Pro level recording and mixing studio in the absolute center of Gothenburg, Sweden. Run by engineer/producer Jakob Herrmann, renowned for great producing and engineering skills.
Mostly known for different forms of rock and metal, but has worked with everything from jazz to blues, from pop to funk.
Often working together on co-producing or mixing with producers Roberto Laghi and Jacob Hansen, as well as Tobias Lindell, Ryan Kelly, Rick G Nelson and others.
Often associated with SoundBetter mixing engineer Christoffer Borg.
If you recognise our control room - it's used on 4 other profiles here.
Some notable recording, producing, engineering or teching credits for Jakob Herrmann and/or Top Floor Studios include;
Anthrax, Europe, Hurts, Machine Head, Raised Fist, Cyhra, Suicideboys, Amaranthe, Danko Jones, Hardcore Superstar, Evergrey, Diablo Swing Orchestra, Avatar, Adrian Erlandsson (At The Gates), Kee Marcello, Bob Hund, The Resistance, Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed), Body Count, Engel, Björn Gelotte (In Flames), Mustasch, Grand Magus, Freak Kitchen, Draconian, H.e.a.t., Art Nation, Softube, Addictive Drums (XLN Audio), etc.
- Recording & Producing -
Longer or shorter projects, producing and/or engineering. Everything from whole productions ore single instruments. External producers are welcome.
- Mixing -
Mac Pro and SSL 6000G based hybrid setup, along with very nice outboards and great monitoring.
- Session Musicians & Guesting Artists -
Lots of gear, a big network of drummers and musicians. Every musical style welcome.
Would love to hear from you. Click the contact button above to get in touch.
4 Reviews
Endorse Top Floor StudiosI’ve recorded several projects at Top Floor Studios over the years (it’s become my go-to studio for tracking in Europe). Jakob has gotten (by far!) the best sounding drum setups I’ve ever recorded. The studio is well equipped, centrally located and a pleasure to spend time at, especially with the terrace in Summer!
Can’t recommend them highly enough, check them out for yourself and I’m sure you’ll thank me.
Top Floor Studios is an excellent space right in the centre of the beautiful city of Gothenburg. It is run by Jakob Herrmann, who is mainly known for being a fantastic drum producer, but who's skills actually encompass the whole production process. We worked together on an album session for several weeks, and were impressed by his attitude not only towards the engineering and production, but also his approach to the songs themselves, which he helped craft into something totally unique - exactly what we were looking for. We'd thoroughly recommend working on your next project with Jakob.
If you want a great studio experience in the absolute center of Gothenburg, this is the place. Jakob Herrmann is a state of the art producer and will help you get the sound that your music deserves. I have recorded countless bands together with him, and I can't recommend him more.
I have recorded with many producers and in countless studios but working with Jakob Herrmann will always stand out as one of the best experiences. Especially as a drummer, it's a joy to work with him as he is a drummer himself and "gets" things other producers simply can't understand. Big recommendation from my side!
Interview with Top Floor Studios
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Evergrey's "The Atlantic", Lullwater's "Voodoo", some Kee Marcello stuff, and the upcoming Raised Fist album.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I'm proud of all my projects in different ways.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Yes, one of my assistants is called Far Beyond Productions, he's an excellent engineer that i work with a lot in different ways.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: That I will provide my best and bring my A-game, as long as they do the same.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: That I get to work full-time with my biggest passion.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: "Do you know what all the buttons are for?" I've stopped answering.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That just because I love my job, it can be treated as a hobby.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: Just the usual ones about budget, deadlines, number of songs, my role in the project, other participants, when they would like to do it, approximate studio time, and how they want their coffee.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Don't assume or take my word for how good I am. Talk to my clients or colleagues to get their opinion of me, or look me up on the internet to make your own mind of whether I'm worth hiring or not.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: Been playing since i wqas 5. Been recording since I was 17, but as a career since age 22 and full time some years after that. Worked my way up as a drum tech for the bigger studios and names. Been running Top Floor on my own for 10+ years now.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Trust experience more than you people online. If people online can't back up their claims with experience, they're not to be taken seriously.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Optimising a song without changing it. Recording in a way that's not just "good", but "awesome" and more important, that it's also "right".
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Lots of experience, a lifetime of working with music, and a fresh pair of ears. I always bring lots of guts, but also a lot of respect.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I like finding a way to work together so everyone involved makes the best of what is being made. But in the end it all depends so much on the client and the project, so I don't have a "typical work process". I prefer to base it on the client and the project.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: The studio is designed and built with no expenses spared. The design includes a floating floor design, double doors, high ceilings, natural daylight, and a smart climate system that ensures a perfect work environment. The backline is any drummer's dream, but the guitar players are usually more than happy with our wide collection of amps and speakers. The control room is designed around a 48-channel SSL 6000G console together with a Mac Pro 8-core computer. Together with first-class analog outboards, which makes for a flexible and efficient setup for recording and mixing. The room is equipped with four pairs of speakers from Genelec, Focal and Dynaudio and allows for mixing in both stereo and 5.1 surround. The recording room has a controlled yet lively sound, and is designed for recording a variety of sounds. 60 input channels are wall mounted around the room, together with eight ethernet outputs for the Aviom 16-channel headphone monitoring systems, making this room suitable for all sorts of recording. Upstairs from the regular studio lies the core of the building - the big theatre stage. 40 microphone channels going straight down to the control room, and 4 ethernet outputs for the Aviom systems, transforms the theatre stage into one of Gothenburg's biggest recording rooms. Highly suitable for grand piano, choirs, brass or strings. When working in Top Floor Studios, Gothenburg city is all around you. No matter if you're going out for a coffee or a three-meal dinner, going to the museum or going clubbing, walking in the park or going shopping - it's all just outside the door, and we promise there's something for everyone. Having a good night's sleep is crucial when working hard. Inside the theatre building lies two guest apartments, available for studio clients. If these are not available, or if you for other reasons wish to stay elsewhere, there are more than 40 hotels available within walking distance, and in different price categories.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Anything that touches a nerve in some way, and that can mean a lot. A big part of this job is understanding music, and understanding the qualities in every genre. That means getting inspired a LOT!
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: About 1/3 of my work consists of drum recordings, for bands working in their own studio or in another studio not as specialised or skilled in that particular field. About 1/3 are usually full album or EP productions, with me as producer/engineer. And 1/3 is same as above, but the work is divided between me and other producers, in different ways, which I really enjoy. On top of this, I work as drum tech in other studios, as well as have my own studio rented out to self-sufficient freelance producers/engineers.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: 1) My Marshall fridge full of bottled water. 2) My biggest drum kit as a raft, tightly bound together by 3) All my cables, and using 4) the backpiece of the SSL desk as a mast, with 5) the recording room rugs as sails. Then I would sail on home.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Doing it.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Metal, rock, pop. Some blues and jazz now and then.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both!
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Attentive, flexible, and detailed, with an ear for the grit and space between the notes.
- Recording StudioAverage price - $600 per day
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $500 per song
- Live drum trackContact for pricing
Varies from project to project.
- In Flames
- Audioslave
- Evergrey
- SSL 6000G
- 4 pairs of Genelec and Dynaudio monitoring
- Over 60 quality mics
- 4 drum kits
- 20+ cymbals
- 20+ snaredrums
- Mesa
- Engl
- Fender
- Vox
- 5150
- Hiwatt
- UA 6176 (2x)
- LA-610
- Lexicon
- Klark
- TFpro
- Vintagedesign
- etc...
10% off for SoundBetter clients