Tell us a little about what makes your studio unique! What do you stand for and what is at the heart of why you are in the recording industry?
Beckview Studios stands out through our dedication to authentic analogue recording techniques, with our MCI JH-24 tape machine paired with the Sony MCI JH-600 console at the heart of our operation. This setup allows us to track directly through tape to Pro Tools, giving us complete flexibility while maintaining that rich, organic sound that only analogue can provide.
Our studio is housed in a characterful 1937 building that took two years to transform into a bespoke recording space. The acoustic design was handled by Studio Wizard, led by principal designer Howard Turner who brings four decades of experience designing, building and running studios. Howard’s expertise ensured that every aspect of our recording environment was thoughtfully engineered for optimal sound quality. Located on the Yorkshire Coast in Scarborough, we offer the perfect balance—close to amenities but in a quiet area where creativity can flourish. We’re set on the outskirts of a park with tennis courts nearby, and with ample parking and flat load-in access, the practical aspects of recording sessions are effortlessly handled.
Our main recording space is thoughtfully designed with acoustics in mind—spacious enough to accommodate ensembles (we’ve even fit 40-person audiences for events) yet intimate enough that solo artists don’t feel lost in the space. Alongside the primary tracking area, we have a dedicated vocal booth and a distinctive amp/isolation room housed in what was once the walk-in safe! One of our most remarkable features is our connection to the adjacent village hall, with tie lines running between the spaces allowing us to record in the hall while utilising our preamps, tape machine, and studio monitoring in the control room. This gives us access to an additional recording space for projects which may require a larger, more open space.
While we welcome all genres, we specialise in recording real instruments. Our approach of tracking to tape whenever possible creates that natural, characterful feel that especially appeals to indie, jazz, shoegaze, rock, folk, country, and singer-songwriter projects. That said, our versatile facilities accommodate everything from choirs to classical ensembles. The studio also offers guest accommodation that doubles as holiday lets when not being used by recording clients, making us a true destination studio on the Yorkshire Coast.
Are there any previous recording, mixing or mastering projects that your studio has been a part of that you are particularly proud of?
We were honored to work with Leeds based post-punk band, Thank, before they signed to the renowned Big Scary Monsters record label. The balanced sound characteristics of our tracking environment, combined with the warmth of our vintage mixing desk and tape machine, helped capture the authentic energy and tonal clarity of their performances.
Equally we’ve really enjoyed working with emerging artist Beetlebug, whose track “The Lepidopterist” has so far garnered over one million streams across YouTube and other streaming platforms.
Our “Lounge, Live at Beckview Studios” series have been another standout achievement, where we excel in capturing premium-quality live recordings paired with professional video production. These feature live studio audiences, with quality of these productions earning industry recognition, with MPG executive director Cameron Craig commenting on one of our recent Lounge events as “A great concept and very well executed.”
We’re currently in the process of recording and releasing an exciting new series called “Beckview Presents,” which results in live EP recordings tracked straight to tape, and then released on streaming platforms. We are particularly looking forward to the EP release of up and coming Leeds based shoegaze band, Pleasure Centre, later in the year.
2024 saw us involved with a diverse range of releases, including singles from Deep Sea Daggers (“Everything I Had” and “Blacked Out”), Oneshyreptile’s album “The Field” (co-produced by our chief engineer Chris Jones), and Sam Barrington’s “All The Years.” We’ve also welcomed back jazz musician William Cline Bailey for his fifth release with us, “Discovery,” and we were notably excited when Sunbeam’s “Give Me Something” climbed to No. 2 on the iTunes chart.
Beyond music, we’ve embraced a variety of audio projects, including “What the Sea Saw,” an 8-part audio trail produced by Digital Drama, podcast recordings, and audiobook recordings for Penguin Books. In the relatively short time we’ve been operating, we’ve had the privilege of working with the BBC, New York Times, Emergence Magazine, and a range of regional and national organisations.
What does an average day at your studio look like?
Our activities vary widely from day to day, which speaks to our versatility as a facility. Some days we’re hosting residential sessions where external producers use the studio for tracking, while others might focus on drum tracking, leveraging the carefully engineered sonic properties of our main recording space. We regularly block out weeks dedicated to mixing projects, and we also handle commercial podcast recordings, voiceovers, and audio production.
A typical day begins with Chris and Kristina arriving early to handle administrative tasks and team meetings before sessions start at 10 AM. Kristina usually wraps up in the afternoon to collect their children from school, while Chris and our assistants continue working into the evening—and sometimes through the night during residential bookings.
The studio environment is always warm and welcoming, with the stunning coastal location providing inspiration for visiting artists. Many clients take advantage of our residential accommodation, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the creative process without distractions.During sessions, our vintage Sony MCI JH-600 console (commissioned in 1984) is the centerpiece of the operation. With its exceptional sound quality, a selection of modified custom API preamps, and user-friendly design, it provides the perfect foundation for everything from solo recordings to full band setups.
Tell us about your studio staff. How do they contribute to your studio’s ethos and reputation?
We operate with a close-knit team headed by husband-and-wife duo Chris and Kristina Jones. Chris serves as Chief House Engineer and Producer, bringing valuable experience from his background in live sound recording and music technology education, having worked as a technician and lecturer at both the University of Hull and the University of York. This academic background, combined with his passion for analogue recording techniques, creates a unique approach that values both traditional methods and innovation.
Kristina handles all aspects of the studio management and operations, ensuring that sessions run smoothly and clients have everything they need. Her attention to detail and organisational skills complement Chris’s technical expertise perfectly.
We’re supported by a select group of associate engineers, producers, and assistants who help maintain our high standards and contribute to the warm, welcoming atmosphere that clients consistently praise. Additionally, we maintain relationships with a diverse roster of session musicians, where possible drawn from local and regional talent pools.
We’ve cultivated strong partnerships with freelance creative professionals, including videographers, visiting producers, voice actors, and photographers. As Chris often notes, “We’ve got so much talent right here locally – all these creative people doing different things. I enjoy getting everyone together under one roof and seeing what happens. That’s when you get the best results.”
Coming back to the main purpose of this feature. Is there a highlight from the previous working month (or recently) at your studio that you would like to share?
A genuine highlight of the past month has been the completion of Jack Robertson’s debut album ‘Danube Blues.’ This concept album tells a personal story from January 2020 to the present day through eleven tracks – six finger-picked acoustic songs and five full band arrangements. Chris ran the entire production through our analogue console to capture that authentic energy, with the album tracked to tape and through our desk to maintain the warm, organic sound we’re known for. The result is a compelling collection of original music that perfectly embodies what we stand for at Beckview: blending raw emotional songwriting with high-fidelity recording. ‘Danube Blues’ is now available to stream and showcases our capability to handle recording projects that require careful attention to sonic transitions between different styles of tracks. This project demonstrates our commitment to supporting emerging local artists, with Jack noting in a recent interview, by Yorkshire Coast Gigs, that Chris’s mixing and mastering expertise was instrumental in making the transitions between the album’s contrasting styles feel seamless.
Recent months have seen us expand our “The Lounge, Live at Beckview Studios” offerings, where we capture exceptional quality live recordings paired with professional video production.
We’ve hosted numerous sessions in “The Lounge” format featuring an eclectic range of acts including The Feens, Beetlebug, Beth Pilling, The Froot, Phil Hooley, Pyramid Park, and many others from across Scarborough, Leeds, Hull, and Northallerton.
Our first “Live and Loud” event with Scarborough Extreme Festival brought higher energy performances from bands like Deep Sea Daggers, Shindig Band, and Ten Foot Tom and the Leprosy Crooks, offering an exciting contrast to our more relaxed Live Lounge sessions.
We were ecstatic to receive the Best Music Award at the Scarborough Fair last year and have enjoyed multiple features on BBC York. The collaboration with other music agencies like Hull Music Net for takeover events has been particularly rewarding, helping us build connections across the regional music scene.
We’ve also been developing collaborative relationships with regional music organisations and exploring innovative ways to support emerging artists through interviews and special features. These efforts are helping to position Beckview Studios as a central hub for the Yorkshire Coast music community. We have many exciting new projects in the pipeline, so watch this space for
further updates.
We’re particularly excited about our recent investment from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, which is enabling us to further enhance our technical capabilities and creative offerings.
Is there anything else you would like to say about your studio and share with the Guild?
Our coastal location offers not just inspiration but surprising convenience too. Scarborough is well-connected by rail, with direct train routes from London to York taking less than two hours, followed by a scenic transfer to our seaside town. We’re happy to help with journey planning and regularly arrange station pickups and dropoffs for our clients to make the experience seamless.
A key part of our mission is raising the profile of Yorkshire and in particular the Coast’s music scene and connecting musicians to our unique studio environment. Our live recording sessions frequently include audiences who get to be part of a unique live recording experience, witnessing firsthand how we capture performances in our specially designed space.
We occasionally run training sessions and workshops focused on recording techniques and the art of recording to tape. In July 2025, we’ll be hosting a Recording to Tape Masterclass within-house engineer Chris Jones alongside BBC-trained studio support engineer Iain Betson from Reel Resilience. Special discounts for MPG members are available. More information about the event can be found here.
This all-day event will take participants through the demystifying processes of using tape in a session, covering topics such as selecting tape types, setting up for a session, best practices, and using the format to artistic advantage. There will be plenty of opportunity for hands-on experience, questions, and networking.
Additionally, we have several exciting live recording events on the horizon for 2025, including:
● Craig Gould and the Noble Thieves, Kate McDonnell, and Flat Moon Lounge (May 10, 2025)
● Summer Lounge in association with Scarborough Fair featuring Jack Robertson and Goldivox (more acts to be announced – 14th of June 2025)
These events are recorded, filmed, and live-streamed.
We warmly invite any Guild members visiting the Yorkshire Coast to get in touch—we’d be delighted to show you around our facilities and share our passion for analogue recording techniques and authentic sound over a nice cup of Yorkshire tea!
