Broken Radio Studios

About

 

Inside 1340 Mission Street is one of the most historic San Francisco recording studios. This Bay Area gem was originally built in 1969 by Mercury Records and later redesigned and run by the famous engineer, producer and businessman Bill Putnam as Coast Recorders for many years. 1340 Mission has been known under a small variety of names since 1969 including Mercury, Coast, Toast then back to Coast. In June of 2007 I took over the studio at 1340 Mission and renamed it Broken Radio. Broken Radio started as a small postage stamp-size studio in Emeryville that enjoyed great success but eventually outgrew its space.


Those of you who have spent time here over the years have long known the beauty of the live room. As far as San Francisco recording studios go, this is the biggest. There is nothing like recording in a room where everyone in the band can be in the same space looking at each other and doing what bands do best, play together!


Since moving in we have gutted and redesigned the control room at the request of many producers and engineers. The room now faces West rather than South. No new control room is complete without having famed acoustician Bob Hodas tune it so of course we had him come and do his thing. We have left the live room as Putnam intended since that room is what so many people love about this studio. However, we have gutted the old microphone lines and panels and replaced them with new panels and Mogami cabling throughout. In addition the electrical has also been updated from the ground up. (Excuse the pun)


To those of you who are coming to record here for the first time, welcome and to those of you returning, welcome back.