically, not always obviously, but consistently and in ways that matter on a finished record.
For artists and producers looking for analogue recording in London, understanding what you’re actually getting — and why — is the starting point.
Tape recording at 123 Studios
At the centre of the analogue setup at 123 Studios is a 3M M79 24-track tape machine — the same format used on records by Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles and Michael Jackson.
This particular machine came originally from Pete Townshend’s Eel Pie Studio, which is documented in its logbook. It’s fully maintained and in regular working use — not a display piece.
Tape recording in London at this level means access to a machine with genuine provenance, run by engineers who understand how to use it properly. The difference between tape used well and tape used carelessly is significant.
Alongside the 3M M79, the studio has additional tape machines available, which means sessions can be configured for full multitrack tape recording or for hybrid use — running stems, drums or the mix bus through tape as part of a broader digital workflow.
Analogue vs hybrid workflows — which is right for your project?
A fully analogue session — tracking everything to tape from the start — brings a level of commitment that changes how you work. Performances matter more. Decisions happen earlier. You’re not building something you’ll fix later; you’re capturing something real in the moment.
That’s not right for every project, and it’s not the only way to use analogue tools.
Many artists recording in London choose a hybrid approach that uses analogue where it adds the most value:
- Tracking drums or the full band to tape for natural compression and cohesion, then continuing digitally
- Mixing through an analogue console with digital recall, getting the character of the desk without losing the flexibility of a recalled mix
- Running stems or the mix bus through tape as a mastering or mix insert, adding saturation and density at the end of the chain
The point isn’t purity. It’s using the right tool for what the music needs. At 123 Studios, both approaches are available and the choice is made based on the project, not ideology.
The SSL E-Series console
The control room is built around a vintage SSL E-Series console — one of the most significant mixing desks in the history of recorded music, known for its clarity, punch and workflow.
With dynamics on every channel and the characteristic SSL mix bus compression, the desk shapes the sound from the moment audio passes through it. The SSL isn’t a passive piece of routing — it’s an active part of the sound.
Paired with ATC SCM50ASL monitoring, the setup is designed for accuracy. What you hear in the control room translates reliably to streaming platforms, broadcast, car stereos and headphones. That matters for every record, but especially for analogue recordings where the character of the signal chain needs to sit right in the final mix.
The outboard rack at 123 Studios includes Fairchild and Unfairchild compressors, 1176s, LA-2As, Distressors, API 2500, Pultec EQs, Chandler Curve Bender, and Neve and API preamps — tools chosen for musicality and used across the full range of session types the studio handles.
The microphone collection
A strong analogue signal chain starts at the microphone. The locker at 123 Studios includes Neumann U47, U67, ELAM 251, M49, FET47, KM84 and U87, alongside RCA/AEA 44 ribbon microphones and a full range of dynamic and specialist mics.
For analogue recording in London, access to this level of microphone collection — particularly the vintage Neumann valve mics — makes a significant difference. These are instruments in their own right, and the difference between tracking vocals through a U47 and a budget condenser is not subtle.
Who analogue recording in London is right for
Analogue recording isn’t essential for every project, and it’s worth being honest about that.
If you’re producing entirely electronically, working with samples, or need maximum flexibility in post-production, a fully digital workflow may serve you better. There’s no point introducing tape into a process where it doesn’t add value.
But analogue becomes the right choice when:
- You’re recording a live band and want the room, the performance and the gear to work together rather than everything being assembled afterwards
- You want natural compression and saturation built into the recording rather than added later
- You prefer committing to sounds during the session rather than endlessly adjusting them in the edit
- You want a record that sounds like it was made somewhere, by someone, rather than assembled from components
For many artists, the shift to analogue recording isn’t about abandoning digital tools — it’s about adding depth, intention and character to a process that can otherwise become frictionless in ways that don’t always serve the music.
Recording, mixing and mastering in one place
123 Studios is set up as a complete production environment for artists who want to take a project from tracking through to final masters without changing rooms, engineers or sonic context.
Full-band tracking and overdubs are handled in the live room — high ceilings, warm wooden walls, adjustable ceiling cloud, electronic Drumbrella and backline included. The control room handles mixing through the SSL console with the full outboard chain. Mastering is done in-house, with tape mastering available as an option.
Having recording, mixing and mastering in one place means the sound decisions made during tracking inform the mix, and the mix informs the master. That continuity is harder to maintain when different stages happen in different rooms with different engineers.
About Brett Shaw
123 Studios is built around the work of Brett Shaw — producer, mixer, mastering engineer and songwriter. Credits include Florence + the Machine, Foals, Clean Bandit, Daughter and Paris Paloma, with over 5.5 billion streams worldwide, four UK number one albums and a Grammy-winning single. Ranked top 1% globally across production, mixing, mastering, engineering and songwriting by MusoAI.
Weekend and evening recording sessions are run by engineers selected by Brett, working in the same room with the same setup and standards.
Rates and booking
Recording sessions at 123 Studios start from £300 + VAT per day, including engineer, backline and full microphone access. Tape recording is available within standard session rates — there’s no additional hire fee for using the machines.
Mastering starts from £50 per track including one free set of revisions. Tape mastering is available for an additional £10 per track.
For mixing enquiries, long-term room lets or to discuss a specific project, email brettshaw123@outlook.com
Getting to 123 Studios
123 Studios is located at Unit 4.2, Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Road, Peckham, London SE15 3SN — one minute from Peckham Rye Overground station, around fifteen minutes from Shoreditch High Street. Parking is available nearby with easy load-in access to the building.
FAQs — analogue recording in London
Is tape recording more expensive than digital recording at 123 Studios? No. Tape recording is available within standard session rates. There is no additional charge for using the tape machines during a tracking session.
Do I have to commit to a fully analogue workflow? No. Hybrid sessions are common — you might track to tape and mix digitally, or use tape as an insert on the mix bus. The approach is determined by what suits the project.
What tape machines does 123 Studios have? The studio has a 3M M79 24-track machine, originally from Pete Townshend’s Eel Pie Studio, plus additional tape machines for hybrid and insert use.
Can I book 123 Studios just for mixing or mastering? Yes. Many clients bring sessions tracked elsewhere for mixing and mastering at 123 Studios. As long as your files are organised and exported correctly, the studio can take over from any point in the process.
Where is 123 Studios? Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Road, Peckham, London SE15 3SN. One minute from Peckham Rye Overground.
