Wisseloord Studios

{{short description|Recording studio in Hilversum, the Netherlands}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}

The [http://www.wisseloord.org Wisseloord Studio] is a recording studio in Hilversum, Netherlands. It was officially opened on 19 January 1978 by Prince Claus. The studios were founded by electronics company Philips, to enable their PolyGram artists to record in a professional environment. Initially, there were three studios, but this was expanded to five.{{Cite journal |last=Inglis |first=Cathy |date=26 September 1987 |title=Wisseloord Studios- In the Big League |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1987/M&M-1987-09-26.pdf |journal=Music & Media |pages=11}}{{Cite journal |date=9 Jun 2014 |title=Studio Focus: Wisseloord Studios |url=https://www.audiotechnology.com/features/studio-focus-wisseloord-studios |journal=Audiotechnology}}

In the early days, the studios were mainly used by Dutch artists. Very quickly, international musicians such as Elton John, Scorpions, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, the Police, Tina Turner, Electric Light Orchestra, and U2, Chris Brown, NAS, and many more have used the facilities.

Beginning in 2010, a new management team worked with designer and acoustician Jochen Veith to begin a major refit of the studios. The new team, had been envisioning a new studio model with two identical control rooms, so it would be easier to move between them.{{Cite web |last=Kenny |first=Tom |date=2012-10-01 |title=Wisseloord Studios |url=https://www.mixonline.com/recording/wisseloord-studios-367548 |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=Mixonline |language=en-US}} As part of this, major components have been updated, including the integration of new mixing consoles from Automated Processes, Inc. (Vision) and Avid (Euphonix System5). The studios also include a PMC active monitoring system.{{cite web|last=Lester|first=Ahren|title=Legendary Wisseloord Studios install API console and PMC loudspeakers|url=http://www.audioprointernational.com/news/read/legendary-wisseloord-studios-install-api-console-and-pmc-loudspeakers/04035|publisher=Audio Pro International|access-date=30 January 2012}}

According to Andrew Davie of the band Bear's Den, "The main rooms at Wisseloord are these enormous, spaceship-style studios."{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/bear-s-den-beards-banjos-and-booze-a6701691.html |last=McLean |first=Craig |title=Bear's Den: Beards, banjos and booze |website=The Independent |date=20 October 2015 |access-date=4 January 2023}}

In 2017, the studios took a big turn in their history under the lead of French music producer and co-owner Malik Berrabah who managed to transform the facilities into one of the most important music hubs in Europe. Since then, artists from all around the world have travelled to the Netherlands for residency programs, writing camps, and sessions to collaborate with other international artists.

2020 saw the launch of the [https://www.wisseloord.org Wisseloord Academy]. This academy was created to bridge the gap between the academic studies of music, in both schools and Conservatories, with the music industry as a whole.

Leading the way on industry standard training, the Wisseloord Academy also helps with developing professional skills for a variety of roles in music, including engineering, song writing, and artist development.

With a huge roster of lecturers, workshops and master classes from professionals in the industry, across multiple countries, the academy is one of the most relevant music schools in Europe.