I have over 20 years experience as a live, studio and touring musician, and 10+ years owning my own business as a recording engineer. Strengths are in rock, country, alt/indie, worship, Americana/folk, anything that involves human beings playing instruments. I'm a good listener and will work tirelessly to achieve the artistic goals of my clients.
Cafe Solo Studios, owned and operated by musician Chris Howell, is a full service recording studio located in Denton, TX, home to a very vibrant and nationally recognized music scene, due to its premier music school (Univ of North Texas) and creative, as well as eclectic, population. Chris has over 20 years experience as a professional studio, live, and touring musician and has worked with numerous local and national act musicians, as well as Grammy nominated and Dove award winners such as Kim Hill & Ashley Cleveland, and bands such as The Toadies, Pat Green, members of Midlake, and many more.
We offer tracking, mixing and mastering services, as well as session guitar work, at hourly and project rates.
Tracking takes place in an acoustically treated live room, measuring nearly 500 sq ft with 10 ft ceiling, as well as an acoustically 'dead' isolation booth. We can accommodate full bands tracking live as easily as an individual singer/songwriter.
Mixing and Mastering takes place in an acoustically treated and balanced control room, utilizing world class equipment by Neve, API, Neumann, AEA Ribbon mics, AKG, Avalon, etc.
Full gear list and demo reel available on website.
Winner - Best of Denton County, 2019 - Recording Studio
Finalist - Best of Denton County, 2018 - Recording Studio
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9 Reviews
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Chris is awesome! He is a professional, a creative, and fully enters into our project with us. We are already planning upcoming projects with him!
Chris is one of a kind! Super fun and easy to work with! He listens to your every need and acts accordingly. Very professional and friendly environment with a great vibe! I recommend anyone to try and record a session here you won’t be disappointed.
Chris at Cafe solo Studios made my first recording experience very enjoyable. He did not make me feel constrained by time, and was very encouraging through the whole process. While I just used a purchased track to sing with, Chris has the equipment to record full bands. Overall, it was a great session and I am so happy with how my song came out in the end!
My daughter recorded a song for her wedding under the direction of Chris at Cafe Solo Studios and it was a wonderful and very easy experience for a first timer like her. He is very knowledgeable about the process and has a very comfortable atmosphere in which to visit and sing in. The final cut of her song turned out beautifully and is something we will treasure for years to come. Highly recommend
I really enjoyed working at Cafe Solo Studios. I was concerned about finding someone who could produce a variety of music styles and Chris proved to be really intuitive about getting the sound I was looking for. And he knows how to create an atmosphere that helps ease your nerves when you're really concerned about laying down that perfect take!
Cafe Solo is a wonderful creative space where I felt completely relaxed, unrushed, allowing for songs I've written out of a notebook to come together way better than I could have ever imagined. The gear available is top of the line, and the speed with which I got the finished product back was definitely in line with my needs. I'll be back.
Absolutely satisified. Have done both personal cd with studio musicians, and band cd. Professional, state of the art equipment, custom built studio. Chris Howell is professional, knowledgeable, and has a great "ear for the mix." Also very effecient and cost effective. I would absolutely recommend Cafe Solo for any project.
Cafe Solo Studios is the answer to any musician or artist looking to create or finish a professional project with the personal touch of a true craftsman. The rates are very reasonable. Chris gave his full skill and expertise to every part of my project, which turned out better than i imagined. Look forward to working with him again soon!
Cafe Solo Studios is a top-notch full service studio. The gear and rooms sound great and Chris has the perfect ear and skill to get your songs where they need to be. His expertise as an engineer and musician will get you the end product you are looking for. Book your session today, you won't regret it! A+
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $250 per song
- Mastering EngineerAverage price - $50 per song
- Vocal TuningAverage price - $75 per track
- Electric GuitarAverage price - $50 per song
- Acoustic GuitarAverage price - $50 per song
- Sound DesignContact for pricing
- RestorationAverage price - $50 per hour
Mixing involves two rounds of fixits/adjustments. After that hourly rates apply.
Deposit of 50% of projected cost for entire project.
- Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
- Foo Fighters
- All Sons & Daughters
- AEA R44CE
- Soundelux
- Neve
- API
- AKG
- Avalon
- Vintech
- Blue mics
- Neumann
- SPL
- Focal
- Currently mixing two albumsFeb 24, 2020
Currently mixing two albums, one for a country artist from Abilene, TX, and another for a local jazz pop artist from Denton, TX. Both should release later this spring.
- More sonic absorption!Nov 24, 2015
Just added two additional bass traps from GIK to the control room, pretty exciting if you are an engineer. Not so much for normal people.
Also, tracking vocals for bluegrass/Americana band Texas Sky, we finished all the leads, will take a break for Thanksgiving, and then finish up backgrounds next week. Looks like I'll be comping vocals in a tryptophan induced coma this weekend, haha!
