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Unforgettable Recordings At Hollywood's Beloved Recording Landmark
When you think
of Capitol studios in Los Angeles, nostalgic and timeless sounds
like Nat King Cole's Christmas
Song come to mind. Try "April
in Paris" From the Verve "Ella and Louis" LP
recorded in Capitol Studios on August 16, 1956 with Louis Armstrong,
Buddy Rich on drums and the Oscar Peterson Trio.
Frank Sinatra made 19 albums with Capitol 1954-62, with legendary
arrangers Axel Stordahl and Nelson Riddle. Diana Krall, Everclear, Faith Hill, Goo Goo Dolls and Harry Connick Jr. have all recorded at the legendary Capitol studios.

Fast forward to 2026 and you walk into historic rooms with an updated look in the lounges. Studio A has a variable decay time that can be tailored to your needs, this is accomplished by adjusting the louvered wall panels. Studios A and B can be combined by removing the retractable wall separating the two. The studio additionally features two isolation booths. Ideal for both acoustic and electric instruments, Artists have their choice of a Yamaha C9 or New York Steinway “B” piano. It also has a large private artist lounge above the control room.
Capitol Studios
shares the 50-plus-year heritage of one of the most American of
pro audio success stories: Capitol
Records. Capitol Records was the first record company based
on the West Coast, and has promoted such acts as The Beatles, the
Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, Frank Sinatra, Bob Seger, Duran Duran, Bonnie
Raitt, Robbie Robertson, Steve Miller and Tina Turner, among many
others.

Capitol studio B
Today,
Capitol Studios combines digital and fiber optic technology along with quality vintage electronics
and State of the Art room design, Capitol Studios and Mastering
have broadened their scope as a leader in digital and global technology.
As part of the EMI family, Capitol Mastering shares a history of
advanced recording technology with great studios like Abbey
Road, Olympic, the Manor and the Townhouse in UK.
Capitol mastering in LA
With collaborators
such as EDNet and Rocket
Networks producers can finally be in two places at once; reducing
travel expenses and without work disruption. These technological
advances are available to the music, film, TV and advertising industries
through Capitol Studios and Capitol Mastering.
Capitol studio A
Film, TV and
advertising operate on a different pace with complex technical requirements.
Directors want it done yesterday and in today's economy, film companies
and producers diligently watch their budgets. Composers prefer the
atmosphere of record recording studios which generally do not have
film, TV and advertising expertise. Capitol Studios offers an intermediate
size recording facility from 4 to 75 pieces, with reasonable rates
compared to commercial sound stages, with film, TV and ad professionals.

Young
Old Blue Eyes with Tommy Dorsey circa 1960.
The legendary and multi Grammy-winning engineer/producer Al Schmitt worked in Studio A at Capitol during the Sinatra
Duets sessions, while the Chairman of The Board Sinatra belted
out his songs from the middle of a live orchestra, right in front
of the horn section. But while Sinatra’s parts were recorded
at Capitol, many of his duet partners laid down their tracks in
studios around the globe using the EDNet technology offered at Capitol.
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2002
Tec Award winners R-L: Jeff
Minnich (Capitol Records Studio), Al Schmitt, Paula Salvatore, & Kirk
Imamura (Avatar Studios).

Watch Al popping in to Studio C with Studio Manager
Paula to chat with producer Jimbo Barton! Also watch the Al Schmit
interview from Capitol Studio A with studioexpresso.
Scheiner (winner
of 2002 Pioneer in Surround Sound Award) mixed Queen ("A Night
At The Opera")in 5.1.
More recent mixes
done at Capitol include: Dave Mathews - "Live," Richard
Thompson - "Rumor & Sigh" and Wallflowers' new cd.

Natalie
Cole (little girl) visits dad at Capitol Studios with Louie Arstrong
and Ella Fitzgerald circa 1960.
The Capitol
Studio complex opened in a futuristic new building in the heart
of Hollywood in 1956, and has since hosted some of the most treasured
recordings in music history, from Frank Sinatra to the Beastie Boys.
When Johnny
Mercer, Buddy DeSylva and Glen Wallichs (pictured
below) started Capitol Records in 1942 they had a vision to create
a record label that would attract the greatest artists of their
time. The way to attract great artists was to give them a unique
sound and to achieve this they saw a need to build a state-of-the-art
recording facility exclusively for music recording.
A Hollywood
landmark, widely known as the 'Capitol Tower', the building was
designed by Welton Becket, noted architect. 13 stories tall
and 150' high, the building is a modern, striking, earthquake-resistant
reinforced-concrete structure. The ground floor, the only rectangular
part of the building, is actually a separate structure which surrounds
the tower and was joined to it after the entire tower was completed.
It houses the Recording Department offices, two mastering rooms,
three recording studios which were designed by Vincent Van Huff,
Jeff Cooper, and Jack Edwards, plus six production/edit rooms.
scoring stage
At the base
of the building's southern face (overlooking a parking lot) is a
large, colorful mural by artist Richard Wyatt, titled "Hollywood
Jazz." The mural features large portraits of Nat King Cole,
Billie Holiday, and other jazz greats.
John Lennon's and Al Schmitt's stars are on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, right outside the Capitol
Records building, and is often the site of candlelight vigils on
their anniversaries.
After dark,
you might notice that the spire high atop the Capitol Records building
is topped by a red light which continually blinks on and off. The
red light blinks out the word "Hollywood" in Morse code,
every few seconds.
When you are
ready to work in a relaxed, professional and inspiring atmosphere at a legendary studios with decades of recording and mastering experience and one-of-a-kind echo chambers, please make an appointment by calling or emailing Bookings for a tour.
Capitol
Studios Web Site
1750
North Vine Street
Hollywood, CA 90028
[email protected]
Jeff Minnich, Chief Technical Director Of Operations
Pete Papageorges Mastering
Manager
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