The Recording Studio Triangle
The Recording Studio Triangle: A Framework of the Traditional Recording Studio by Ope Odumakin
In any professional recording studio session, there are three key elements that contribute to the magic of the final product: the client/talent/booker, the studio owner/manager, and the audio engineer. These three players form what I like to call the Recording Studio Triangle.
The recording studio triangle outlines the three key elements of a professional or traditional recording studio session with the client/talent, studio owner/studio manager and the audio engineer. Of course a lot of times this triangle can just be one person or two people, as a lot of audio creatives are skilled and invested in different parts of the process. A lot of studio owners and studio managers are also audio engineers. A lot of clients/talent/bookers also know how to engineer, mix, or master. or know how to mix. A lot of clients/talent/bookers or audio engineers also own a studio, mostly home or project studios. Vice versa, etc…. but the recording studio triangle is based on these 3 parts working together in their respective expertise.
You can put the elements in the triangle in any order or position. This figure below is just the position I decided to go with.
At the top of the triangle (again.. you can put the elements in the triangle in any order or position this isn’t the food pyramid) you’ll find the client/talent/booker. This is the person coming into the studio with the voice, talent, and creative vision. They might be an artist, musician, rapper, producer, songwriter, voice-over actor, podcaster, narrator, or even a manager or label executive on behalf of an artist, etc. This side is initiating the recording session. The talent’s creativity and energy drive the session, they come prepared with the ideas and a vision for their sound or work.
On the bottom left, we have the studio owner/studio manager. This person is the backbone of the recording process. They own the recording studio and/or are responsible for maintaining the space, ensuring everything is running smoothly, and providing the right environment for creativity to flourish. In some cases, this role could be taken on by someone who’s both the studio owner and studio manager, handling the business side while also facilitating the client’s needs.
Finally, on the bottom right, there’s the audio engineer, the technical wizard who captures, shapes, and polishes the sound. From setting up the microphones to tracking (recording) to mixing and mastering the final track, the engineer’s skill is crucial in bringing the client’s ideas to life. Their expertise in acoustics, sound mixing, and music production ensures that the audio is high-quality and professional, leaving the talent with a timeless product.
How These Roles Work Together
Though each role in the Recording Studio Triangle is distinct, they often overlap, especially in smaller, independent studios where one person may take on multiple roles. For instance, a musician may also be the studio owner, or an engineer may also handle studio management. However, when these three roles are filled by experts, they each bring a specialized skill set to the table, creating a productive and harmonious atmosphere.
In a perfect session, all three sides of the triangle support each other. The talent inspires with their creativity and vision, the studio owner ensures the space and resources are available, and the engineer capture and polishes the talent’s recording.