Studio Testimonials

"I always very much enjoy my sonic experiences at Studio Down Under with Soren. He has a fine array of class A outboard gear as well as a solid selection of mic choices. He is also a very artistic person with great ears. I often don't like what I hear in a control room, even in very large studios but that is never the case at SDU. The sounds are always rich, warm and punchy! The environment is homey and friendly being situated in the country side. It's a very calming atmosphere for artists and musicians alike. I highly recommend Studio Down Under. Trust me, it will be an enjoyable experience and you'll get back gold!"

"Recording had long been a dream that suddenly turned to reality in a matter of weeks. I was introduced to Soren Lonqvist through a family member who had previously recorded an album with him.  Being a first time recording artist, there were many things about the whole recording process that I was unfamiliar with and details I had never thought of. Soren really helped us out with his creative ideas and he seemed to want to produce the best product possible, something that I really appreciated. He was very encouraging while working in the studio and incredibly helpful in taking care of all the “little” things that needed to be done. Doing an album was definitely a worthwhile experience for me. It involved very little stress, a lot of which I can credit Soren for.  His work was very professional and his way was very personal! I listen to our product now and can honestly say that I am still happy with it. I can only say that my first time recording experience was incredible, something I would only be thrilled to do again!"

"Recording with Soren is a true pleasure. He keeps the needs of the musician in mind - excellent monitor mixes and exceptionally fast response time. He has created a studio with an environment that is conducive to making great music, which of course is what it's all about. I look forward to every session. Also, excellent coffee. EXCELLENT coffee."

"Back in 2003 I met Soren  Lonnqvist  for the  very first time. I had never had a recording experience before. I was a little nervous, and unsure of what to expect.  Very quickly he made us feel comfortable. I learned a lot. I learned to appreciate Soren as a musician, producer, and engineer. Although we did a lower budget project at the time, Soren gave it 100% and did a great job.

We became good friends due to this experience. I went back into the studio in 2005. Soren asked us to be a part of a compilation project that he was doing with four other groups. Again it was a wonderful experience. Soren has a way of getting out of you very unique and wonderful things. The producer in him comes up with brilliant ideas and puts things together that you would have never thought of.

The most wonderful experience of all was when I embarked upon a solo project in 2007. From helping me gather original material to putting it all together, to being able to read some of my ideas and implementing them better than I could have done myself.  Then spending a week in the studio together with the musicians and seeing this project coming to life. Then having Soren come out and do sound for my CD release concert was a real treat.

I have stayed in contact with Soren, we talk back and forth on occasion and he is always an inspiration to me and keeps encouraging me in my music.

Thanks Soren for the wonderful work that you do. I can’t imagine a studio session anywhere other than your studio. You’ve been an inspiration."

“I love working at Studio Downe Under. Soren and I have worked on many projects together and every one has been a great experience. He's gone to extreme lengths to make the studio a comfortable place for artists and musicians to record and his passion for it shows. It's top notch and I always look forward to going back.”

“Soren combines excellent equipment, a comfortable working environment and his great ears to make fine recordings. It’s always a pleasure working with him.”

“I play bass in Vancouver and across Canada, and through the years, I've had the good fortune of playing with a few recording groups that brought me to record in places like London, England, Miami and Los Angeles just to name a few. I find that different studios have different  characteristics and some places are more fun to record in than others. Lately, I've found a studio in Abbotsford, BC that has something going for it that is very unique and exciting. Soren  Lonnqvist has built a place with just the right "vibe". There is a  vintage sound to his hi-tech studio and anyone spending time with Soren at the the controls will find someone with a great amount  of enthusiasm and passion for that "old school" sound and what it can  do to enhance your project. The playback in the control room is a real joy to listen to, as there is the type of sound coming back at  you that you were hoping you'd hear with rich, deep bass and clean and  crisp highs. Everyone recording off the floor gets their own headphone mix to adjust anything they need. I can't  say enough about the studio, the equipment and Soren's passion about getting you to feel as comfortable as possible. This place gets a 10  out of 10.”

"Soren Lonnqvist is the owner, operator of Studio Downe Under. He has done 3 Projects for me. I’m So Blessed, Thanks To Calvary, and a compilation cd  Its By Love.

He has very good contacts for musicians and back up singers and is very good to work with and is very patient, He makes sure you are on pitch, which is very important. So why go to Nashville to record a cd, why not go to Studio Downe Under which is located in Abbotsford B.C."

"Having worked a few different levels of studios, from home based setups to the high end commercial outfits, I've realized, at least for me, one of the keys to a great studio experience. That being "Monitoring". If I'm not hearing myself and the others I'm recording with I'm not having any fun. And the chances of any kind of useable performance are hugely reduced. Soren has addressed this properly. Every player gets his own cue station. Build your own mix and find your own comfort level. Its the one thing the smaller home based studios miss...not Soren thou! He nails it.

Now I'm not even touching on the great and ever expanding outboard gear, microphones, and supper relaxed environment of SDU. And Mr. Lonnqvist makes a solid cup of coffee too. SDU is a hidden gem! Love it."

"My name is Linda Prichard and I have known Soren for over 27 years.  Over the years he has encouraged me to someday record my music.  I was a little apprehensive because that is a big commitment.  Soren is great to work with and patient.  He has the ability to fine tune your music and help add ideas and other musicians to better the sound. Since I don't read or write music and play by "ear"... I felt that would hold us both back. I've now recorded three albums and loved every minute it.  I've appreciated Soren's dedication to making my "voice" and music sound "sellable". Thank you Soren!  You helped this "old" lady (Ha) make a childhood dream come true!!"

I really want to thank you for the Cd that you produced for me- "Live with the end in mind". I really enjoyed working with you, the musicians were phenomenal, and your studio gear is second to none. Thank your wife Janice, of "Ocean Breeze cruise and travel", for booking the flights and motel rooms while I was doing the recording. Can't wait to work with you again.

Joe Zacharias: country artist

http://www.joezacharias.com/

"I've worked in studios throughout Canada and Studio Downe Under captures one of the finest fiddle and mandolin
sounds I've ever experienced" 
"Whether its acoustic based music to full on live off the floor sessions , Soren can make it happen in all capacities "

"It's a comfortable and affordable studio which I highly recommend to anyone in the market for recording ".

Mike Sanyshyn is a CCMA and BCCMA fiddle player of the year and has toured and recorded with numerous Canadian Country Music Stars .

"I've spent many years traipsing back and forth to Nashville to write songs and have spent alot of time in funky old houses that were converted into publishing companies with recording studios in the basement. When I walked into Studio Downe Under in Abbotsford I thought my gosh someone right here in the lower mainland has created a studio just like Nashville were a whole crew of players can track all at once AND have separate monitor feeds. All this at a great price and the coffee is not bad either!!"

 Ron Irving
International successful songwriter/music publisher

"I am currently producing the up-coming full length rock album by the band CITIES UNDER FIRE, and we recently had the opportunity to track drums and electric guitars at Studio Downe Under.  Everyone was very impressed with the total overall experience recording with Soren. The gear selection was excellent, and the huge sounding drums and electric guitar tracks we got completely reflected the quality that this studio is known for. Soren bent over backward to make the session flawless and that's exactly how it went. I definitely couldn't be happier with the results, and the entire production level of the project has been raised significantly by tracking at SDU. I certainly look forward to working at Studio Downe Under again in the future, and will highly recommend it to all my clients."

Kelvin Funkner
Covenant Award winning producer and engineer

" Today, August 31, 2010, my new self-titled album is released in Canada. I believe it is the best album I have ever done:  the vocal sounds (and in fact, all the sounds!!!) are the warmest I have ever had on a record - Soren's engineering and the vibe at Studio Downe Under were a huge factor in making this album come to life (as well as the spectacular job by my producer, Jay Buettner!!!) - such a great marriage of current audio technology with old-school analog warmth - I felt right at home from the moment I entered the studio - I have recorded and released many albums, and I was truly influenced by the superior positive vibes and great sound at Studio Downe Under working with Soren!!!!!"

 Jay Semko  Country/Roots artist