Business Details
Your Premier Music Recording Studio in San Rafael, CA
Established in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area, Laughing Tiger Studios has become a premier destination for artists seeking world-class recording, mixing, and mastering services. Our facility features two professional studios equipped with a custom 52-channel SSL 4052 G+ console, Pro Tools 2024.3 HDX with 64 inputs/outputs, and an extensive collection of vintage and modern microphones, outboard gear, and instruments. The studios include versatile live rooms with variable ambience, multiple isolation booths, and state-of-the-art control rooms designed for optimal acoustics. Our team of Grammy-nominated engineers brings decades of experience across diverse musical genres, offering personalized support for producers, artists, and engineers.We provide specialized services including analog tape restoration using Studer and Ampex recorders, audiobook/ADR production in acoustically treated VO rooms, and remote collaboration capabilities. Located in San Rafael, California, our facility offers convenient access, ample free parking, and a creative environment where artists can focus on their craft. With a reputation built on technical excellence and client satisfaction, we continue to serve both emerging and established talent from the Bay Area and beyond.
Services
Music Production
Recording Sessions
Mixing Services
Mastering
Audiobook Recording
Tape Restoration
VO Booth Rental
Remote Collaboration
Instrument Tracking
Analog Processing
Highlights and features
- Grammy-nominated engineers with decades of cross-genre experience
- Hybrid analog/digital workflow with SSL consoles and Pro Tools HDX
- Specialized analog tape restoration using Studer/Ampex equipment
- Dedicated VO rooms with remote collaboration capabilities
- 20-minute access to San Francisco and Oakland music scenes
What people say
Grammy-nominated engineers
Analog warmth with digital precision
Comfortable creative environment
Exceptional tape restoration
Professional VO facilities
Services
Music Production
Full-service music production from concept to completion. Our Grammy-nominated engineers provide expert guidance through every stage, combining vintage warmth with digital precision. Services include arrangement assistance, session musician coordination, and hybrid analog/digital recording techniques tailored to each artist's vision.
Analog Tape Restoration
Specialized analog tape restoration using controlled baking and precision transfer techniques. We preserve decaying magnetic tapes using Studer A80 and Ampex ATR recorders, ensuring faithful digital conversion while maintaining original sonic character. Our process prevents oxide shedding damage during transfer.
Mastering Services
Final-stage audio optimization balancing tonal elements across tracks. Our mastering process ensures consistent volume levels and genre-appropriate loudness while preserving dynamic range. We provide reference CDs and DDP masters for professional duplication requirements.
Voice Over Recording
Professional voice over recording in acoustically treated booths. We support audiobook narration, ADR work, and commercial VO production with remote producer connectivity via phone patch or Skype. Sessions include engineer assistance and real-time monitoring capabilities.
Remote Collaboration
Flexible remote production support enabling off-site producers and engineers to participate in sessions. Our facility provides technical infrastructure for real-time collaboration while maintaining hands-on engineering support for artists working with distant creative teams.
People
Ari Rios
Producer, Engineer, Owner
Three-time Grammy-nominated producer/engineer with expertise in hybrid analog/digital production. Combines technical mastery with musical intuition across genres, handling production, mixing, and mastering while maintaining creative focus on artists' visions.
Erin Tadena
Senior Engineer
Senior engineer with decade-plus live sound experience and formal recording arts education. Provides technical expertise and calm session management, having worked with artists like Carlos Santana and Third Eye Blind while handling studio maintenance.
Questions
What recording formats do you support?
We offer hybrid analog/digital workflows with Pro Tools HDX systems and Studer/Ampex analog tape machines for 24-track and 1/2" formats.
Can remote producers participate in sessions?
Yes, we provide phone patch/Skype connectivity for remote producers while maintaining on-site engineering support for optimal collaboration.
Do you offer voice over recording services?
We have two acoustically treated VO rooms equipped for audiobook narration, ADR work, and commercial voice over production.
What instruments are available?
Our facility includes a Yamaha C7 grand piano, Hammond B3 with Leslie cabinet, vintage keyboards, and various modern instruments for session use.
How does your tape restoration process work?
We restore decaying analog tapes through controlled baking and precision transfer using Orion converters to preserve sonic integrity during digital conversion.
What makes your mastering services unique?
Our mastering engineers focus on genre-appropriate dynamics balancing, avoiding excessive compression while ensuring commercial loudness standards are met.
Reviews (5)
Ross Valley Players Ross Valley Players
Aug 18, 2018
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Laughing Tiger Studios was the perfect venue for recording voice talent for our animated short "Oh, Rats!" All of us felt welcome and in good hands from start to finish. Ari and Aaron's expertise gave us the room to discover the best solutions for the film and their input was instrumental to our success. I'd go back for our next project in a heartbeat!
Drum Wall
Aug 03, 2018
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I've had the pleasure of working out of Laughing Tiger Studios for several projects thus far. They are a world-class studio run by first-class people. The gear is awesome and the location is convenient. Perhaps the best part though is the studio's vibe--creativity really flows here.
Damien Lewis
Nov 03, 2017
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Owner Ari Rios put his heart and soul into creating and maintaining the best recording studio in the bay area for over 20 years now. The vibe is amazing, the gear is meticulously maintained and Ari is one of the most genuine people you'll ever hope to meet. This is a high end studio. Whether you chose to work with Ari, his staff or bring in your own, I can personally guarantee you'll have an amazing experience here and make incredible sounding music.
Temple Of Sound Healing
Dec 14, 2016
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I had a wonderful experience at Laughing Tiger for my piano recording. The studio is warm, inviting, and spacious, and I loved the rich, live tone of their C7 Yamaha. I felt really taken care of in the hands of these excellent, friendly professionals. I kind of felt like a star! :) From the thought Ari and Erin put into setting up the mikes for my particular recording, to being open to tune my piano down to 432 Hz, to Ari's highly intuitive and expert mixing, Im delighted with my experience. Aris really down to earth, easy to be around, and totally nailed what I was wanting from my recording
Gail Caulfield
Nov 15, 2016
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I had a very satisfying experience with Ari at Laughing Tiger Studios and would go back to him again. He went out of his way to help our folk trio with mixing and mastering the sound we wanted. He has the best people skills, technical skills, and artistic skills. Not only that, he is a delightful human being.
Gail Caulfield of The Splinter Group
Gail Caulfield of The Splinter Group
