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Create at
[the square]
MUSIC…
RECORDINGS, ROOMS, AND INSTRUCTION
RECORDINGS
This is where it all began for us: a desire to make professional studio recordings more accessible to our local music community.
With studio space starting at $40/hr. for self-service recording, and our community of engineers ready to assist you for an additional $25/hr. and up, we’ve got you covered at every level. Our main control room is equipped with a 32-channel Allen and Heath console, while our auxiliary studio sports a Solid State Logic SiX board—both rooms are set up with Macs available for guest users, or you can plug your machine into our interface and save yourself the file transfer friction.
So if you’re on a budget: BYO gear to record in one of our acoustically-sound spaces; or if you want an extra set of capable hands, book a session with one of our Junior Engineers, and help an aspiring pro build out their portfolio—it’s a win-win!
And for those ready to invest in the expertise of a seasoned professional, our network of producers includes Grammy winners and nominees, Gold Record winners, and career educators to help you level-up your studio craft.
Below are some of our most popular options, but when you’re ready, send us an inquiry and we can make a plan that best suits you and your project!
LIVE OFF-THE-FLOOR
DEMO SESH
Run your songs and record a demo: great for developing fresh ideas, pre-production before your big studio day, & combining with video so you have something better than those iPhone recordings to impress your fans and woo your dream venues!
starting at $40/hr.
$65/hr. with engineer
SINGER/RAPPER
VOCAL/PRODUCTION SESSION
All you need is one mic: bring in a backing track or build a new beat live, then give your vocal parts the respect they deserve using our high-quality mics in a sound-treated room—add one of our producers to the mix to take your project to the next level!
starting at $40/hr.
$65/hr. with engineer
STUDIO LOCKOUT
PRO RECORDING SESH
Focus up and block out the whole studio for an entire day (or half-day): bring your own engineer, or work with one of [the square]’s talented line-up of world-class producers, and get down to business crafting your next studio masterpiece!
$70/hr. for full studio rental
inquire for rates with engineers & producers (discounts available for bundled services)
REHEARSALS / PRODUCTION ROOMS
During free afternoons & evenings at [the square], we open our studios for rehearsals and general production resources on a first-come, first-served basis. You can bring your own producer, hire one of our engineers (starting at $25/hr.), or experiment with recording yourself!
Studio A [$60/hr.] is our live room: Great for larger ensembles, or anyone who wants to make use of the room’s collection of pianos, amps, and keyboards. You can even set up some lights and practice your stage show ahead of your next gig—invite a small audience if you want, or add on photography/videography to round out your EPK!
Studio B [$50/hr.] is our control room: Best suited to songwriting sessions and pre-production with up to five musicians fitting comfortably. The room is home to our 32-channel Allen & Heath console and a selection of outboard gear, an Orion Antelope 32 interface, and a spec’d up Mac mini. You can easily patch in for a streamlined recording setup, or make use of our monitors for mixing/listening sessions.
Studio C [$40/hr.] is our auxiliary production room: Perfect for a 3-4 piece rock band who doesn’t mind getting cozy; acoustic ensembles, chamber music, or soloists who just want a comfortable space to make some noise. The room is equipped with an iMac and 2-channel Focusrite 2i2, paired with a 6-channel SSL SiX console, which makes it a great option for learning and teaching on a basic setup.
STUDIO A
(LIVE ROOM)
STUDIO B
(CONTROL ROOM)
STUDIO C
(PRODUCTION ROOM)
EDUCATION
For several years we’ve been offering education in music production & audio engineering at Monaco Studios in collaboration with our nonprofit arm of operations, Equal Measure Arts.
Now with the space and resources provided by [the square] and its ever-expanding network of creative professionals, we’re rolling out some new offerings to provide instruction across various instruments and more — check out our latest below!
WORKSHOP WITH MAINE ACADEMY
OF MODERN MUSIC
AUDIO ENGINEERING /
MUSIC PRODUCTION LESSONS
DRUM LESSONS:
PERFORMANCE + STUDIO
PRO DJ LESSONS:
TURNTABLE TECHNIQUES
PHOTO & VIDEO…
THE GEAR + THE SPACE + THE VISION
[the square] features one of the most spacious studios in Portland, with no shortage of character. Take a tour of our space and see what inspires you…
Diffused natural light with a range of unique studio environments? Check!
Professional studio light kits and green screen? Check!
We’ve got you covered, whether you’re just looking for a workable studio space for your shoot — or you want to hire a seasoned professional to execute your vision — and even if you came here to record music or a podcast, but you’d like to enlist a photographer/videographer to bring another dimension of media to your session!
[the square] has a wide range of talented photographers and videographers eager to work with you, so don’t hesitate to reach out and see how we can help you!