About the studio

01 Why we started this studio

Variatesystems was founded by recording engineer Sanne de Vries on a simple principle: musicians and speakers should be able to concentrate on their performance, not on the equipment. That takes a room where you feel at ease, an engineer who thinks along with you and arrangements that are clear before the session starts.

We only work by appointment. During your session the studio is yours, and nobody walks in while you are in the middle of a take.

02 The rooms

Live room, 42 m²

Big enough for a band of up to 6 musicians playing together. Everyone gets their own headphone mix and each instrument goes to its own tracks, which leaves full freedom at the mixing stage.

Vocal booth, 9 m²

For singing, rap, voice-over and podcasts. Absorbing panels and wooden slats keep the voice close and natural.

Control room

Where we record, mix and listen back. The window gives direct contact with the live room.

03 Equipment

The studio has 28 microphones: large-diaphragm condensers for vocals and acoustic instruments, dynamic models for amps and drums, and matched pairs for overheads and room sound. The right choice depends on your voice or instrument, so we often compare two or three options side by side at the start of a session.

If there is an instrument or amp you love playing, you are welcome to bring it.

04 Finding us

Wibautstraat 164, 1091 GR Amsterdam. Wibautstraat metro station (lines 51, 53 and 54) is about a three-minute walk away, roughly ten minutes by metro from Amsterdam Centraal. Bikes can go in the racks in front of the building; street parking is paid and limited.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10:00–22:00, Saturday 11:00–18:00, closed on Sunday. Sessions by appointment only. Directions and contact details are on the contact page.