7-9 Langcliffe road, Preston, PR2 6ue

I have worked out of Soundskills Studio since September 2018, and it has become my primary base for recording, production, mentoring, and artist development. My role has evolved from initial volunteering to working in a self-employed capacity under Daniel Squires and Jamie O’Connor, and now to running the studio independently since 2024 following their departure. Through this progression, I have taken on increasing responsibility for both the creative and practical running of the space.

Studio Overview

Soundskills Studio supports both educational and commercial work. In the mornings, I deliver sessions with high school-aged students, covering music production, recording techniques, performance, and instrumental instruction. In the evenings, I work with community and commercial artists across a range of genres, from vocal recording over pre-made instrumentals to full production involving live instrumentation such as guitar, bass, drums, and keyboard.

When I took over full responsibility for the studio in 2024, I led a complete rebrand of the space. This included new social media pages, logo design and marketing materials, a studio advertisement, price lists, and booking and dry hire policies. Alongside this, I became responsible for the wider day-to-day running of the studio, including equipment upkeep, online presence, session organisation, and artist support. The studio has supported work that has progressed from youth and community activity into commercial releases, radio play, and press coverage, reflecting its role as both a creative and developmental space.

Technical Responsibilities

My technical responsibilities at Soundskills Studio include preparing sessions, setting up and maintaining recording equipment, and supporting artists through the full recording process from capture to final mix. I work primarily in Logic Pro X, where I regularly comp, tune, and align vocals using tools such as Melodyne, Flex Pitch, VocaAlign, and Autotune. I also gain stage during recording using VU meters to achieve strong input levels and will often track through outboard gear such as the Warm Audio WA-2A, or print processing after recording, depending on the session.

I use a range of microphone setups to suit different artists and recording situations. Although the Neumann U67 is my preferred microphone, I also work regularly with the Neumann TLM 102, Aston Spirit, Shure SM58s and SM57s, and the Blue Baby Bottle, depending on the source and the sound required. I also manage session files, exports, and backups, with all projects stored under a four-year file retention guarantee. Across both educational and commercial work, this role requires me to combine technical accuracy with creative judgement, adapting the recording setup to suit different artists, genres, and session goals.

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