EastWest Studios

EastWest Studios
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Name	EastWest Studios
Location	Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Country	United States
Established	1969 (as Western Studio Complex), 1999 (EastWest re-establishment)
Founder	John Kurlander (current incarnation founded by Doug Rogers)
Notable clients	Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, Green Day, Kendrick Lamar, Hans Zimmer

EastWest Studios EastWest Studios is a commercial recording facility in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, founded in its modern form by producer Doug Rogers and located in a historic studio complex associated with United Western Recorders, Capitol Records, Warner Bros. Records, The Beatles, and Frank Sinatra. The studio has hosted sessions involving artists such as The Beach Boys, Ray Charles, Kendrick Lamar, Green Day, and composers like Hans Zimmer, and has been used for film score recordings for productions by Disney, Warner Bros. Pictures, and Universal Pictures. EastWest Studios combines vintage analogue consoles and microphones with contemporary digital systems used in projects for Grammy Awards, Academy Awards (Oscars), and BAFTA winners.

History

EastWest Studios occupies a building that traces its lineage to United Western Recorders, a complex associated with recording milestones by The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, and The Rolling Stones. The site was integral to sessions produced by industry figures including Phil Spector, Brian Wilson, Quincy Jones, George Martin, and engineers such as Bruce Swedien, Alan Parsons, and Glen Kolotkin. In the 1990s, entrepreneur Doug Rogers acquired and renovated the facility, rebranding it and attracting clients from contemporary pop, rock, hip hop, and film scoring communities including Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Howard Shore, Lady Gaga, and Dr. Dre.

Facilities and Equipment

EastWest Studios features acoustically renowned rooms originally designed to host orchestras and pop ensembles, comparable to spaces at Abbey Road Studios, Capitol Studios, and Sun Studio. The facility houses vintage mixing consoles from manufacturers such as Neve, API, and SSL, along with classic microphones from Neumann, AKG, Shure, and Telefunken. Its patch bays and outboard collections include units by Urei, Universal Audio, Teletronix, and Pultec, supporting sessions for orchestras, bands, and soloists like Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, and Norah Jones. Digital workflows integrate systems from Avid Technology, Pro Tools, Apple hardware, and plugins modeled by Waves Audio, enabling scoring work for properties by Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Notable Recordings and Artists

The studios have hosted recordings and scoring sessions for albums and soundtracks by artists and composers including The Beach Boys (notably Pet Sounds era personnel), Frank Sinatra sessions, Green Day albums, Kendrick Lamar projects, and film scores by Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Howard Shore, and Danny Elfman. Pop and rock acts such as Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, and Stevie Wonder have used the rooms, while hip hop and R&B artists including Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Beyoncé, and Jay-Z have held sessions there. Television and film scoring clients have included productions for Netflix, HBO, Disney+, and studios like Warner Bros. Pictures and 20th Century Studios.

Producers, Engineers, and Staff

Renowned producers and engineers who have worked in the complex include Quincy Jones, Phil Spector, Brian Wilson, Bruce Swedien, Alan Parsons, Geoff Emerick, Al Schmitt, and contemporary figures such as Rick Rubin, Dr. Dre, George Martin associates, and Ethan Johns. Staff and in-house engineers have collaborated with orchestral contractors, concertmasters, and session musicians linked to institutions like the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and contractors who supply talent for scores by Hans Zimmer and John Williams. The studio’s technical directors liaise with specialists in restoration and mastering who have worked with labels including Capitol Records, Columbia Records, Sony Music Entertainment, and Universal Music Group.

Awards and Recognition

Sessions tracked and mixed at the facility have contributed to projects awarded Grammy Awards, Academy Award for Best Original Score, BAFTA Awards, and Golden Globe Awards. Albums and soundtracks recorded or mixed there have been nominated for and received honors from organizations such as the Recording Academy, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and various critics’ associations. Industry publications like Billboard (magazine), Rolling Stone, and Mix (magazine) have profiled the studio for its historic rooms and technical resources.

Educational and Community Programs

EastWest Studios has participated in educational initiatives and masterclasses featuring visiting figures such as Hans Zimmer, Quincy Jones, Rick Rubin, and engineers from Avid Technology and Neve. The facility has hosted workshops connected to institutions including the Musicians Institute, Los Angeles College of Music, USC Thornton School of Music, and outreach events coordinated with community organizations and festivals like LA Phil's Youth Orchestra and Hollywood Bowl education programs.

Ownership and Management

The modern incarnation of the studio complex was purchased and developed by Doug Rogers, who expanded services and restored historic acoustic spaces while partnering with equipment manufacturers and music industry entities including EastWest Sounds and other suppliers. Management has involved collaborations with producers, label representatives from Capitol Records and Warner Music Group, and business professionals experienced with large-scale scoring sessions for studios such as Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm.

Category:Recording studios in California