About the Studio

Pacific Grove SoundWorks Inc. was born from a passion for sonic excellence and a desire to create a world-class recording space on California’s Central Coast. Built by veteran engineer Jermaine Hamilton, PGSW brings over a decade of experience working in top-tier studios in Los Angeles and the Bay Area—now reimagined in a peaceful, inspiring setting just steps from the ocean.

Our 900 sq. ft. facility was custom-designed for music and post-production professionals who demand the best. With a seamless hybrid workflow centered around our API 1608 console and Avid HDX system, artists and producers have access to the tactile precision of analog gear paired with the flexibility of modern digital tools. Our Dolby Atmos-certified control room opens up a new dimension of immersive mixing and spatial audio experiences.

At Pacific Grove SoundWorks, we serve a wide range of creators:

Musicians tracking live bands or solo performances
Mix engineers refining their projects with depth and clarity
Authors recording audiobooks in pristine detail
Podcasters shaping their voice and story
Filmmakers and agencies finishing content in surround and Atmos

But beyond the gear, it’s our vibe that sets us apart—laid back, collaborative, and focused on helping you deliver your absolute best work.

Services Provided

Our Services

At Pacific Grove SoundWorks, we deliver world-class audio services tailored to your creative goals. Explore how we can bring your project to life:

Recording

Full-band Tracking: Capture your band’s dynamic performances with top-tier analog gear and pristine acoustics.

Solo Artists & Vocalists: Expert vocal production in a comfortable, inspiring environment.

Audiobooks & Voiceovers: Professional narration, detailed recording, and meticulous editing to meet industry standards.

Mixing & Mastering

Stereo Mixing & Mastering: Blending analog warmth with digital clarity, ensuring your music translates perfectly across platforms.

Dolby Atmos Mixing: Immersive, spatial audio production for music, film, and streaming content.

Remote Mixing Services: Collaborate from anywhere—send your tracks digitally, and we’ll mix and master your project remotely.

Podcast Production

Podcast Recording & Editing: High-quality recording sessions and meticulous post-production, tailored specifically for podcast creators.

Podcast Mixing & Mastering: Professional polish to ensure your podcast stands out from the crowd.

Audiobooks & Narration

Professional Audiobook Production: End-to-end service from recording to editing and mastering, creating polished audiobooks ready for distribution.

Author Support: Coaching and guidance for narrators and authors new to audiobook recording.

Remote & Hybrid Sessions

Virtual Studio Sessions: Seamlessly collaborate with us from anywhere using remote audio workflows and real-time communication.

Hybrid Analog & Digital Workflow: Combine the warmth and depth of analog equipment (API 1608, hardware compressors, EQs) with modern digital convenience (Avid HDX, plugins).

Post-Production & Multimedia

Audio Post for Film & TV: Detailed editing, sound design, ADR, Foley, and mixing for visual media.

Dolby Atmos Post: Immersive spatial audio mixing tailored for cinematic releases and streaming platforms.

Why Work with Us?

Experienced engineers with over a decade of professional studio work.
Custom-built acoustic spaces, optimized for creativity and clarity.
A relaxed and collaborative environment that encourages creativity.
Industry-leading analog and digital gear for outstanding sonic results.

Studio Gear Highlights

At Pacific Grove SoundWorks, every piece of gear is thoughtfully selected to deliver exceptional sonic results. Our analog-digital hybrid workflow combines classic warmth with state-of-the-art precision.

Microphones

Neumann U87ai – Legendary condenser mic, ideal for vocals and acoustic instruments
Neumann M49v – Classic tube microphone for lush vocal warmth
Telefunken U47 – Iconic tube mic, revered for vocal recording
Royer R101 – Versatile ribbon microphone perfect for guitar amps, brass, and drums
Coles 4038 – Rich, vintage ribbon mics
Schoeps Stereo Set MK4(Matched Pair) – Precision matched condenser pair for detailed stereo imaging
AKG C414XLII (Matched Pair) – Versatile, precision-engineered condenser microphones delivering detailed, transparent highs and balanced mids.
Sennheiser MD 421-II (x3) – Versatile dynamic mics for drums, guitars, and brass
Sennheiser MD 441-U – Premium dynamic microphone with superb clarity
Sennheiser e901 – Specialized dynamic boundary mic for kick drums
Shure SM57 (x3) – Industry-standard dynamic instrument microphone
Heiserman Type 19 (Pair) – Vintage-inspired condenser microphones capturing silky highs, smooth midrange, and beautifully balanced warmth.
Heiserman H47fet – Premium FET condenser microphone inspired by the classic Neumann U47 FET. Known for its smooth midrange, detailed highs, and robust low-end response.

Outboard Dynamics & EQ

Bettermaker Buss Compressor – Hybrid mastering-grade compressor with digital recall
Audioscape EQP-A – Pultec-style tube EQ for rich lows and silky highs
Overstayer MAS – Dynamic harmonic saturation and enhancement
GA Project Comp-2A & Comp-3A – Classic optical compressors for smooth vocals and bass
Urei LA-10 – Vintage optical compressor for warm vocal tones
Audioscape 76A – Classic FET compression inspired by the legendary 1176
Mercury 666 – Tube-based, vintage-style vari-mu compression

Studio Monitoring

Grace Design m908 – Dolby Atmos-capable monitor controller
PMC 6 Monitors – Exceptionally accurate and detailed nearfield reference monitors
Neumann KH 150 (3 units) – Precision DSP-powered nearfield monitors
Neumann KH 120 II (8 units) – High-resolution nearfield monitors for surround configurations
Neumann KH 750 Subwoofer – Detailed low-frequency reference
Neumann MA 1 Room Calibration – Accurate acoustic calibration for optimized listening

Studio Infrastructure & Acoustics

Live Room & Vocal Booth Connectivity – Both the live room and vocal booth are equipped with HDMI and Ethernet ports, making it easy to run visual cues, lyric sheets, DAW control, or video playback directly from the control room. Great for music sessions, podcasts, ADR, and audiobook production.
Fiber Internet – Our studio is powered by high-speed fiber internet, ensuring ultra-reliable, low-latency performance for remote sessions, file transfers, cloud collaboration, and real-time approvals.
Fully Networked Facility – From the control room to the tracking spaces, every zone is interconnected—whether you’re sending cue mixes, running video sync, or doing live Zoom direction, you’re covered.
Equitech 2R & 1.5R – Balanced power conditioners ensuring clean power and noise-free operation
Exclusively Mogami Cabling – Premium quality, studio-wide cable infrastructure ensuring optimal signal integrity throughout all studio pathways

Mic Preamps & EQ

API 1608 Console – Renowned analog console, featuring:

- API 55A EQs – Warm, classic API equalization
- API 560 Graphic EQs – Iconic graphic EQ for precise tonal shaping
- API 527 Compressors – Versatile VCA compressors for smooth dynamic control
- API 1608 Console Mic Preamps (16 Channels of 212L / 312-style preamps) – Authentic, transformer-balanced Class-A mic preamps based on API’s legendary 312 circuit, delivering the unmistakable API sound: punchy transients, rich midrange, and analog depth.

BAE 1073MP – Rich Neve-style mic preamps
Universal Audio 4-710d – Hybrid tube and solid-state preamp versatility
Heritage Audio HA-73 EQX2 – Neve-inspired EQ for classic sound sculpting
Grace Design m101 – Ultra-clean, detailed mic preamp
Hazelrigg Industries VLC – High-end tube channel strip, refined EQ, and compression

Headphones & Cue System

Audio-Technica ATH-M50X (6 units) – Trusted professional headphones
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (2 units) – Closed-back studio staples known for comfort, durability, and clear, punchy sound—ideal for long tracking sessions
Sennheiser HD 650 – Open-back reference headphones favored for their natural, balanced response—perfect for critical listening and detailed mix work
Wolff Audio MeMore (4 units) – A premium, audiophile-grade headphone monitoring system offering independent volume control, ultra-low distortion, and pristine signal integrity at every station. The MeMore system gives artists and voice talent dedicated control over their own headphone mix, enhancing comfort, focus, and performance during long sessions.

Conversion & Digital Audio

24 Channel Lynx Aurora AD/DA Converter – High-quality, transparent analog-digital conversion for superior audio integrity
Mac Studio M2 Max 32GB – Robust and reliable computer for audio production and mixing
LG 65” OLED TV – Visual reference for post-production and scoring

Instruments

Vintage Ludwig Drum Kit – Iconic vintage drum set for rich, authentic drum sounds
Martin Acoustic Guitar – Warm, balanced tone perfect for singer-songwriter sessions, fingerpicking, or layered acoustic textures
Gibson Les Paul Studio – Classic, powerful humbucker-driven tone—ideal for rock, blues, and heavy rhythm parts
Fender Telecaster – Bright, snappy single-coil clarity for everything from funk to country to indie
Fender Fretless Jazz Bass – Smooth, expressive low end with warm, woody character and rich sustain—great for R&B, jazz, and ambient textures

Studio Acoustics & Room Design

Each room at Pacific Grove SoundWorks was purpose-built with sonic integrity in mind. To ensure a controlled, natural, and inspiring recording environment, we worked with GIK Acoustics to outfit the studio with a full suite of professional acoustic treatment solutions.

Broadband Absorption & Diffusion
The control room, live room, and vocal booth are all treated with strategically placed GIK panels, offering broadband absorption across the full frequency spectrum—not just taming highs, but controlling mids and lows as well. This results in a tight, focused sound that translates across playback systems.
Balanced & Musical Room Tone
Thoughtfully integrated diffusion panels maintain musicality and openness without unwanted reflections, ensuring that performances feel lively without being harsh or boxy.
Room-to-Room Consistency
Every recording space is treated to deliver consistent, professional-grade acoustics—whether you’re tracking drums in the live room, capturing vocals in the booth, or mixing Atmos in the control room.

With GIK Acoustics at the core of our studio design, every sound captured here starts with a clean, accurate foundation.

Reviews

I highly recommend studio circle recordings for your next project. The equipment is state-of-the-art and there are multiple studios to choose from to accommodate large groups or solo artists. Their hourly rate is very reasonable and their main focus is doing the best job they can for the musician and his music. I will be using them to record my upcoming CD this summer.

Michael Kaplan

I’ve never experienced a receding team that pulled out all the stops to make sure we, as clients, knew what amazing technical options were available. Thank you, team, for letting us try different options to make the final sound we were looking for so dang breathtaking!!
They made us feel like we were, by far, the most important customer they had ever had the pleasure to work with! In the words of the famous Country Joe song, “You didn’t have to be nice (read; competent) we would have liked you anyway!”

Marshall Nielsen

Love this man, Jermaine is truly the best at what he does not only at his job but also communicating with people. He’s able to bring ideas to life and just a overall pleasing person to be around. He gives you the best advice on your music and makes you laugh at the same time! I highly recommend Jermaine/Studio Circle Recordings for any Engineer or Productions needs!

Tanner Feldman

I’ve been recording voice over work for EdTech and publishing companies at Studio Circle for a couple years now and have always had the best experience. I’ve worked with Forrest, one of the co-owners, each time and he is always professional, punctual and great to work with. Our clients are always pleased with the work and come back for more so I’m looking forward to working with Jermaine for many years to come!

Gabriel Galdamez

Jermaine is the best audio engineer out there! At Studio Circle Jermaine helped me to record my first cover song with really high-quality audio. I was so impressed! The facilities are spacious and nice. Jermaine can help create quick ideas on the fly and also collaborate with ease. Overall, very impressed!

Emilio Cordova

Jermaine has done two very professional recordings for our daughters, both for solo piano. The entire process has gone so smoothly and the resulting recordings were both extremely high end. I highly recommend Studio Circle Recordings as the absolute best place around for recording of any kind.

Kari Rust

Jermaine Hamilton has created an innovative space for virtually any musical/recording concept and genre. He’s an observant, creative engineer and producer. He’s an enjoyable guy to work in the studio with, and has good insights. Its hard to ask for more! That being said, he seems to be able to sense when to take a more hands on producer approach or lay back and facilitate. Often that can vary from day to day. Intuition is hard to come by and pretty damn necessary in this industry.

Leon Rosen

I’ve recorded both my hard rock and my acoustic projects with Forrest and I will never work with anybody else! Top of the line equipment and he knows the equipment well! Timely response on emails and worked well within our budget! I can say without hesitation, this was my best studio experience ever!

Greg Elliott

Rates & Bookings

At Pacific Grove SoundWorks, we tailor each session to fit the scope, vision, and budget of every client. Our goal is to support both established professionals and emerging talent. Interested in working together?

Contact us and let’s discuss your project—we’ll provide options tailored specifically to your needs.