Capitol Studios

The legendary recording studios located in Hollywood, California since 1956.
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10/08/2025

Al Schmitt once said, “If I could only use one microphone – just one mic – it would be a Neumann U67.” His favorite was a Capitol Studio's U67 tuned by Klaus Heine, which he used on Diana Krall's 2002 Grammy winning album, "Look of Love".

10/06/2025

Yes, Capitol Records Tower is the most photogenic building in LA. No, this is not up for debate.

10/03/2025

Capitol Studios' Studio B houses a vintage, custom Neve 8068 56-input recording console. The console was originally a 32-channel frame, but Capitol's chief engineer expanded it by adding another 24-channel bucket, plus a new center section and other custom modifications. This particular 8068 features "flying faders", which are automated motorized faders that remember and replay mix moves.

What makes this console legendary isn't just its technical specifications, but its sonic fingerprint. The Neve 8068 series became synonymous with the warm, punchy sound that defined rock and pop records of the 1970s. Studio B's 1,023 square feet makes it ideal as a rock studio, yet sonically responsive enough to handle orchestral sessions. The Neve 8068 serves as the perfect sonic translator, capturing everything from intimate vocals to thunderous drums with equal precision.

10/01/2025

Elliott Smith recorded portions of ""Figure 8"" at Capitol Studios in Hollywood between 1998 and 2000, alongside sessions at Sunset Sound, Sonora Studios in Los Angeles, and Abbey Road Studios in London. This would become his final completed album, released on April 18, 2000.

Capitol Studios provided the perfect environment for Smith's most ambitious sonic experiment. Unlike his earlier lo-fi recordings, Figure 8 featured lush orchestral arrangements, all written by Smith himself. The studio's renowned echo chambers and acoustic properties allowed him to layer intricate string sections, Chamberlin textures, and "dirty blues reverb" that gave the album its distinctive cinematic quality.

At Capitol, Smith could seamlessly blend intimate whispered vocals with sweeping orchestral flourishes. Songs recorded during these sessions showcased his evolution from bedroom pop songwriter to sophisticated arranger, using the studio's capabilities to create what critics called his most "large-hearted" work.

The Capitol sessions represented a crucial chapter in Figure 8's creation, allowing Smith to realize his vision of turning pop music inside out. Within those Hollywood walls, he transformed personal vulnerability into grand musical statements, proving that the most private emotions could be expressed through the most expansive sonic landscapes. Twenty-five years later, that combination of intimacy and orchestral ambition still sounds revolutionary.

Photo Credit:

09/29/2025

Our 1945 Steinway Model B with a U47 for vocals. When it comes to a perfect sound, you can't ask for much else!

09/26/2025

The great Al Jarreau is one of the many legendary artists who have recorded at Capitol Studios. The six-time Grammy winner recorded and mixed "Glow" in 1976 and "Accentuate the Positive" in 2000. From his signature scatting to a vocal range spanning jazz, R&B, and pop, Al Jarreau's artistry was always on full display within Capitol Studios!

09/24/2025

Studio A has been a staple of recording history since the day Capitol Studios opened in April, 1956. Check out these historical shots from 1963, the year the Beach Boys recorded Surfin' USA!

09/12/2025

64 years ago today, Frank Sinatra recorded his Capitol farewell, 'Point of No Return,' with Axel Stordahl, the arranger who started his Capitol journey eight years earlier! Though rushed, the sessions captured a swan song to close out a legendary chapter in Sinatra's career.

08/27/2025

7 years ago, Jeff Goldblum recorded his jazz record - Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra - The Capitol Studios Sessions. An homage to the Golden Age of jazz, Jeff's 2018 debut studio album was recorded to sound like an LA club in studio A with a live audience. With tunes like, "It Never Entered My Mind", "My Baby Just Cares...", and "Cantaloupe Island", Jeff Goldblum captured the essence of Jazz's golden age!

08/20/2025

In 2014, musical alchemy unfolded inside Capitol Studios as the supergroup The New Basement Tapes - featuring Elvis Costello, Jim James , Marcus Mumford , Rhiannon Giddens , and Taylor Goldsmith - the album brought Bob Dylan’s lost lyrics to life. Their album, Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes, was a once-in-a-generation collaboration recorded in the legendary Studios A and B!

08/13/2025

Legends of their craft, Burt Bacharach, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Al Schmitt at Capitol Studios ❤️

08/11/2025

1967: Frank Zappa brought his orchestral vision to Studio A, recording the symphonic portions of 'Lumpy Gravy' with a full ensemble. Here is a great shot from the control room looking out on Frank in Studio A.

Address

1750 Vine Street
Los Angeles, CA
90028

Telephone

+13238715001

Website

https://www.capitolstudios.com/

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