Frequently Asked Questions

Tired of leaving the Studio with a bad mix?

Why Surdy Luxury Recording Studio Los Angeles?

• 🌴Only Recording Studio in Los Angeles With Private Rooftop Deck!

• 🏆 Consistently Ranked #1 “Best New Recording Studio in the Valley” on Google.

• 🎚️ Professional, highly-compensated engineers.

• 💬 Personalized attention — every artist works directly with an experienced, quality-controlled engineer.

• 🚫 No chaos, no distractions, no games, no drama!

• 🧼 Designer fragrances deck the halls. Bathrooms cleaned daily.

• 📍 Located inside The Williamson, a private creative complex in the heart of the Valley.

Artist Preparation Guide

🎵 Choosing Your Beats & Instrumentals

“Rap is not music — it’s poetry.”

Before arriving, make sure your beats are ready in WAV, M4A, or MP3 format. For the best results, we recommend using professionally mixed-and-mastered WAV files (“two-tracks”) and purchasing proper licensing from your producer (e.g. via BeatStars or YouTube).

Many YouTube instrumentals are intentionally mixed for playback — not for recording — with artificial bass boosts or compression that ruin the clarity of your final record. Always acquire the original licensed version for optimal sound quality. The mix of the beats and instrumentals themselves have a huge impact on the final mix quality of your record.

Day of Your Recording Session

⏰ Timing & Communication

You’ll receive a confirmation text or call the morning of your session.

If you don’t, reach out before arriving to confirm.

• Session times start 45 minutes into hour;

• Recording begins at the top of the next hour;

• 15-minute grace period provided.

We value punctuality — your time and our time are equally important.

Studio Etiquette & Session Principles

1. This Is Work — Not a Hangout!

Our studio inside The Williamson is a creative environment built for focus and excellence. Modern trap and hip-hop recording often require real-time collaboration (“back-and-forth” or “punching in”) with an engineer — which is why we operate without a traditional vocal booth. We’re here to create records, not parties. The entire recording studio suite serves as an industry-leading example of cutting-edge design — Owens Corning 703 and 706 acoustic treatment, GIK Alpha Series Corner Bass Traps, sound-proof concrete walls, and the infamous Neumann U87 → Neve 1073 Pre-Amp & EQ → legendary TUBE-TECH CL 1B Analog Tube Compressor comprise our sound-booth and industry-standard vocal chain. Barefoot MicroMain27 World Class Active Studio Monitors provide “deeply revealing sound demanded by top-of-the-line production facilities.” (Sweetwater)

If you’re looking to host an event, The Deck at The Williamson is available separately for $375/hr.

2. Guest Policy

To maintain focus, we allow a maximum of three people total:

• You + two trusted guests (max three total).

• All guests must show valid ID upon arrival, which will be scanned.

The Williamson community consists of producers and artists signed to major publishing labels, so please respect the workspace environment. Most professionals in our building treat their craft like a full-time job, clocking in 9-to-5, Monday thru Friday.

Pro tip: Friday and Saturday nights are often quiet — perfect for locking in uninterrupted.

3. Tips for Beginners

If you’re new to recording, we strongly recommend coming alone. It’s natural to feel pressure or stage fright around others — growth happens fastest in focused, private sessions. Every engineer and artist here earned their sound through years of consistency (“locking in”) and dedication. You can do the same — stay locked in, stay humble, and remember that greatness comes from patience, not projection!