Le Studio (later renamed Studio Morin Heights) was a residential recording studio in the Laurentian Mountains near the town of Morin-Heights, Quebec, Canada. Built in 1972 by recording engineer and producer André Perry, along with his wife Yaël Brandeis and Nick Blagona, the studio was seen as one of the top recording venues in North America during its existence, renowned for its retreat-like location and state-of-the-art equipment.Myers 95-96. Numerous notable Canadian and international artists recorded and stayed at Le Studio, including Rush (most notably), The Police, David Bowie, the Bee Gees, Cat Stevens, April Wine, Nazareth, Queensrÿche, and Celine Dion. Perry described the facility as "like the United Nations. I had people from London, New York, Quebec, all over the world."
Originally having used a Trident A Range recording console, Le Studio then became one of the earliest studios to install a Solid State Logic SSL 4000B mixing console and RADAR digital recording equipment. Perry sold the studio to new owners in 1988, and it remained active for fifteen years before its closure in 2003, after which it was neglected and fell into disrepair. On 11 August 2017, the building was partially destroyed by "a suspicious" fire. What remained of the complex was demolished in 2020, and in 2021, the entire property was cleared and put up for sale for $850,000.
History André Perry gained fame as a recording engineer working for John Lennon, and in the early 1970s was looking to expand his studio, built in a downtown Montreal church. He moved to the remote town of Morin-Heights, where he owned a lake, and built his studio there, with his wife Yaël Brandeis. The idea was to give recording artists a venue where they could record and live in a creative atmosphere, near the Laurentian Mountains. The Bee Gees, who recorded portions of Children of the World (1976) at Le Studio, stayed for five months. Initially it included a guesthouse about a half-hour's drive away, but it was accidentally burned down by Roy Thomas Baker and Ian Hunter, according to studio designer and engineer Nick Blagona. A new house across the lake was later acquired and expanded.
By the early 1980s, Le Studio gained a reputation as a premier recording venue after Rush, The Police, David Bowie, and April Wine recorded albums there. The studio was particularly associated with Rush, even being called their own "Abbey Road"; the band made seven studio albums there between 1979 and 1993 during "the peak and the end" of the Terry Brown era, the albums being Permanent Waves (1980), Moving Pictures (1981), Signals (1982), Grace Under Pressure (1984), Presto (1989), Roll the Bones (1991), and Counterparts (1993).
In late 1980, Le Studio had installed a state-of-the-art computerized Solid State Logic SL 4000 E Master Studio System, later upgraded for 48-track capability (two synchronized 24-track tape machines). Other upgrades to the studio included the expansion into video work, with the addition of video post-production and editing facilities. By August 1981, the studio had acquired a JVC BP-90 digital 2-track processor at the choice of André Perry, producer Terry Brown, and then-Le Studio staff engineers Paul Northfield and Nick Blagona. It was supposedly first used on a double live LP that The Police were mixing at Le Studio that same month, although the André Perry website cites their album Synchronicity (1983) as being the one.
In 1986, Le Studio issued stock on the Montreal Exchange looking to acquire funding for building a second studio, with audio and video capabilities in Washington, D.C. 1.1 million shares valued at $3.50 were sold. Perry and Brandeis retained majority interests. They spent $500,000 on a Quantel Mirage digital video effects unit, hoping to install more equipment to allow the recording of sound effects and film music, as well as a Synclavier room.
In 1988, Perry and Brandeis sold the studio, and Perry retired in the early 1990s. The studio, by then called Studio Morin Heights, was acquired in 1993 by L'Equipe Spectra, an entertainment company best known for the Montreal International Jazz Festival which also had a number of local artists on record. Rush and other bands continued to do their tracking there. The new owners also built an expansion to the building, called the "Far Side", which featured a digital RADAR audio recorder and video production suite, as well as an expanded recreational and living space which allowed local bands with modest budgets to benefit from the amenities.
The studio was shut down in March 2003 by Spectra. The site was listed for sale in July 2007, with an asking price of Can$2.45 million.Sale brochure The property remained for sale until 2009, when the land was purchased with the intent to convert the area to a retreat and spa, but this never eventuated. The complex remained unoccupied and gradually deteriorated, and was broken into and vandalized many times. A US $2.4 million kickstarter campaign was begun in 2015 to rebuild Le Studio, but only $4,000 was pledged.
On 11 August 2017, the building was partially destroyed by a fire in a suspected case of arson. The residential area of the studio was completely destroyed, while the original recording area still stood but was severely damaged. Geddy Lee of Rush told the CBC, "it was truly a part of the great Canadian landscape... and literally a home away from home for us. It will always have a special place in our hearts." In October 2020, the remaining parts of the building were demolished, and the now empty site was cleared and put on the market in 2021.
Other notable music artists to have recorded at Le Studio include Asia, Barenaked Ladies, Bryan Adams, Cat Stevens, Chicago, Keith Richards, Kim Mitchell, Nazareth, Queensrÿche, Rainbow, Sarah McLachlan, and Sting. In January 1992, Celine Dion recorded "With This Tear", a song written by Prince and produced by Walter Afanasieff for her self-titled album Celine Dion.
Some of Le Studio's engineering staff over the years included Nick Blagona, Paul Northfield, Ed Stasium, William Le Gallee Mann, Claude Demers, Leanne Unger, Frank Opolko, Glen Robinson, Robert DiGioia, Paul Milner, Simon Pressey, Jacques Deveau, and George Pelekoudis.
The studio and grounds are featured in the music videos of the recording sessions of the Rush songs "Tom Sawyer", "Limelight", and "Vital Signs",NeilPeart.net - News posting 26 April 2006 as well as in April Wine's music video for "I Like to Rock". Also, an episode of the show Popular Mechanics for Kids was taped there, with actress Elisha Cuthbert demonstrating recording and mixing techniques.
Albums and songs recorded at Le Studio
Title Artist YearDans l'air des motsGaston Rochon1974J'ai vu le loup le renard le lionFelix Leclerc, Gilles Vigneault, and Robert Charlebois1974Lady MarmaladeNanette Workman1975NumbersCat Stevens1975Close Enough for Rock 'n' RollNazareth1976Nanette WorkmanNanette Workman19761 fois 5 (enregistrement devant public)Robert Charlebois, Yvon Deschamps, Jean-Pierre Ferland, Claude Léveillée, and Gilles Vigneault1976Morin Heights (named for the location of the studio)Pilot1976Children of the WorldBee Gees1976Play 'n' the GameNazareth1976Fountains of LightStarcastle1977Lavender Hill MobLavender Hill Mob1977IzitsoCat Stevens1977Vladimir VysotskyVladimir Vysotsky1977Expect No MercyNazareth1977Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack) (mixing)Bee Gees and various artists1977Street of DreamsLavender Hill Mob1978First GlanceApril Wine1978"Well, Well," Said the Rocking ChairDean Friedman1978Safety in NumbersCrack the Sky1978Back to EarthCat Stevens1978Under Heaven Over HellStreetheart1979Chicago 13Chicago1979Harder ... FasterApril Wine1979I Want YouWilson Pickett1979Permanent WavesPopoff 79-80.Rush1980Roberta Flack Featuring Donny HathawayRoberta Flack1980Quicksand ShoesStreetheart1980ChaudeNanette Workman1980Moving PicturesPopoff 94.Rush1981You Want It You Got ItBryan Adams1981ThrillzWalter Zwol & The Rage1981Ghost in the Machine (overdubs and mixing)- "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" singleThe Police1981Exit... Stage Left (live album editing and mixing)Rush1981Straight Between the EyesRainbow1982Love Over and OverKate & Anna McGarrigle1982Power PlayApril Wine1982SignalsRush1982Cuts Like a KnifeBryan Adams1983In the RedFist1983Synchronicity (overdubs and mixing)The Police1983AlphaAsia1983Animal GraceApril Wine1984Grace Under PressurePopoff 110-11.Rush1984TonightTrynka 432.David Bowie1984Boy in the BoxCorey Hart1985The Dream of the Blue Turtles (overdubs and mixing)Sting1985FrictionConey Hatch1985Fields of FireCorey Hart1985The Thin Red LineGlass Tiger1986Shakin' Like a Human BeingKim Mitchell1986Between the Earth & SkyLuba1986Electric- "Electric Ocean" song only, recorded in 1985The Cult1987ParadoxParadox1988Diamond SunGlass Tiger1988Operation: MindcrimeQueensrÿche1988Secrets of the AlibiThe Northern Pikes1988Talk Is CheapKeith Richards1988Sur Le Chemin des IncendiesPaul Piché1988No RespectVain1989PrestoRush1989Big HousesEight Seconds1990Hell to PayThe Jeff Healey Band1990When Up Turns To DownDoughboys1991Roll the BonesRush1991Celine Dion- "With This Tear" song onlyCeline Dion1992GordonBarenaked Ladies1992...But You Can Call Me LarryLawrence Gowan1993CounterpartsRush1993Fumbling Towards EcstasySarah McLachlan1993RisqueTerez Montcalm1994Circle of OneJulie Masse1994AlhambraThe Tea Party1996Scenery and FishI Mother Earth1996MatapédiaKate & Anna McGarrigle1996CreatureMoist1996No WorriesReset1997TransmissionThe Tea Party1997These Are Special TimesCeline Dion1998TriptychThe Tea Party1999Blue Green OrangeI Mother Earth1999Nickels for Your NightmaresHeadstones2000Since AugustSince August2000The Interzone MantrasThe Tea Party2001Daylight SavingSubb2002Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome To The TangiersSoap Opera2002
Console history Source 1974-1980 Trident A Range, the first of its kind, now in use at New Monkey Studio in Van Nuys, California 1980-1985 SSL 4000E, Serial No. 11, in use at Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta since 1993 1985-2008 SSL 4000G sold off in parts
Le Studio Mobile First built in 1979, Le Studio Mobile provided recording services for live music and special events. The first truck included a 12-input mixing console and 4-track recording. By 2010, a pair of trucks provided 8 mixing consoles on-board provided a total of 144 microphone inputs and 244 tracks of simultaneous recording permanently installed in a wide 5-ton truck. It was used to record such live albums as Rush's Exit... Stage Left, The Indspire Awards, Hockey Night in Canada and the Montreal International Jazz Festival. The company covered the Juno Awards for more than 23 years, adding a second truck in 2008.
The final large event handled by Le Studio was the Opening, Closing, and Medal Ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.
Through the years Le Studio Mobile evolved with the industry, focusing first on live recorded albums, then audio for DVD productions before moving more into producing audio for live productions while live music productions for HD television brought new business to Le Studio Mobile around 2010, the remote recording business continued to shrink.
As of 2018, Le Studio Mobile had ceased operation. In 2020, the recording area was demolished, and in 2021, the area was cleared and put up for sale for $850,000.
References
Bibliography
External links History of Le Studio on its founder's website