Valencian village has added attractions, reports Jim Evans
IN A competition for studios with stunning views and idyllic locations, Montesa Audio would be a contender for gold. Located in the rural village of Montesa around an hour’s drive from Valencia, this residential facility is on the edge of a designated natural open space, surrounded by orange groves and mountains. The complex is owned and
run by Ian Clayton and Caron Reid. Clayton previously had his own commercial recording studio in West Sussex, then turned to teaching the subject.
Steinberg, Yamaha, Cubase and Studiomaster kit is in use at Montesa
For 10 years he was course leader for Music Technology at Northbrook College and taught subjects including recording and production techniques and sound design. Reid’s fluent Spanish and understanding of local culture has been essential
in successfully establishing and running Montesa Audio. This month marks the third
anniversary of the studio’s opening. It’s not been an easy ride – the recession, dwindling recording budgets, local bureaucrats, Spanish builders
and red tape have all come into play – but the business is alive and well. “We opened in September
2009, but the story started long before then,” says Reid. “We bought this property in 2006, after a two-year search which started in Granada and ended up here in Valencia. It was really important to us to find the right location and property, and we viewed more than 100 houses. This house ticked all the boxes for size and layout, and on top of that has absolutely amazing views from the roof terrace. We have the valley in front with mountains on the other side. The light changes all the time so no two days are the same. Then behind us we have the castle, stunning.” They encountered more than a few problems before completing the project. “We got hit with demands for every kind of expert report you can think of, including an archaeological survey that was going to cost thousands. Eventually, I wrote
a 10-page technical report in Spanish which explained exactly what a recording studio is and no way were we going to impact adversely on the environment or anything else, on the contrary. We got our permits in 30 days, result!” Then there were the builders.
“Never has that Spanish word mañana been more appropriate. They also had this knack of doing things in the wrong order, like plastering the walls and laying the floor tiles before plastering the ceiling, so there was plaster everywhere! “It was a huge relief when
that phase was finally over and we could start doing what we had come here to do.” So what services does Montesa Audio offer? “We offer much the same services as most recording studios, with the big difference being that we are residential and affordable, words that don’t usually appear in the same sentence,” says Reid. “Being able to stay here and work with an experienced