Studio San Francisco
Built for creators | Powered by the Bay
A recording studio in San Francisco where solo artists, bands, and projects get an engineer, full backline, and a focused space built to create. Plan it, track it, shape it. Leave with something real, with optional media production and publish-ready content when it fits the project.
Engineer always included.
Bring an idea. Leave with a movement.
Recording studio in San Francisco
It All Begins Here
Choose your starting point.
During launch, all clients start here so I can deliver consistently.
Start with a Session
Start with a Plan
Everything starts here. All services begin with one of these two options.
$50 deposit confirms your time for all sessions (applied to total).
How It Works
Choose Quick-Start
Pick a free plan or a $100 intro session. Tell me about your project.
Confirm Details
Fill out a short intake form, then pick your time on the calendar.
Record & Deliver
Show up, create, and leave with something real. I handle the technical side.
Gallery
Purpose-built over five years of real sessions. Designed space, custom RGB lighting, coffee bar between takes (or before getting started), modular curtains for isolation - an immersive creative space.
What's in the Room
Full backline. Everything you need to make a song is in the room. Bring your own gear or use ours. See photos.
Instruments
- Drum kit
- Guitars + bass
- Keys / MIDI
- Percussion
Workflow
- Multi-headphone monitoring
- Pro mics + preamps
- Fast setup
Amenities
- Coffee bar
- RGB lighting
- Mini fridge + microwave
- Comfortable seating
See full equipment list
Instruments
- Ludwig 5-piece drum kit
- Upright grand piano
- Fender Precision & Jazz Bass
- Fender Stratocaster
- Taylor & Breedlove acoustics
- Nylon classical guitar
- Yamaha digital piano
- MIDI + Ableton
Recording & Monitoring
- 8-input interface
- Vocal microphones
- Drum mic kit
- Studio monitors
- Multi-headphone (up to 6)
- Vox & bass amps
- Mixing console
Comfort & Vibe
Coffee bar on-site - pour-overs between takes to reset and listen back. Mini fridge, microwave, customizable RGB lighting.
Everything’s set up and ready, but always bring along your own personal gear and setup as needed.
Get StartedWhat Artists Are Saying
“Working with Stephen on a music track for a film was absolutely seamless and joyous. His process is professional, fun, and encouraging - and the speed and precision at which he engineers is astounding.”
“Stephen knows the space inside and out - prompt setups for new ideas, professional solutions for every obstacle. The quality of the recordings makes it clear he genuinely cares about the best sound, best take, and best result.”
“I couldn’t have asked for a better day in the studio. Stephen creates a low stress, super fun environment without sacrificing productivity - I’d recommend working with him in a heartbeat.”
Read more reviews
Hear What We've Made
Tracks from sessions at Studio San Francisco.
The Studio Promise
- Presence over pressure - Sessions are designed to feel focused, not rushed.
- Human before technical - The gear serves the song, not the other way around.
- Guided, not directed - I’m here to support your vision, not overwrite it.
- Take something home - Every session ends with something you can listen to, build on, or share.
Meet Your Engineer
- 5+ years recording in San Francisco
- Engineer, drummer & multi-instrumentalist
- Coffee roaster & photographer - the details matter
Hi, I'm Stephen - songwriter, musician, drummer at heart, and engineer. I've spent the last five years working with Bay Area artists and bands in this room. What started from nothing has been built into something I'm beyond excited to share with you.
Long before recording, I was deep in craft - shooting photo and video, working in specialty coffee for over a decade. That background shaped how I work: details matter, vibe matters, and the environment you create affects everything that comes out of it.
This isn't just a space you rent by the hour. It's a studio with an engineer already in the room - to handle setup, keep momentum, and make sure you leave with something real.
The Room
Built over five years of real sessions - real bands, real songs, real problems solved in real time. If you've ever felt the pressure of watching the clock in a studio, this is the opposite of that.
The Craft
My background is as much behind a camera as behind a console, and in photography, you don’t fix the moment later. You frame it, light it, and capture it right the first time. I work the same way with audio.
Every session is built on clean stems: direct, uncolored recordings of each instrument and voice before anything is shaped by effects or room character. Texture comes later. The foundation comes first. That means you leave with something solid at the core: takes you can shape, remix, and return to without losing what made the moment real.
The room runs on a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20. Eight inputs captured simultaneously, with up to six individual headphone mixes. Bands play together, stay comfortable, and walk out with clean, separated tracks.
There’s also a coffee bar in the studio. If you want to step back between takes, pull a pour-over, and just listen, that option is always there. Sometimes the reset matters as much as the recording.
FAQ
Quick answers before you book.
How do I book a session?
Start with one of the two options in Quick-Start: a free plan or a $100 intro session. After you submit the intake form, you’ll pick a time on Calendly.
Why can't I book other services directly?
During launch, I start everyone with the same process to ensure quality and consistency. Once we've connected through Quick-Start, I can tailor everything from there - artist passes, mobile recording, custom projects, all of it.
What's the difference between a Recording Session and Band Capture?
Recording session prioritizes precision, isolation, and performance detail. Band rehearsal capture prioritizes comfort + speed so you can review arrangements and share demos.
What do I leave with after the session?
Every session includes organized exports/stems plus a rough mix. Add-ons like final mixes and photo packages are available, or included with Artist Passes.
What's required to confirm a time?
A $50 deposit is required to confirm your session time and is applied to the final total. Full details are in the Deposit & Cancellation Policy.
How long should I book?
There's a 2-hour minimum on hourly sessions. For band rehearsal capture, booking a longer block is recommended so setup doesn't eat your creative time.
What should I bring?
Bring your session files (stems, instrumentals, or project sessions), references, and anything unique to your sound. If you're tracking vocals, bring water and any preferred headphones.
When should I book off-peak vs standard?
Off-peak is best when you want a quieter building (especially for delicate vocals). Review the Noise policy so I can recommend the best window.
What if I’ve never recorded before?
Most clients haven’t. That’s exactly what the Launch Intro is for - I’ll guide every step, from setup to playback. No experience needed.
Can I reschedule my session?
Yes. With 72+ hours notice, your deposit is fully refundable or transferable. Between 24-72 hours, it converts to studio credit valid for 60 days. Full details in the cancellation policy.
What if I’m not happy with the recordings?
We’ll listen back together before you leave. You’ll know exactly what you’re taking home - and if something needs another pass, we’ll talk through the best next step.
Is there parking?
Yes. Studio San Francisco is located inside Secret Studios, which has parking available on-site.
Studio Policies
Studio San Francisco is located inside Secret Studios, a creative warehouse in San Francisco. Parking available on-site.
About the space
- Location: Inside Secret Studios - a shared creative warehouse with multiple rehearsal rooms and studios.
- Parking: On-site parking available at Secret Studios.
Noise policy
- What you might hear: Occasional hallway or rehearsal activity during peak hours - it’s a working creative building.
- Off-peak advantage: Weekday mornings and early afternoons are quieter - ideal for delicate vocals and acoustic work.
- 5 years of experience in this room: Smart mic choice, gain staging, and isolation techniques. I know how to get the best results here at any time of day.
Deposit & Cancellation Policy
Deposit requirement
- Amount: $50 deposit required to confirm any session
- Application: Deposit applied to your final total
- Purpose: Confirms commitment and allows me to prep the room
Cancellation windows
- 72+ hours notice: Full deposit refund or credit toward rescheduling
- 24-72 hours notice: Deposit becomes studio credit (valid 60 days)
- <24 hours / no-show: Deposit forfeited