Soul Asylum Studios has built a unique legacy as a trailblazer in Atlanta’s music and cultural scene, combining innovation, artistry, and community engagement over three decades.
Origins and Foundation:
Soul Asylum Studios was founded in Detroit in 1993 by Rafael Capone and moved to Atlanta in 1995. It is a major Atlanta recording studio and has expanded to include a lifestyle brand that designs and builds studios, manufactures its own speakers, and offers classes and consulting. The studio also features a mobile recording unit. It has hosted many famous artists and has a reputation for nurturing talent and pushing creative boundaries.
Impact & Legacy:
- First Black-owned OBM/ODM to drop a monitor at this level
- Set a new standard in high-headroom/ high output, ultra-low-distortion nearfields
- reference choice for Dolby labs and Apple inc to premier their immersive experiences in #sa25m rooms
Growth and Expansion:
Every ten years, Soul Asylum Studios has constructed a new flagship location to stay ahead of industry standards and maintain its modern edge. The studio closed its well-known “Castle” location in 2019 to launch a brand-new facility, featuring a design that reflects both technological advancement and a vibrant creative atmosphere.
Soul Asylum Studios has also opened satellite branches and embraced innovative concepts, such as the Soul Asylum Hummer—a mobile recording studio used to promote the business and support remote projects. By investing continually in infrastructure and equipment, the studio has created a space where artists can explore, record, and innovate.
Artistic Influence and Notable Clients:
The studio has become a home to an impressive roster of major and independent artists, including Akon, Future, K CAMP, Yung Bleu, Yung Miami, and many others, who have chosen Soul Asylum Studios for both recording and collaboration. Its engineers are recognized for providing memorable and high-quality sessions and have contributed to projects that reached billions of streams and won numerous awards.
Awards and Achievements:
Soul Asylum Studios has secured an array of accolades, such as “BEST OF KUDZU” every year from 2012 to 2017 and “Best Recording & Movie Studio in Georgia” for three consecutive years by 2023. The studio’s achievements include over 10 billion streams, 10 platinum records, 19 gold records, 5 Billboard #1 hits, and Grammy nominations, solidifying its status as a leader in the industry.
Technological Innovation:
Innovation is at the core of Soul Asylum Studios. Rafael Capone became the first Black manufacturer of active studio monitors, with landmark products like the SA25 (the 25th anniversary edition) and the SA50, which required a decade of research and engineering. The studio integrated Dolby Atmos technology to keep its mixing and recording facilities at the cutting edge, ensuring artists benefit from state-of-the-art sound experiences.
Services and Facilities:
Soul Asylum Studios offers much more than recording. The facility includes meeting rooms, rehearsal spaces, dance studios, and a gym for artists and creative teams. Services include production, mixing, event management, video, web design, jingle creation, radio ad production, movie editing, and more, catering to the evolving needs of artists and media professionals. The integration of amenities and specialized services creates a comprehensive creative environment for clients.