Business Details
Professional Recording Studio in Wells, Somerset
Axe & Trap Studios is a premier recording facility nestled at the foot of the Mendip Hills in Wells, Somerset. Established to provide artists and bands with a creative sanctuary, our studio features a spacious live room with a natural oak floor, a dedicated 'dead room' for precise recordings, two isolated booths, and a state-of-the-art control room equipped with a 24-channel Trident console and extensive analogue outboard gear. We support all major digital audio workstations and Prism converters, ensuring technical excellence for every project. Our lounge area offers a relaxed environment with kitchenette facilities, free Wi-Fi, and ample power for devices, making it ideal for breaks or extended sessions. With over 20 years of combined experience, our team of producers, engineers, and session musicians brings technical expertise and artistic insight to every recording.We cater to diverse genres, from rock and alternative to orchestral and voice-over work, serving clients from Bath, Bristol, Glastonbury, and beyond. Our extensive collection of instruments, vintage amps, and microphones ensures every project achieves its full potential. Located just 45 minutes from Bristol and 35 minutes from Bath, we provide easy access to a world-class recording environment. Our commitment to quality, flexibility, and client satisfaction has made us a trusted choice for artists seeking professional results in a welcoming space.
Services
Music Production
Recording Sessions
Mixing & Mastering
Voice-Over Recording
Podcast Production
Highlights and features
- We offer 20+ years of studio experience with industry professionals.
- Our control room features a 24-channel Trident console and premium analogue gear.
- We provide versatile spaces for live bands, voice-overs, and podcasts.
- Our team includes multi-instrumentalists who understand artists' creative needs.
- We combine technical expertise with a relaxed, client-focused environment.
Services
Music Production
Our music production service combines technical precision with creative expertise to bring your musical vision to life. We offer full production support for bands, solo artists, and composers, utilising our 24-channel Trident console and extensive analogue outboard gear. With three dedicated performance spaces and a wide range of instruments available, we create the perfect environment for crafting professional recordings across all genres.
Recording Sessions
We provide comprehensive recording sessions tailored to your project's needs, whether you're a full band, solo artist, or voice-over professional. Our live room features a natural oak floor ideal for acoustic instruments, while our isolated booths ensure pristine sound quality. With 24/7 access to our lounge area and kitchenette facilities, we create a comfortable environment for extended sessions and creative exploration.
Mixing & Mastering
Our mixing and mastering service ensures your recordings achieve commercial quality and sonic clarity. Our engineers use premium analogue outboard equipment alongside digital tools to shape your sound with precision. We specialise in balancing complex arrangements while maintaining artistic integrity, delivering polished final mixes that translate well across all playback systems and formats.
Voice-Over Recording
We offer professional voice-over recording in our acoustically treated spaces, perfect for podcasts, audiobooks, and commercial projects. Our isolated booths eliminate background noise while maintaining vocal clarity, and our monitoring system ensures consistent quality. With flexible booking options and engineer support available, we provide a comfortable environment for voice artists and content creators.
Podcast Production
Our podcast production service provides everything needed for professional audio content creation. With multiple recording spaces suitable for solo shows, interviews, or panel discussions, we offer high-quality microphones, real-time monitoring, and post-production support. Our lounge area with Wi-Fi and power access makes it easy to prepare and review content during recording sessions.
People
Ben Turner
Manager, Producer, Engineer
With over 20 years in studio production, Ben Turner co-owns Axe & Trap Studios. His expertise in mixing and production has benefited artists like Hey Colossus and Part Chimp. A multi-instrumentalist, he understands both technical and creative aspects of music production.
Ben Shillabeer
Co-founder
Ben Shillabeer has been active in Bristol's alternative music scene for two decades. As guitarist and producer, he's worked with John Parish and Adrian Utley, and co-founded the Enclaves record label. His experience spans performance, production, and artist development.
Alexandre Hurr
Producer, Engineer
Alexandre Hurr is an award-winning engineer with a first-class degree in Audio and Music Technology. Specialising in immersive recording techniques, he brings technical innovation to projects while pursuing postgraduate studies in Ethnomusicology at the University of Sheffield.
Questions
What recording spaces are available at Axe & Trap Studios?
We offer a 7m x 4m live room with oak flooring, a smaller 'dead room', two isolated booths, and a control room. The lounge area can also serve as an additional recording space when needed.
What equipment do you have available for recording sessions?
Our control room features a 24-channel Trident console, extensive analogue outboard gear, and all major DAWs with Prism converters. We also provide a wide range of microphones, instruments, and vintage amplifiers.
Can I record voice-over or podcast content at your studio?
Yes, our isolated booths are perfect for voice-over and podcast recordings. We provide professional microphones, real-time monitoring, and post-production support for audio content creators.
How experienced is your engineering team?
Our engineers have over 20 years of combined studio experience. They include multi-instrumentalists and producers who have worked with established artists across multiple genres.
What amenities are available during recording sessions?
We provide a lounge area with kitchenette facilities, free Wi-Fi, charging points, and comfortable seating. The space includes a fridge, microwave, and dishwasher for client convenience.
How accessible is your studio from nearby cities?
We're 35 minutes from Bath, 45 minutes from Bristol, 15 minutes from Glastonbury, and 33 minutes from Frome. The studio offers dedicated parking spaces and easy access to the surrounding region.
Videos
Reviews (4)
Nick Warren
Nov 25, 2021
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Cracking little studio. Ben was super helpful and great to work with. Looking forward to getting back soon!
Jaz Wiseman
Oct 17, 2021
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Great studio - great set-up, packed with lots of useable vintage gear and a very good engineer/producer in Ben who listened to what we wanted to achieve and helped us get the desired results. We'll be coming back for sure.
Mark Brothwell
Aug 08, 2021
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Fantastic studio! Ben really knows what he's doing. Very professional and skillful all served in a really relaxed atmosphere. Highly recommended.
Skimmity Hitchers
May 05, 2021
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What a fantastic studio! We booked Axe & Trap on the advice of John D Revelator and Palooka 5 and ended up in what had to be the most easy going and productive recording session of our lives. This place has a laid back, relaxed vibe and all the toys you could possibly want to record your music. Ben is amazing to work with - never pushy, takes the time to listen to you & what you want to sound like and doesn't treat you like an idiot (even if you are one....). We owe Ben a lifetime's worth of cider for his advice, expertise and above all, his infinite patience during the mixing and, especially,
