AERIAL
RECORDING
01

AERIAL RECORDING

The Control Room.
Professional album and project recording studio in the Perth hills.

02

AERIAL RECORDING

The Big Room.
The workshop of a 1950s service station (75m²).

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AERIAL RECORDING

The Piano.
Yamaha 1964 G5 (6'7").

About.

Aerial Recording Logo

AERIAL
Recording Studio

is a deluxe recording studio in the beautiful Perth Hills, mixing warm vintage aesthetics, big room acoustics and modern tech.

Equipped with a custom Ekadek console, grand piano, isolation booth, high end microphones and a stack of esoteric musical equipment, Aerial Recording also sports one of the largest collections of classic keyboards from the 60's to 80's in Perth studios.

Aerial Recording Gear List

The sound of the high-ceilinged main room especially suits the recording of acoustic instruments, foley and vocals and there is plenty of naturally lit space for large groups to track live performances.

Always happy to meet keen musicians so please get in touch to schedule a studio visit for a coffee and a look around.

Contact DetailsStudio Rates
Aerial Recording Main Room
BOOK A VISIT

contact@aerialrecording.com.au
0466123938

SESSION PICS.

Fred Younger Fred Younger Quartet - Jan 27, 2025
Nathan 'Floodsy' Winterflood nails a drum session Nathan 'Floodsy' Winterflood - April 29, 2024
The most relaxed way to record in a music studioThe best way to record a song written on a couch | Feb 2024
Vermistropos Piano and Glitch Vermistropos - piano and dystopian glitch session | Jan 2024
Andrew Lippiatt playing drums in the booth Andrew Lippiatt watches for the cue
Vinny - Assistant Engineer Yep that's the take
Ricky Malet at Aerial Recording Ricky Malet's trumpet FTW
U47 Microphone on vintage Fender Speaker Summer of the Guitar | Feb 2024
Vinny Tech Hound
Daniele Dipaola at Aerial Recording Dan Di Paola digs deep
Ekadek Console Ekadek metering is the coolest
Kate Pass at Aerial Recording Kate Pass dreams loudly
Raga Session - May 2024 Cherry & Andrew - Raga Session - May 11, 2024

NEWS.

skip
2025
Lost Valley Hotel

Lost Valley Hotel - New EP Out now

APRIL 23, 2025

Site Update

Like a sort of out of control garden, this page has grown so large it was time for a pruning to make it a bit easier to navigate.
At the bottom of the news section there are now buttons to load older articles and releases. Wurlitzer 270 Studio Upgrade of the Month
Picked up this beautiful 1970's Wurlitzer 270 "Butterfly" Grand electric piano. Thanks to Josh from San Cisco.

The Moon is My Machine - 2Pianos

APRIL 1, 2025

THE MOON IS MY MACHINE
- 2Pianos

It's tough out there...

Keren Letheby - vocals
Ronan Charles - keys, guitar, drums

Recorded and produced at Aerial Recording

The Moon is My Machine - 2Pianos
Youtube

Keira Watson - Restless

Keira Watson - Norwich

MARCH 15,2025

KEIRA WATSON
- Honest

Keira just strolled into the studio one day with her beat up old guitar without a case and we started recording her debut album "Honest", one heartbreaking song per session.

Keira was great to work with, possessing one of the most beautiful voices I've ever recorded, smooth and warm and complete. At 20 she already had some handy studio experience, knew how she wanted it to feel, and her takes on vocals and guitar were almost entirely unedited performances. After listening back we almost always picked the first take for the gentler sound.

By the end of Summer we had all the tracks down and I called in old friend Phil Waldron to add a bit of extra texture and colour and it was all wrapped up and she took her old guitar without a case and walked off down the street.

Keira Watson - vocals, guitar
Phil Waldron - guitar, banjo, mandolin, double bass, cello, bouzouki
Ronan Charles - drums, keys

Recorded and produced at Aerial Recording, Perth.(Last 2 tracks on album recorded in England at another studio)

guitar mandolin bouzouki cello double-bass banjo
Youtube
Spotify
Instagram

Art Hawkes - Strangers

MARCH 15, 2025

ART HAWKES
- Strangers

I immediately clicked with Art and we spent an enjoyable couple of days before Christmas smashing through a few of his songs as he camped out the back of the studio in his 'troopy', cooking his specialty hot beans and generally being a great hang.

"Strangers" is the first release and kind of climbs and climbs it's way upwards from a gentle nocturne to an all-guns-blazing outro. I said "don't leave anything left in the tank when you've finished this vocal take" - and he did not disappoint :)

Art Hawkes - vocals, guitar, bass
Ian MacDonald - drums
Ronan Charles - keys

Recorded and mixed at Aerial Recording, Perth
Mastered at Abbey Road by Geoff Pesche

Youtube
Spotify

The Moon is My Machine - You Are Alive

MARCH 1, 2025

THE MOON IS MY MACHINE
- You Are Alive

Another cool/strange mostly instrumental track, this time driven by the big ole 1920s Ajax bass drum and a slippery bass melody.

Ronan Charles - keys, bass, drums, coffee, cigarettes
Keren Letheby - vocoder choir

Recorded and produced at Aerial Recording

The Moon is My Machine - You Are Alive
Youtube
live session

Engine Room Blues - llve session  - Feb 21

February 28, 2025

Summer 24/25

Picking the right microphone and putting it in the right place, recording the audio, then sending it down little wires and running it into black boxes to make it sound even better still hasn't lost any of the magic for me. It's still the greatest thing in this world, and I love that I get to work on so many interesting projects, with soulful and talented people.

Finished a sweet indie acoustic album "Honest" for Keira Watson, the drone core fx- laden "Heavy Metal" album for Monotonic and the experimental noise jazz abstraction of “Priornoia" for Vermistropos.

Also did a bunch of live band session set recordings with old school swing jazz legend Fred Younger and his quartet, classic Chicago blues with Engine Room Blues, Esperance-based indie rockers The Arid Ones , the 60's sound of Lost Valley Hotel, a few new singles for The Moon is My Machine, some classical double bass recording for Phil Waldron, experimental mantras featuring gongs and death-metal chanting for Cherry Pearce, some burlesque-vibed nightclub dancefloor anthems with Mickey Montella, some beautiful acoustic guitar and piano songs with Georgina Dacheff, a chill R&B tune with Toby Mills & his band, old time songbook session with Jane Nichols & family, and choir recordings for Future Perth Generations and Kalamunda Performers.

Up next - Autumn. Stay tuned for some cracking releases.

One Horse Town reunion gig
FEBRUARY 27, 2025

One Horse Town -
Reunion Show

I don’t get around to doing that many gigs these days so this is something special.

One Horse Town are set to reunite after a 17 year “gap” for one more show. It’s been a blast to rekindle the old raging bonfire of our set with Sascha and Stuart and the music still feels fresh and at least semi-explosive.

To all my clients and friends please come down to The Bird on the 29th March and check out a rare opportunity to see me on the other side of a mixing desk :)

One Horse Town on Spotify

Celebrating Peter Ghouse - State Cultural Treasure 2024

FEBRUARY 16, 2025

Peter Ghouse interview at Aerial

Peter Ghouse – an artist, musician, teacher, mentor and manager who has dedicated more than 50 years to the Western Australian music scene.
Aerial had the pleasure of welcoming him here to sit down with producer Jessica Russell and her team from the ABC to record an interview to document his inclusion in the 2024 WA State Cultural Treasure honours.
Also some cool jamming with his son, Guy Ghouse.
Peter was great to hang out with, full of so many cool stories about touring England in the 60s and opening for The Yardbirds, meeting Jimmy Page...

Youtube

The Moon is My Machine - Lightning

FebRuaRY 1, 2025

THE MOON IS MY MACHINE
- Lightning

Keren Letheby - vocals
Ronan Charles - keys, drums

Recorded and produced at Aerial Recording, Perth

The Moon is My Machine - Lightning
Youtube
Vermistropos - Priornoia

Vermistropos - Priornoia

JANUARY 14, 2025

VERMISTROPOS
- Priornoia

Another new release from the fearless and uncompromising duo Vermistopros with their post-apocalyptic improvisations of piano and streams of data made into sometimes serene and sometimes howling tornado of sonic twistedness.

Working with the simple restriction that each piece is a piece made in real time improv, the actual methodology of the compositions is far too confusing to explain without a whiteboard (!) as Jacob wrangles abstract data from sources like tangently related image files into audio.

Really love working with these guys and plans are underway for an expanded ensemble for the next release.

Jacob Canet-Gibson: Data
Xavier Douglas-Smith: Piano
Recorded and produced at Aerial Recording

Bandcamp

The Moon is My Machine - Record Going Round

January 1, 2025

THE MOON IS MY MACHINE
- Record Going Round

For all those with a lot going on - Happy New Year!

Keren Letheby - vocals
Ronan Charles - guitar, keys, bass, drums

Recorded, mixed and mastered at Aerial Recording, Perth

The Moon is My Machine - Record Going Round
Youtube

RECENT CLIENTS.

  • Engine Room Blues
  • Future Perth Generations
  • The Arid Ones
  • Fred Younger Quartet
  • Toby Mills
  • Jane Nichols
  • Lost Valley Hotel
  • Jessica Russell
  • Art Hawkes
  • Mickey Montella
  • Kalamunda Performers
  • Shift Report
  • Georgina Dacheff
  • Keira Watson
  • Moorditj Maaman
  • Community Arts Network
  • Sascha Ion & The Elements
  • Treemendus Health
  • Cherry Pearce
  • Emily Williams
  • Alexandra Staiger
  • Sonder Lines
  • Ruby Come Back
  • Tim Mitchell
  • Rose Willow
  • Colton, Shane & Rhys
  • High On People
  • Vermistropos
  • The Moon is My Machine
  • Rob Zielinski & Manuela Centanni
  • Langley Chambers
  • Monotonic
  • Phil Waldron & Emily Armytage-Green
  • Community Chamber Orchestra
  • Matt Walsh
  • Nel Begley Quintet
  • Jean & Alex
  • Chagos Population
  • Rain No Rain
  • Cam Avery
  • Huge Magnet
  • Radio Repairs
  • Joe Leach
  • Gus McKay

Nel Begley Quintet - Detour Ahead

London based jazz vocalist Nel Begley recorded this beautiful Billie Holiday song with the quintet live in the Big Room on her recent tour to Perth.
Nel Begley - vocals, Russell Holmes - piano, Luke Fowler - double bass, Joe Fowler - flute, Alex Reid - drums.

2023

Radio Repairs - Big Tree

A live session with bass and piano in the Big Room and drums in the booth.
Ronan Charles - piano, Phil Waldron - double bass, Daniele Di Paola - drums

2021

Gus McKay - Piawaning Suit

Blues legend Gus McKay recorded the critically acclaimed "Talisman" album at Aerial. Here is one of the tracks that always reminds me of chasing a greased pig. :)

2017

GEAR.

U47

Microphones

Wagner U47W
Josephson C700A
Josephson E22s x 2
Beesneez BM49
Beesneez BU67 x 2
Coles 4038 x 2
Neumann TLM 102 x 2
Universal Audio Sphere DLX
Universal Audio SP1 x 2
Universal Audio SD3
Universal Audio SD5
BeyerDynamic M160 x 4
BeyerDynamic M201
BeyerDynamic M88
BeyerDynamic M69
DrAlienSmith Alien8
DrAlienSmith Capsule8
DrAlienSmith DirtMic-01
DrAlienSmith Wormhole
Audix D6
Studio Projects T3
Sennheiser MD441
Sennheiser MD21
Telefunken MD21
Line Audio CM4 x 2
Electro-Voice N/D 868
Electro-Voice N/D 468
Electro-Voice DS35 x 2
Electro-Voice 635A x 2
Electro-Voice RE11
Shure SM7B
Shure Unidyne 545 x 2
Shure Green Bullet
Shure SM58
MOV LV4-O
Wasaphone MkII
Behringer BA19A

Preamp

Preamps

8 Channels Neve 538
(EKADEK CONSOLE)
Neve 1081 x 2
NPNG DMP-2NW x 2
Neve Portico 5012 x 2
Ampex 600 (Tube)
Aphex Tubessence x 2
Alctron MP73
UAD Unison x 8

EQ

Neve 1081 x 2
Chandler Tone Control x 2
Valley People Maxi-Q

Compressor

Compressors

Ekadek Fat Lady Vari-Mu x 2
Drawmer 1968 x 2
Valley International Comander x 2

FX

Autotone (1920's Acoustic Reverb!)
Roland Space Echo
Roland Chorus Echo
Strymon Timeline
DrAlienSmith Dirt Box

Valley People Kepex II Noise Gate
Valley People DSP De-Esser

Ekadek Klangenschmitt

Console

Ekadek Klangenschmitt

Recorders

UAD Apollo X8P
UAD Apollo 16
UAD Quad Satellite
Prism Orpheus
Ampex AG440B
(1969 1/2" 4 track tape machine)
Teac 22-2 tape machine

Monitors

Quested S8

Headphones

AT M50x,M40x(x7)
Beyer Dynamic DT770
Extreme Isolation EX-29
Behringer P16-I
Behringinger P16-D
Behringer P16-m HQ x6
Presonus Hp60
Alctron H6n
Alctron HA4 x 2

Computer/Software

Mac Studio M1 | 64gb ram
UAD Luna
Ableton Live
Huge plug-in collection

INSTRUMENTS & AMPS.

keyboards

Keyboards

Yamaha G5 Grand Piano
[1964 fully restored]
Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 [1983 Rev3.3 w/ midi]
DSI Prophet 12
Moog Voyager
Nord Grand
Hammond A100 & Leslie [1963]
Hammond XK3 & Leslie
Wurlitzer 270 Piano [1970s]
Rhodes MKI Piano [1976]
Rhodes MKII Piano [1979]
Rhodes Piano Bass [1979]
Roland RS-202 [1976]
Yamaha CP70 Electric Grand
Yamaha CP Reface
Yamaha CS Reface
Yamaha YC Reface
Korg Bass Synthe [1975]
Korg Delta [1979]
Solina String Ensemble [1974]
Piano Accordions
Mason & Hamlin Pump Organ [1897]

* Can locally source many other vintage keyboards on request

modular

Instruments

Fender Jazzmaster [MIJ]
Hofner Violin Bass
Nagoya Harp
Modular Synth with 30+modules
Accordions x3

Pedals

Tech 21 Sansamp
Strymon Timeline
Big Muff
BeeGee Fuzz
Vox Wah
Crybaby Wah
Radial DI
Alctron Re-Amper
Sonicake ABY

drums

Drums

Gretsch Round Badge Kit [20",16",13"][1960s]
Ludwig Black Beauty Snare
Ludwig Standard Maple Snare
Slingerland Artist Series Snare [1966]
Ajax Bass Drum 28" [1930s]
Premier Bass Drum 20" [1960s] Tama Bass Drum 22" [1970s]
Bosphorus, Istanbul, Zildjian & Meinl Cymbals
Hang Drum
Balinese Gong
Miscellaneous Percussion - shakers, tambourines
Elektron MachineDrum
Elektron Octatrack

guitars

Amps

Kay 30w "Widow Maker" [1950s]
Leslie 142 [1960s]
Leslie 2121
Fender PA100 [1970s]
Rex Bassking [1960s]
Playmaster PM116 [1960s]

Speakers

2 x 12” Celestions
1 x 15” Marshall
2 x 12" Fender
4 x 8" Fender (pair)

INTERESTING STUFF.

Autotone Reverb Device

Autotone Acoustic Reverb Device

The main recording room has an intimate hall sound but this stupidly heavy, old 1920s Autotone pianola soundboard has become my favourite natural reverb enhancer for drums, vocals, guitars. Offers a beautiful natural zingy reverb that no plugin comes close to.

U47 and Josephson Microphones at Aerial Recording

Favourite Microphones

Probably two of the finest microphones ever made and get used on everything I record. On the left is the extremely rare Wagner U47W, made from original Neumann parts and favoured by all singers for somehow giving back more than you put in. Beside it is the pristine dual capsule Josephson C700A, immensely capable of stunning realism.
Often use them as a pair on almost any source for a blend of tone and detail.

Ekadek Console at Aerial Recording

Ekadek Klangenschmitt Console

This is the electric pulsing heart of the studio. It has been running virtually non-stop since 2009 without a single issue. Commisioned as the first ever custom console build from the now incredibly world famous Ekadek and equipped with classic 80s series Neve preamps, I have always loved the steampunk meets Abbey Road TG desk styling. A beautiful sounding desk that is a pleasure to use every day. So practical and a genuine audio swiss army knife. Mass loads of gain and beautiful fat sound.

www.ekadek.com
Wurlitzer 270

Wurlitzer 270 - "Butterfly" Electric Baby Grand

One of the most beautiful, rarest and fanciest electric pianos ever made. Basically it's a 200A Wurlitzer in a solid walnut case.
Those lovely wings lift up to let the stereo 8" speakers do their thing which just makes it such a fun and immediate instrument to work something out on.
Sounds absolutely magnificent, fat and funky. One of my favourite things in the world is a good wurly part on a song. So much vibe.

SESSION RATES.

$90 HOURLY RATE
$700 8 HOUR BLOCK RATE
Aerial Recording is available for session bookings 7 days a week, day or night.
Rates include engineer and all studio equipment and instruments.

Aerial Recording Staff

Ronan Charles

Aerial Recording is owned and operated by Ronan Charles. I've played in various bands since the 90s, worked as a session musician, and have been obsessed with recording music since I bought my first 4 track tape machine in 1989.

Always happy to contribute to your recording with parts or ideas but also know when to shut up and work the controls. :)

Vinny

Vinny - Assistant Engineer/ Good Boy

Vinny has spent his entire working life at Aerial and ranks musos very fairly on the quality of their friendliness and snacks. He is ultra-respectful of instruments and cables but will totally eat your lunch if you leave it on the table while you record your guitar solo.

RECORD YOUR WAY

At the end of the day, good music is about people, their ideas and emotions and raw performing talent, not gear.

Using good gear, in a comfortable studio and working with an experienced engineer/producer never seems to hurt though :)

Clients will often bring in tracks that they've started on their own rigs, knowing they've got a great idea, but wanting to rework it with more clarity and character, and finally capture a definitive performance.

Aerial Recording Studio - Control Room

Aerial Recording is well equipped to work at breakneck pace or to take your time and really dig deep. I can also arrange Perth's best session musicians to perform any overdubs you may want.

Get in touch and we can organise a time to visit and have a chat about your project.

Aerial Recording Studio - Entry