Business Details
Your Trusted Music Production Studio in San Rafael
Established by Grammy-nominated producer/engineer Ari Rios, Laughing Tiger Studios has become a premier destination for music production, recording, mixing, and mastering in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our state-of-the-art facilities feature two professional studios with variable acoustics, a custom SSL 4052 G+ console, Pro Tools HDX systems, and an extensive collection of vintage and modern analog gear. With decades of combined experience from our lead professionals, we offer a unique blend of technical expertise and creative insight, serving artists across all genres. Our team includes senior engineer Erin Tadena, whose technical proficiency and approachable demeanor have earned praise from industry veterans. Located in San Rafael, we provide 20-minute access to San Francisco and Oakland while maintaining a relaxed, inspiring environment.We specialize in full-service production, vocal production, analog tape recording, and voice-over services, with clients ranging from local artists to international acts like Carlos Santana and Third Eye Blind. Our commitment to quality extends to our acoustically optimized rooms, extensive microphone collection, and meticulous attention to tonal balance during mastering. We prioritize client comfort through flexible scheduling, transparent communication, and a studio culture that values creativity over pretension. Our Grammy-nominated work in both production and engineering demonstrates our dedication to excellence, while our competitive pricing and convenient location make professional-grade recording accessible to artists at all career stages.
Services
Music Production
Recording
Mixing
Mastering
Voice Over
Audiobook Recording
Tape Restoration
Highlights and features
- We have Grammy-nominated producers with decades of cross-genre experience
- Our hybrid analog-digital workflow combines vintage warmth with modern precision
- We offer 24-track analog tape recording capabilities with Studer and Ampex machines
- Our engineers provide technical expertise without pretension or ego
- We maintain acoustically calibrated rooms for accurate monitoring and translation
What people say
Grammy-nominated engineers
Exceptional analog gear
Comfortable environment
Professional yet approachable
Accurate monitoring rooms
Services
Music Production
Our Grammy-nominated producers guide artists through the complete recording process using hybrid analog-digital workflows. We specialize in creating records that maintain artistic integrity while achieving commercial quality standards. Our producers contribute creative input while respecting the artist's vision, with extensive experience across multiple genres.
Analog Recording
We offer 24-track recording using Studer Mark Four A80 and Ampex ATR machines for authentic analog warmth. This service includes access to our vintage microphone collection and outboard gear, ideal for artists seeking classic recording techniques with modern flexibility through our digital integration.
Mastering
Our mastering process balances tonal characteristics across tracks while maintaining genre-appropriate dynamics. We use precision monitoring systems to ensure accurate translation across playback devices, with optional DDP mastering for physical media production while avoiding destructive loudness compression.
Voice Over
Our acoustically treated voice-over rooms provide pristine recording environments for audiobooks, ADR, and commercial VO work. We offer real-time remote direction via ISDN and Skype connections, with post-processing capabilities for broadcast-ready delivery.
Studio Rentals
Clients can rent our two fully equipped studios with variable acoustics and extensive isolation options. The spaces accommodate both large ensembles and focused tracking sessions, with full technical support available from our engineering staff.
People
Ari Rios
Producer, Engineer, Owner
Three-time Grammy-nominated producer/engineer with expertise in hybrid analog-digital production. Specializes in vocal production, mixing, and mastering while maintaining artistic vision. Creator of Laughing Tiger Studios's unique studio environment combining technical excellence with creative freedom.
Erin Tadena
Senior Engineer
Senior engineer with decade of live sound experience and formal training from Los Medanos College. Handles technical maintenance and studio operations while working with artists like Carlos Santana and Third Eye Blind. Known for approachable demeanor and technical proficiency.
Questions
What makes Laughing Tiger different from other Bay Area studios?
We combine Grammy-nominated engineering expertise with unique hybrid analog-digital capabilities, including 24-track tape machines and SSL consoles in acoustically optimized spaces.
Do you offer voice-over recording services?
Yes, we have two specialized VO rooms with remote direction capabilities via ISDN/Skype, ideal for audiobooks, ADR, and commercial voice work.
Can I bring my own engineer?
Absolutely. We welcome outside engineers and provide full technical support to ensure your preferred workflow in our fully equipped control rooms.
What genres do you specialize in?
Our engineers have experience across all genres, from rock and jazz to hip-hop and classical, adapting techniques to suit each project's unique needs.
Do you provide production services?
Yes, our in-house producers offer full production services including arrangement, vocal coaching, and session musician coordination while maintaining your artistic vision.
How do you handle mastering for different formats?
We optimize mastering for each release format, balancing tonal characteristics and dynamics while preparing DDP masters for physical media production.
