What Retro City Studios Llc does

Retro City Studios LLC is a Philadelphia-based recording, mixing, and mastering facility founded in 2008, operating from a ~1,100 sq ft live room at 6120 Greene Street with 24/7 availability. The studio's core offering is fully analog recording using vintage equipment — a 1979 MCI JH16 (16-track 2-inch), 1988 Otari MTR-90 MKII (24-track 2-inch), 1980 MCI JH-110 (2-track 1/4-inch), and 1986 Tascam 388 (8-track) — routed through an API 1608 32-channel console with 64 channels of simultaneous analog I/O. A secondary "B Room" provides hybrid digital/analog capability via Universal Audio Apollo 16 and Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton, and Reaper. All tape machines are calibrated for RTM SM911 tape and maintained by specialist Jeff Chestek.

The studio serves professional musicians and bands across major and independent labels, with a documented client roster that includes Mitski, Lizzo, Train, Tierra Whack, The Wonder Years, The Menzingers, and Cloud Nothings, among others. Business is conducted through direct studio booking via email, supported by word-of-mouth referrals and label relationships spanning Dead Oceans, Matador, Epitaph, Saddle Creek, Polyvinyl, and others. Revenue is generated primarily through session fees for tracking, mixing, and mastering projects.

In 2025, co-founder Joe Boldizar launched the "Live to Tape at Retro City" series — a fully analog recording-to-vinyl workflow with performances tracked to tape, mixed down, lacquer-cut at Salt Mastering in Brooklyn, and released on vinyl and VHS via Bandcamp. This extends the studio beyond session services into a repeatable, consumer-facing product line and positions the facility as one of a small number offering an end-to-end computer-free analog recording chain.

Name

Retro City Studios Llc

Legal name

Retro City Studios

Website

https://retrocitystudios.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Retro City Studios LLC is a Philadelphia recording, mixing, and mastering studio founded in 2008, offering fully analog and hybrid workflows using vintage MCI and Otari tape machines, an API console, and complementary digital capabilities. It serves professional musicians across major and independent labels and produces the Live to Tape vinyl series launched in 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Recording Services

NAICS

Sound Recording Studios (512240)

akta.pro primary industry

Recording Studios (Commercial, Project, Mobile) (MPAIAHAA)

Keywords

• Analog tape recording
• Audio mixing mastering
• Music recording studio
• Vinyl record production
• Analog digital hybrid recording

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Recording Studio Services: The primary revenue stream is charging artists and bands for studio recording time. The studio offers both fully analog recording and hybrid analog/digital approaches. Services include tracking, mixing, and mastering. The studio books both short-term sessions and long-term projects. Pricing is likely project/session-based rather than publicly disclosed.
2. Live to Tape Series Production: Production of the 'Live to Tape at Retro City' series involving live performances filmed and recorded to analog tape, with final releases on vinyl and VHS. Revenue may come from production fees, vinyl sales, and associated media.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Retro City Studios provides professional audio recording, mixing, and mastering services from a Philadelphia facility, offering both fully analog tape workflows (using vintage 2-inch MCI and Otari machines and an API 1608 console) and hybrid analog/digital workflows via a separate B Room. The studio also produces the "Live to Tape at Retro City" series, in which performances are tracked live to analog tape, mixed to 2-track tape, mastered to lacquer at Salt Mastering, and released on vinyl and VHS.

Product overview

Retro City Studios is a Philadelphia-based recording studio offering professional audio recording, mixing, and mastering services since 2008. The studio operates two distinct recording spaces: the main live room with an API 1608 console and vintage analog tape machines (Otari MTR-90 MKII 24-track, MCI JH16 16-track, MCI JH-110 2-track), and the "B Room" featuring computer-based digital recording with Universal Audio Apollo 16 and multiple DAWs. The studio specializes in both fully analog and hybrid recording workflows, and produces "Live to Tape at Retro City," a fully analog recording series where performances are tracked to tape, mixed to 2-track, mastered to lacquer, and released on vinyl and VHS.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Recording, Mixing & Mastering Services Professional audio recording, mixing, and mastering services utilizing both fully analog tape workflows (vintage MCI and Otari machines, API 1608 console) and hybrid analog/digital workflows, offered to professional and independent musicians, bands, and recording artists.
• B Room Secondary recording space offering computer-based digital recording capabilities with Universal Audio Apollo 16 interface, Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, Ableton, and Reaper DAWs, along with condenser and dynamic microphones, outboard preamps, and compressors, and Focal Twin6 Be monitoring.
• Live to Tape at Retro City A fully analog recording series where artists track live to 16 or 24 track 2-inch tape with no computers used in the process; the multitracks are mixed and printed to 2-track 1/4-inch tape, then mastered with lacquer masters cut at Salt Mastering in Brooklyn NY. Final recordings are released on vinyl and performances on VHS tape.

Quantifiable outcome

• Artists achieve authentic analog sound quality comparable to classic recordings from the 60s-90s era

Named customers24 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Salt MasteringcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Salt Mastering in Brooklyn NY handles lacquer mastering for the Live to Tape at Retro City series. Lacquer masters are cut on-site during the fully analog recording process. This is a critical partnership for the studio's unique fully analog recording-to-vinyl workflow.
• Jeff ChestekcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJeff Chestek maintains and calibrates all tape machines at Retro City Studios including the 1979 MCI JH16, 1988 Otari MTR-90 MKII, 1980 MCI JH-110, and 1986 Tascam 388. He uses mostly NOS (New Old Stock) parts and high quality components for maintenance.
• Recording The Masters (RTM)coreTechnology or IntegrationRTM (Recording The Masters) manufactures the SM911 tape used exclusively at Retro City Studios. All tape machines are calibrated specifically for this tape. Studio recommends clients purchase tape directly from RTM or authorized dealers including Nashville Recording Supply and Vintage King.
• Dead OceansminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent record label whose artists have recorded at Retro City Studios. Listed on the credits page as one of many labels whose artists have worked with the studio.
• Hopeless RecordsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent record label whose artists have recorded at Retro City Studios.
• Matador RecordsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent record label whose artists have recorded at Retro City Studios.
• Epitaph RecordsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent record label whose artists have recorded at Retro City Studios.
• Saddle Creek RecordsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent record label whose artists have recorded at Retro City Studios.
• Polyvinyl RecordsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent record label whose artists have recorded at Retro City Studios.
• 300 EntertainmentminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent record label whose artists have recorded at Retro City Studios.
• Relapse RecordsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent record label whose artists have recorded at Retro City Studios.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Royal Studios: Memphis recording studio famous for Hi Records-era analog sound, vintage equipment, and ongoing analog-first recording workflows. Comparable in analog heritage and boutique studio positioning.
• Electrical Audio: Steve Albini's Chicago-based analog recording studio famous for tape-only workflows and a high-profile indie/alternative artist roster. Closely comparable to Retro City in fully analog philosophy, vintage tape machine investment, and indie-to-major label client mix.
• Echo Mountain Recording: Asheville, NC-based analog-equipped recording studio with a vintage console and tape machines, serving an indie and alternative artist roster comparable to Retro City's client list.
• Sound City Studios: Historic Los Angeles recording studio renowned for its Neve 8028 console and analog tape recording heritage, with a legendary client roster spanning decades. Directly comparable in analog equipment investment and reputation-driven bookings.
• Welcome to 1979: Nashville studio founded by Vance Powell specializing in fully analog recording to tape, with a similar focus on rare vintage consoles and high-profile artist clientele. Directly comparable niche positioning and tape-first workflow.
• Ardent Studios: Memphis-based recording studio with deep analog recording history, vintage equipment, and a diverse artist roster spanning indie and major labels. Comparable as a long-established analog-equipped studio with similar workflow flexibility.
• The Rare Book Room: Brooklyn-based analog recording studio co-founded by Nicolas Vernhes, focused on tape-driven recording and a notable indie artist roster. Closely comparable in analog-first workflow and East Coast indie positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Blackbird Studio: Nashville-based high-end recording studio with deep analog capabilities, vintage consoles, and a major-label clientele. Comparable as a premium analog-equipped studio, though larger and broader in scope than Retro City.
• Sunset Sound: Historic Hollywood recording studio with extensive analog equipment, vintage consoles, and a legendary multi-decade artist roster. Comparable in analog heritage and reputation-driven bookings, but larger and more established.

Others

• Salt Mastering: Brooklyn-based mastering studio specializing in lacquer and vinyl mastering for analog projects; a direct partner of Retro City for the Live to Tape series. Comparable as an analog-focused audio specialist in the same vinyl-first ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/retro-city-studios

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Retro City Studios Llc