6 Great Recording Studios in Victoria & on Vancouver Island

Dive into the vibrant musical landscape of Vancouver Island and Victoria. Whether you’re a local artist or a touring band seeking a fresh recording experience, an array of recording studios awaits to unleash your creative potential — from charming coastal havens to state-of-the-art facilities nestled in the heart of Victoria.

This article celebrates the rich variety of recording studios in Victoria and on Vancouver Island that cater to musicians of all genres.

1. Barnhouse Sound Productions

Barnhouse Sound Productions offers a blend of modern technology and vintage equipment. The recording studio boasts a 1,200 sq ft live room with incredible acoustics. On top of its stellar gear and facilities, Barnhouse also provides overnight lodgings for multi-day sessions.

No matter your prior experience level with professional recording and music production, the team at Barnhouse Sound will ensure you feel comfortable. With complimentary technical pre-production for first-time clients, a hireable in-house engineer and an extensive gear list, you’ll have everything you need to have a great recording session.

Barnhouse has a virtual tour on its website, so you can check out the stunning facility and grounds ahead of your recording session.

Located in Qualicum Beach in Vancouver Island, Barnhouse Sound Productions is conveniently located less than two hours from Tofino, Victoria, and Nanaimo.

Visit the Barnhouse Sound website today to request rates and availability.

Here’s an overview of Barnhouse Sound Productions:

Location: Qualicum Beach
Contact Info: Email Justin LaPointe: info@barnhousesoundproductions.com or book a time to chat at https://www.barnhousesoundproductions.com/contact
Services: Recording studio space, sound engineering, music production, mixing, mastering, lessons & mentorship, on-site accommodations, post-production and video and film production services

2. Burning Rainbow Studio

Found in Victoria, BC, Burning Rainbow Studio offers one of the best gear collections on Vancouver Island. Burning Rainbow’s 1,800 sq ft facility has everything you need to record and produce a great track.

Here’s an overview of Burning Rainbow Studio:

Location: Victoria, BC
Contact Info: Email: burningrainbowstudios@gmail.com
Services: Recording studio space, sound engineering, music production, internships

3. The Woodshop Recording

While Woodshop Recording is rebranding to focus on audio post production for film and TV, the studio still offers mixing, mastering, and location recording services and is a very nice facility. With more than two decades of experience providing audio recording and production services on Vancouver Island, this Duncan studio is more than worthy of consideration.

Here’s an overview of The Woodshop Recording:

Location: Duncan, BC
Contact Info: Call (250) 746-4738 or email zak@woodshoprecording.com
Services: Location recording, mixing, mastering, and post-production services.

4. Silver Side Sound

Silver Side Sound is a private recording studio built inside an old winery. Designed by legendary studio designer and acoustic consultant Ron Obvious Vermeulen, the facility features a fully isolated control room, a spacious live room, three isolation booths, and a lounge.

Here’s an overview of Silver Side Sound:

Location: Cobble Hill, BC
Contact Info: (778) 888-0821 or silversidesound@gmail.com
Services: Recording, editing, mixing, mastering, session musicians, and access to various media professionals

5. Edgetone Studios

Edgetone Studios was recently opened by Australian engineer and studio designer John L. Sayers. This private, 600 sq ft facility is fully sound proofed and features a control room, a tracking room, a slick entry-slash-isolation booth and independently controlled HVAC systems to optimize temperatures.

Here’s an overview of Edgetone Studios:

Location: North Cowichan, BC
Contact Info: (250) 510-6071 or info@edgetonestudios.com
Services: Recording sessions, mixing, mastering, education, and session musicians

6. Brother Sea Productions

Brother Sea Productions is a content creation company that offers video and on-site audio recording. These Victoria-based videographers specialize in concept and vision development and can help you perfect your next music video or live performance recording.

Here’s an overview of Brother Sea Productions:

Location: Victoria, BC
Contact Info: Brotherseaproductions@gmail.com
Services: Videography, photography, audio recording

Final Thoughts: Finding Your Ideal Recording Studio in BC

Finding the ideal recording studio is pivotal for any musician or audio professional.

Here are the key steps for finding your ideal recording studio in BC:

Consider your project’s requirements: whether it’s a solo vocal track, a full band recording, or a podcast, each demands different facilities and expertise. Research studios that specialize in your genre or type of recording to ensure they understand your artistic vision.
Assess the studio’s equipment and facilities: Look for high-quality microphones, preamps, mixing consoles, and acoustically treated rooms. A studio’s gear can significantly impact the final product’s quality. Additionally, evaluate the studio’s engineers and staff. Experienced engineers can enhance your recordings, offering valuable insights and technical expertise.
Consider the studio’s location and required budget (don’t forget about things like accommodations and transport!).
Finally, visit potential studios in-person or via virtual tours to get a feel for the space and meet the team. It makes a huge difference when you’re comfortable.; walking into a professional studio for the first time can be very intimidating and can stifle creativity.