Who we are
Who we are
puppy garden studios is the production and recording studio of DIOGO SARABANDO - a musician and producer from the region of Aveiro (Portugal), best known for the indie-folk project “himalion”
the story of the studio is also the story of Diogo’s development as a musician and producer. everything started with composing and arranging entire songs on Guitar Pro 5, from a few guitar riffs. in high-school, Diogo, alongside with a cousin and another friend, bought a Tascam DP-02 8 track portastudio pack that came with an XLR, a mic stand and a cheap imitation of a 67 condenser mic. high-school years were spent writing songs and learning how to mic drums in a soundproof attic, recording bass and guitar amps in hallways, stacking vocals and bouncing them to save space on the 8 track, and putting songs together… since then Diogo has written, recorded and produced records for his projects as well as other artists, and also composed and mixed music for a few films and some multidisciplinary productions. he has been on all sides of the music making process, including setting up visuals and artwork for releases as well as putting shows together with his kind-of-a-label “hortensia”
the studio went through several changes and setups throughout the years - the home-base being Diogo’s childhood, now bed-less, bedroom - and is currently in the process of moving to a new space - a 35m2 sunlight packed building which will incorporate a live multitrack recording and mixing room + an iso booth + two extra high ceiling garages for larger sounds
puppy garden studios is a retreat studio” located in a small town outside the city of Aveiro (20 mins), and is 15 minutes away from the beachside, where a surf community can be found (so if that’s your thing we might be able to arrange discounts for few lessons and/or surf gear)
puppy garden studios is not just a single place, a single person, a single dog, and our network offers the possibility to record different types of instruments, voices and ensembles on different rooms with some of the best musicians from Aveiro through various partnerships with our music community
puppy garden studios is the production and recording studio of DIOGO SARABANDO - a musician and producer from the region of Aveiro (Portugal), best known for the indie-folk project “himalion”
the story of the studio is also the story of Diogo’s development as a musician and producer. everything started with composing and arranging entire songs on Guitar Pro 5, from a few guitar riffs. in high-school, Diogo, alongside with a cousin and another friend, bought a Tascam DP-02 8 track portastudio pack that came with an XLR, a mic stand and a cheap imitation of a 67 condenser mic. high-school years were spent writing songs and learning how to mic drums in a soundproof attic, recording bass and guitar amps in hallways, stacking vocals and bouncing them to save space on the 8 track, and putting songs together… since then Diogo has written, recorded and produced records for his projects as well as other artists, and also composed and mixed music for a few films and some multidisciplinary productions. he has been on all sides of the music making process, including setting up visuals and artwork for releases as well as putting shows together with his kind-of-a-label “hortensia”
the studio went through several changes and setups throughout the years - the home-base being Diogo’s childhood, now bed-less, bedroom - and is currently in the process of moving to a new space - a 35m2 sunlight packed building which will incorporate a live multitrack recording and mixing room + an iso booth + two extra high ceiling garages for larger sounds
puppy garden studios is a retreat studio located in a small town outside the city of Aveiro (20 mins), and is 15 minutes away from the beachside, where a surf community can be found (so if that’s your thing we might be able to arrange discounts for few lessons and/or surf gear)
puppy garden studios is not just a single place, a single person, a single dog, and our network offers the possibility to record different types of instruments, voices and ensembles on different rooms with some of the best musicians from Aveiro through various partnerships with our music community
the premise of our services is pretty simple: at what stage of development is your song and how can we assist in setting up the ideal enviornment for it to come about? is your song non existent? head over to “production” or “writing room”, if you want us to write one. there’s an arrangement and you only need to record it, or need some extra layer? head over to “recording”. has it been recorded and you only need help editing or mixing? head over to “control room”
Timba, the studio mascot and the studio’s logo, was Diogo’s first dog. for 16 years, an always present partner who was there on every writing and recording session Diogo ever had. Your dog is also welcome, just reach out for logistics!
the premise of our services is pretty simple: at what stage of development is your song and how can we assist in setting up the ideal enviornment for it to come about? is your song non existent? head over to “production” or “writing room”, if you want us to write one. there’s an arrangement and you only need to record it, or need some extra layer? head over to “recording”. has it been recorded and you only need help editing or mixing? head over to “control room”
Timba, the studio mascot and the studio’s logo, was Diogo’s first dog. for 16 years, an always present partner who was there on every writing and recording session Diogo ever had. Your dog is also welcome, just reach out for logistics!
puppy garden studios is home to a collection of instruments and tools that is fruit of anxiety of separation and hereditary stubborn accumulation of over 20 years
with a strong focus on vibe-y instruments and mid-fi/lo-fi tools - including old casio keyboards, various types of guitars, tube pre-amps, old microphones, a 1967 zwicki pianette and a rare Yamaha LD2'0 harmonium - we are passionate about recording sounds with “grain” and character
it’s a room full of gear but we rather think of it as a room where loads of interactions can happen, with tons of opportunities for creativity to spark
while the new place is undergoing construction, and due to our effort in maintaining a collaborative network with other spaces and musicians from region of Aveiro, we have access to more tools, including the possibility to record in another room equipped with orchestral instruments such as timpani, glockenspiel, bells, xylophone, gong, and other types of percussion where live multi-tracking and band/ensemble recording is also possible
Tools
Tools
puppy garden studios is home to a collection of instruments and tools that is fruit of anxiety of separation and hereditary stubborn accumulation of over 20 years
with a strong focus on vibe-y instruments and mid-fi/lo-fi tools - including old casio keyboards, various types of guitars, tube pre-amps, old microphones, a 1967 zwicki pianette and a rare Yamaha LD2'0 harmonium - we are passionate about recording sounds with “grain” and character
it’s a room full of gear but we rather think of it as a room where loads of interactions can happen, with tons of opportunities for creativity to spark
while the new place is undergoing construction, and due to our effort in maintaining a collaborative network with other spaces and musicians from region of Aveiro, we have access to more tools, including the possibility to record in another room equipped with orchestral instruments such as timpani, glockenspiel, bells, xylophone, gong, and other types of percussion where live multi-tracking and band/ensemble recording is also possible
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GUITARS & BASSES
Epiphone Casino VS
Fender American Special Stratocaster
Fender Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster
Fender Squier Affinity Telecaster
E-zipy Stratocaster
Alhambra 5P Classical Guitar
Yamaha S-50A MIJ Classical Guitar
Amazónia Classical Guitar
Taylor GS Mini 2013 Autumn Special Edition
Gretsch Jim Dandy G9500-2SB
Braguesa APC
Stagg Ukulele
Hofner Ignition Club Bass
Fender Squier Mustang 60s CV OW Bass
KEYS
Casiotone CT-401
Casiotone CT-701
Casio SK-1
Casio VL-Tone
Louis Zwicki Pianette 1967
Yamaha LD20 Electric Harmonium
Honer Organa 12 Electric Harmonium
Yamaha ME-100F
Yamaha Portable Grand DGX-530
AKAI Professional LPD8 MKII
AKAI Professional APC mini MK2
Komplete Kontrol M32
MISC
Japanese Ottomatone
Thomann TR 500 GL Bb-Trumpet
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CONDENSERS
Neumann TLM103
UAD Sphere LX
MBHO 622 E PZ Stereo Omni Mic
Focusrite Scarlett Condenser
T-bone SC-450
DYNAMIC
Shure SM-57
SE V7
AKG D190 (x2)
AKAI ADM5 (x2)
UHER M534 (x2)
Realistic 33-1070 Omni
RIBBON
Beyerdynamic ME130 (x2)
T-Bone RB500 (x2)
CONTACT
CS Sensor (x2)
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INTERFACES
UAD Apollo x8p GEN2
UAD Apollo x4 GEN2
Focusrite Clarett Octopre+
ECHO Audiofire Pre8
Scarlett 2i2 (for outdoor recording)
RECORDERS
Tascam Portastudio 424 MKIII
Tascam Portaone Mini Studio
Tascam Portastudio DP-02
Sony TC-560 Solid State Tape Machine
PRES
Akai M-7/Roberts M8 Tube Preamp (Pair)
ART Tube Preamp
MONITORS AND HEADPHONES
Focal Shape Twin (borrowed)
Kali Audio LP6 2nd wave
Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO
Beyerdynamic DT880 PRO
AMPS
Fender Blues Junior Tweed
Fender Frontman 212R
E-zipy 10w Amp
Ampeg BA115
FX PEDALS
Hologram Chroma Console
Strymon BlueSky V1
Strymon El Capistan V1
JHS Colour Box V2
JHS Morning Glory Clean
Rainger FX Reverb X
Boss DS 1
Boss SD 1
Boss TU-3
Boss OC-3
Boss CS 3
TC Electronic Vibraclone
TC Electronic Skysurfer
TC Electronic Ditto (Gold Edition)
TC Electronic Flashback
TC Electronic Polytune
Shadow Stompin’ Bass
Fishman Aura DSP
Marshall Bluesbreaker
Marshall Regenerator
Digitech RP90
Artec Analog Delay
Behringer UV300
Behringer NR300
MISC
EBOW
Submarine Subpro Pickup
DeArmond Tone Boss Pickup
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we own several plugins and libraries from UAD, Fabfilter, Goodhertz, Soundtoys, Antelope, Aberrant DSP, Plugin Alliance, Arturia, Eventide, Focusrite, Valhalla DSP, Sonnox oeksound, Izotope, Schwabe Digital, Softube, Spitfire Audio and much more
some of the things we did…
himalion - halcyon days (LP) [PRODUCTION + MULTI-TRACK RECORDING + EDITING + MIXING]
himalion - WYISATI (LP) [PRODUCTION + SONGWRITING + RECORDING + ARRANGEMENT + EDITING]
himalion - BLOOMING (LP) [PRODUCTION + SONGWRITING + RECORDING + ARRANGEMENT + EDITING]
himalion - EGRESS (EP) [PRODUCTION + SONGWRITING + RECORDING + ARRANGEMENT + EDITING]
Ahana - Soma (LP) [PRODUCTION + RECORDING + ARRANGEMENT + EDITING + MIXING]
Ahana - Language (Single) [PRODUCTION + RECORDING + ARRANGEMENT + EDITING + MIXING]
Ahana - Singing Bowl (Single) [PRODUCTION + RECORDING + ARRANGEMENT + EDITING + MIXING]
Ahana - ILMBIAS (Single) [PRODUCTION + RECORDING + ARRANGEMENT + EDITING + MIXING]
Ahana - In the Air (Single) [PRODUCTION + RECORDING + ARRANGEMENT + EDITING + MIXING]
Equinōcio - Solstício [LP] [PRODUCTION + ARRANGEMENT + RECORDING + EDITING + MIXING on tracks 10 and 11]
Argonaut - Rêveries (EP) [MIXING on songs 1, 3 and 4]
Argonaut - A Last Date With Destiny (SINGLE) [EDITING + MIXING]
Argonaut - Front Door Porches (SINLGE) [EDITING + MIXING]
Drew.a.will - 12/12 (EP) [PRODUCTION + RECORDING + ARRANGEMENT + EDITING + MIXING]
AAAAHHHH!!!! - Exercícios para a desobdiência (LIVE SHOW) [SOUND DESIGN + COMPOSING + LIVE MIXING]