the former EMI Studios at Abbey Road are now called Abbey Road Studios. Everyone knows the pedestrian crossing the Four Fab were marching on in the 60ies. Today the crossing is a lovely place for tourists walking up and down and stopping the traffic even when it is raining.

The Studios have a fascinating history from the  30ies of the 20th century until today. Two recent books cover the recording technology, the machines, the music instruments, the engineering efforts and also the artists having recorded in the three studios.I really recommend reading these fantastic books. You instantly get  an idea how it used to be when the Beatles recorded in a corner of Studio 2, also using the echo room next to the door. Or why not have a look by yourself on site? I promise you will not regret.

On the image you see the control room upstairs.

The four channel Studer J37 was the successor of the EMI BTR tape machines. The mixing console allowed adding instruments or voices of the four channels – but not more in those days. Nevertheless the technology of the 50 ies and 60 ies shows brilliant results even today. Just remember the fantastic quality of the Blue Note Recordings of the 60ies – from my point of view better than most of today`s  productions.