Frequently Asked Questions

Can Real World help me fulfil my musical goals?

Quite possibly, but we couldn’t say for certain without talking to you about your specific project. Call +44 (0)1225 743188 to talk to a member of the team, or fill in the contact form and we’ll get back to you.

How many songs can I expect to record or mix in a day?
 
It’s very difficult for us to generalise on how many songs you can record in a day due to the diverse nature of recording sessions; especially with artists we haven’t worked with before. However, as a guide for you to consider: a full four or five-piece band setup typically takes 3-4 hours at the start of the first day and subsequently anywhere between one and four live tracks could be recorded; so from day two you could expect to record between two and eight tracks. But, this is a very rough guide, it has been known for us to record 20 solo guitar tracks in just one day or to spend over five days on the production of one track. It ultimately depends on budget, musician skill and whether you want to record everyone live together or overdub elements separately.
 

With mixing, we would advise approximately one or two full band tracks can be mixed in a day. As with recording, different arrangements and more/less time spent experimenting can cause this to fluctuate greatly. We thoroughly recommend that you speak with one of our engineers before making a booking. They will happily talk through the detail of your project with you and from that come up with the best way forward in terms of time and recording spaces.

What’s the difference between an assistant engineer and an engineer?

An assistant engineer’s role is to support the engineer in facilitating the smooth running of the session from a technical standpoint: they know how all the studios work inside out. The assistant will be in touch with the engineer ahead of the session to get a technical plan. They will have all the mics out and on stands before the time and when the session starts they will set up, cable and patch everything to the engineer’s requirements. They are also there to cater for the needs of the producer and band: make tea and coffee, do shop runs, get people drinks etc. from the studio bar.

An engineer’s role is responsibility for the sonic quality of the session from a technical and creative standpoint. It is their ears that determine recording and mix decisions. They will decide what mics are used, where and how, they’ll decide on any outboard processing necessary and they’ll draw attention to technical problems which the assistant can help in solving.

We welcome visiting engineers from all over the world and are also lucky enough to have a strong team of in-house engineers here at Real World if you so require. 

If you’re uncertain of whether you need to hire an engineer for your session please do chat to us.

Fans & General

Can I send you my CV?

Any job opportunities at Real World will be advertised on our website and social media, so follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to be the first to know. If you’d like to send a speculative CV for us to keep on file, you can do so via the contact form.

Do you offer work experience?

As you can imagine, we get a lot of requests for work experience, but as a small team, we can’t accept direct applications. We do offer work placements via industry-led schemes, however, such as our current yearly internship for two students on the University of Surrey’s Tonmeister course.

Can I take a tour of Real World?

Unfortunately, due to the busy and often confidential nature of the studio and our projects, tours are not available to the general public. However, you can take a virtual tour via the studio pages on the website. If you are looking to book the studio for a project, please contact us.

Can I buy Real World merchandise?

Yes. Real World Records features a variety of Real World fare, and Peter Gabriel-related goodies can be had here.

What’s the best way to keep up to date with Real World Studios?

We’re always active on social media, so stay in the loop by following us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Peter Gabriel & Real World Records

I need to license some music, photographs or video from Peter Gabriel Ltd or Real World Records. How should I go about it?

Please get in touch via the contact form and we’ll forward your enquiry to the licensing department.

How do I send fan mail to Peter Gabriel?

Please address all fan mail to the address on the contact page, marking it ‘FAO Peter Gabriel Fan Mail’. Note that we cannot guarantee a response, or that items/messages will make their way to Peter.

How do I send a demo to Real World Records?

Please visit the Real World Records website to get in touch.