Studio
Solar studio
Studio
Solar studio
Monkey Marc’s solar studio
Melbourne, Australia
The Solar Studio is a fully off-grid solar-powered recording studio, currently located in Mycelium Studios in inner north Melbourne. The studio lives in a converted shipping container and is powered by a solar-powered trailer.
Building the solar studio was one of Monkey's long-time dreams. He has been a strong believer in alternative energy since the early 2000s and spent many years travelling around Australia in his vegetable oil-powered van with MC Izzy Brown and the Labrats Solar Sound System. After recording his first official release in the Labrats solar caravan in the Australian desert, he pooled together his resources and knowledge to build a fully self-contained and self-powered recording studio in 2009.
The aim of the recording studio is to have close to zero environmental impact. It was largely built with recycled materials: a basketball court for the flooring and tables, a vintage BBC recording console and classic electronic music equipment for production. The studio is fully transportable.
The solar-powered trailer is fitted with an array of solar panels and 800kg of recycled batteries. The trailer provides around 1500 watts of power by storing energy harvested from the sun into a large 24 volt battery set-up housed inside the trailer. It is able to power the studio around five days of the week. The trailer is also used to power the solar-powered sound system.
Photo: Francesco Vicenzi.
Photo: Francesco Vicenzi.
The studio is available for hire on a project by project basis.
Get in touch if you're interested in:
warming up your digital mixes through the analog mixing desk
vocal recording
mixing
mastering
STUDIO EQUIPMENT
Calrec analog console
RADAR 24 recorder
Various synthesizers and drum machines
Focal Twin6 Be speakers
Microphones
Bindarri interview
This interview back in 2011 with Monkey Marc by Bindarri magazine discusses the solar studio set up, the solar trailer and the development of the solar sound system. Monkey also talks about his passion for social change and his work on remote indigenous community projects.
Bindarri is an online magazine focusing on Australian creatives who are working for positive social and environmental change.
Sound system
Solar sound system
Sound system
Solar sound system
DIY HI FI SOLAR SOUND SYSTEM
Monkey Marc, Richard Allen, Phil Boutle, DIY Hi Fi Sound System.
Monkey Marc is the co-founder of one of Australia’s largest solar-powered sound systems. It is a fully off-grid, full range sound system, designed to produce the best sound for the least power.
In an era where global warming is a major issue for the planet and fossil fuels rule the roost, DIY Hi Fi saw an important need to provide an alternative energy-based sound system. Partying and celebrating only by using the power of the wind and the sun sounds and feels better.
Monkey Marc's solar-powered trailer powers the entire sound system. Both are available for hire.
( About )
DIY Hi Fi Sound System was hand-built by Richard Allen, Monkey Marc and Phil Boutle. The three had many years working with solar sound systems in the past, with Monkey Marc's Labrats Solar Sound System, Richard Allen's Magic Solar Playground and Phil Boutle's UK sound system experience, and collaborated to form DIY Hi Fi.
Phil Boutle has been a sound engineer for over 20 years, and provides the ideas and sound know-how. Richie Allen provides the engineering expertise to turn the ideas into wooden and metal reality. Monkey Marc provides the solar skills and audio knowledge to make sure the system provides maximum bass at all volumes.
Solar and wind powered trailer, DIY Hi Fi Sound System.
DIY Hi Fi uses uniquely designed speakers providing a clear full-range sound with maximum efficiency. Inspired by Tom Danley's (Danley Sound Labs Ltd) innovative designs, it uses 4 x Unity style horn mid/tops and 4 x SS15 tapped horn subs. Big barn doors on the subs increase the efficiency even more. Full Fat Audio, C-Audio and Behringer Class D / AB SMPS amps offer the best output vs power ratio, and of course, sound quality.
The sound system has played at festivals such as Rainbow Serpent and Let Them Eat Cake. It has also travelled and played in remote areas such as the Lizards Revenge Festival in the desert, and has featured at many events across Melbourne.
Trailer
The solar-powered trailer is fitted with an array of solar panels and batteries. The trailer provides around 2000 watts of power by storing energy harvested from the sun into a large 24 volt battery set-up housed inside the trailer. It is able to power the studio around five days of the week. The trailer is also used to power the solar-powered sound system.
