Powerful productions for
hard-rocking bands

The one-stop shop for punk and rock.
Here we go big, not small.

Let's Rock

Powerful productions for
hard-rocking bands

The one-stop shop for punk and rock.
Here we go big, not small.

Let's Rock

Your band deserves to release
music you can be proud of
for your whole life.

Frank Acklin - Owner, Drummer, Recordist, Mixengineer and Music-Producer all-in-one!

Since more than 12 years I help bands of the heavier variety realize their musical visions. My goal is to create music that'll blow you and your fans away..

My experience, combined with the infrastructure at Störsender, guarantees unforgettable sessions and music you'll be proud of.

How we turn your songs
into finished productions

How we turn your songs into finished productions

Preproduction

We develop the vision for your music together and take a close look at your arrangements, parts, and lyrics. Either at my studio, at your rehearsal space, or via Zoom call.

Recording

Once all open questions have been clarified in pre-production, it’s time for the recording.

We record all your parts without time pressure in an inspiring environment with top equipment. After that, I edit and tune your performance where necessary so that everything matches your vision.

Mixing

I mix your production with great attention to detail and take all your wishes and comments into account until the mix sounds exactly as it should.

Mastering

Together with Dan Suter at echochamber Zurich, we bring your mixes into their final format and make sure they sound perfect on every system.

Welcome to Störsender!

"We noticed right from the first meeting with Frank that we were conversing with a music fan on equal terms. The setup and equipment of the studio matched exactly what we were looking for: genuine and high-quality hardware and no sound uniformity from some cracked software. Frank has a great ear that catches even the slightest mistake. With his feel for punk rock, he was also able to advise us on the arrangement of the songs."

Nail 'em

"At Frank's, the passion for music and technical brilliance come together - plus, it's always a lot of fun to spend time with him - and you can hear that!"

Dan Suter - echochamber.ch

"What an amazing experience!!! Frank is not only very competent and perfectly set up, but also incredibly calm and has a cool character. We were able to work together super well in the studio and his inputs are worth their weight in gold!!! GOLD!!! On top of that, the raw recordings alone were better than anything I have ever experienced in a studio before. Frank the Tank is your man!!!!"

JAHVL

"As a punk rock band, we got exactly what we wanted from Frank at Störsender - a fat sound that blows you away, clean and yet dirty. As self-professed non-studio musicians, we received great input and were expertly guided through the recordings from start to finish. Many thanks!"

Team Sondermodelle

"My student and friend Frank Acklin just finished building his new control room in Switzerland. Most important part is it sounds really good. The mixes translate very well."

Chris Lord-Alge

"The recordings at Störsender Studio were a great experience for me. Frank supported me wonderfully with advice and action and a lot of patience. His experience and knowledge as a musician and engineer have led to a result that exceeded my expectations."

Rambling Man

"When we first entered the studio, we knew we were in the right place. This was not only due to the pleasant facilities and top-notch equipment, but also to Frank's professional yet relaxed manner. The end result speaks for itself. He realized the album exactly as we had imagined."

Kabuki Joe

"We noticed right from the first meeting with Frank that we were conversing with a music fan on equal terms. The setup and equipment of the studio matched exactly what we were looking for: genuine and high-quality hardware and no sound uniformity from some cracked software. Frank has a great ear that catches even the slightest mistake. With his feel for punk rock, he was also able to advise us on the arrangement of the songs."

Nail 'em

"When we first entered the studio, we knew we were in the right place. This was not only due to the pleasant facilities and top-notch equipment, but also to Frank's professional yet relaxed manner. The end result speaks for itself. He realized the album exactly as we had imagined."

Kabuki Joe

"The recordings at Störsender Studio were a great experience for me. Frank supported me wonderfully with advice and action and a lot of patience. His experience and knowledge as a musician and engineer have led to a result that exceeded my expectations."

Rambling Man

"What an amazing experience!!! Frank is not only very competent and perfectly set up, but also incredibly calm and has a cool character. We were able to work together super well in the studio and his inputs are worth their weight in gold!!! GOLD!!! On top of that, the raw recordings alone were better than anything I have ever experienced in a studio before. Frank the Tank is your man!!!!"

JAHVL

"At Frank's, the passion for music and technical brilliance come together - plus, it's always a lot of fun to spend time with him - and you can hear that!"

Dan Suter - echochamber.ch

"My student and friend Frank Acklin just finished building his new control room in Switzerland. Most important part is it sounds really good. The mixes translate very well."

Chris Lord-Alge

"As a punk rock band, we got exactly what we wanted from Frank at Störsender - a fat sound that blows you away, clean and yet dirty. As self-professed non-studio musicians, we received great input and were expertly guided through the recordings from start to finish. Many thanks!"

Team Sondermodelle

"We noticed right from the first meeting with Frank that we were conversing with a music fan on equal terms. The setup and equipment of the studio matched exactly what we were looking for: genuine and high-quality hardware and no sound uniformity from some cracked software. Frank has a great ear that catches even the slightest mistake. With his feel for punk rock, he was also able to advise us on the arrangement of the songs."

Nail 'em

"What an amazing experience!!! Frank is not only very competent and perfectly set up, but also incredibly calm and has a cool character. We were able to work together super well in the studio and his inputs are worth their weight in gold!!! GOLD!!! On top of that, the raw recordings alone were better than anything I have ever experienced in a studio before. Frank the Tank is your man!!!!"

JAHVL

"My student and friend Frank Acklin just finished building his new control room in Switzerland. Most important part is it sounds really good. The mixes translate very well."

Chris Lord-Alge

"When we first entered the studio, we knew we were in the right place. This was not only due to the pleasant facilities and top-notch equipment, but also to Frank's professional yet relaxed manner. The end result speaks for itself. He realized the album exactly as we had imagined."

Kabuki Joe

"At Frank's, the passion for music and technical brilliance come together - plus, it's always a lot of fun to spend time with him - and you can hear that!"

Dan Suter - echochamber.ch

"As a punk rock band, we got exactly what we wanted from Frank at Störsender - a fat sound that blows you away, clean and yet dirty. As self-professed non-studio musicians, we received great input and were expertly guided through the recordings from start to finish. Many thanks!"

Team Sondermodelle

"The recordings at Störsender Studio were a great experience for me. Frank supported me wonderfully with advice and action and a lot of patience. His experience and knowledge as a musician and engineer have led to a result that exceeded my expectations."

Rambling Man

Welcome to Störsender!

Wieso sollten wir nicht alles selbst machen?

Eine super Option, wenn ihr eine Band seid, die sich statt aufs Musikmachen lieber jahrelang mit Preamps, Mikrofonen, Raumakustik, Outboard Gear,  Aufnahmetechnik und Mixing  etc. beschäftigt.

Das sind alles sehr teure und zeitintensive Vorhaben, wenn man sie richtig machen will.
Diese Mühe habe ich mir schon gemacht, damit ihr euch auf das Wichtige konzentrieren könnt: eure Songs.

Woher sollen wir wissen, ob du der Richtige für unser Projekt bist?

Lass uns bei einem unverbindlichen Gespräch herausfinden, ob das passt!

Was mich auszeichnet, ist meine Musikalität, die ich in bald 30 Jahren als Drummer und Songwriter in Bands entwickelt habe. Dazu kommt ein tiefes Verständnis für alle technischen Zusammenhänge, ein geschultes Ohr sowie 14 Jahre Erfahrung im eigenen Studio.

Was, wenn wir nur Recording oder nur Mixing benötigen?

Das ist auch möglich, schreib mir dazu einfach hier eine Nachricht.

Wie läuft eine Produktion bei dir ab?

Zu Beginn erhält ihr einen Link zu eurem Client-Portal. Dort seht ihr eine Übersicht über die Vorproduktion jedes Songs, den Fortschritt des Recordings, alle Termine sowie einen Audio-Player für direktes Mix-Feedback.

Normalerweise starten wir mit der Vorproduktion:

Ihr ladet mir Demos aus dem Proberaum hoch und ich höre mir diese mit frischen Ohren an und analysiere: Was passt? Wo können Arrangement, Phrasierungen und Lyrics optimiert werden? Können wir die Spannungskurve des Songs verbessern? Passt die Tonart zum Sänger/zur Sängerin?

Ihr behält natürlich für alle meine Ideen Veto-Recht. Diesen Prozess wiederholen wir, bis alle zufrieden sind. Danach planen wir, welche Instrumente wir für welche Songs verwenden:
Die Les Paul über den Rectifier für den Headbanger und  eher die Strat über den AC30 für den Surf-Song?
Die 14x5er Kupfer-Snare für den Ska Track und vielleicht die 14x6er Keplinger für die Prog-Rock Hymne in ⅞ etc.


Wenn keine offenen Fragen mehr das sind, seid ihr bereit für das Recording:

  • Wir fangen mit dem Fundament, den Drums an.
    Wir lassen uns Zeit für die Auswahl der Instrumente, das Tuning und die Mikrofonierung. Sobald die im Kasten sind, mach ich mich an die Auswahl der besten Takes und perfektioniere wo nötig das Timing, damit alles bereit ist für den nächsten Schritt:

  • Die Gitarren.
    Wieso nicht erst Bass? Weil die Intonation des Bassisten viel einfacher auf die Gitarren angepasst werden kann als umgekehrt (Akkorde vs. Single Notes). Dank der Vorproduktion haben wir schon eine sehr genaue Vorstellung davon, wie die Gitarren klingen sollen und welche Kombination von Amps und Instrumenten  wir für die jeweiligen Songs benutzen.
    Trotzdem nehmen wir als Fallback immer DI-Signale mit auf für den Fall, dass wir mit Re-Amping im Nachhinein einen anderen Sound brauchen. Sobald die Gitarren singen und alle Solos im Kasten sind, geht’s weiter mit… 

  • Dem Bass:

    Fälschlicherweise oft mit der Wertschätzung eines rothaarigen Stiefkindes bedacht, ist er der Schlüssel zum Groove und wird in diesem Haus auch mit der entsprechenden Sorgfalt behandelt.


    Auch hier haben wir eine klare Vorstellung vom Sound dank der Vorproduktion und scheuen uns nicht davor, verschiedene Kombinationen von Amps, Pedalen und DI-Signalen für die optimale Mischung aus Fundament und Textur zu verwenden. Sobald der Groove stimmt und die tiefen Oktaven zum Leben erweckt wurden gehen wir an die


  • Keys, Synths und Sound-FX (falls vorhanden):
    Von Projekt zu Projekt so verschieden, dass hier eine Beschreibung fast nichts bringt. Wird natürlich mit derselben Sorgfalt wie alle anderen Elemente behandelt. Oft ist es genau die Cow-Bell oder die brodelnde Hammond-Fläche die dem Sound ihren Wiedererkennungswert gibt. Wenn das Instrumental perfekt ist, ist alles parat für den Star der meistens Produktionen:


  • Die Vocals.

    So individuell wie jede Stimme ist auch die Signalkette, die hier zum Zuge kommt. Bevor es ernst wird, finden wir heraus, welches Mikrofon eure Vocals ins perfekte Licht rückt. Welcher Preamp am besten auf das Mikrofon passt und welcher Kompressor die Details der Performance am schönsten nach vorne bringt. Wenn alle Vocals, Backing-Vocals, Gang-Shouts etc. aufgenommen, editiert und ggf. getuned sind, mache ich  weiter mit dem…


  • Mix:

    In diesem Schritt werden aus euren Tracks fertige Produktionen. Ich mische jeden Song mit viel Liebe zum Detail über feinstes analoges und digitales Equipment in einer Umgebung, die akustisch keine Wünsche offen lässt. Die fertigen Mixes könnt ihr über das Client-Portal anhören und allfällige Änderungswünsche direkt dort eintragen. Sobald keine Revisionen mehr nötig sind geht’s zum…


  • Mastering:

    Attended Session bei Dan Suter in der echochamber Zürich. Hier werden eure Mixes ins finale Format konvertiert sowie Lautheit und Spektrum nochmals global optimiert.



Was für Stile produzierst du?

Rock, Punk, Metal und alles, das mit richtigen Instrumenten eingespielt wurde.

Ready to immortalize your sound?

Let's get to it!

Let's Rock

Let's Rock

Let's Rock

Tonstudio Störsender

Fabrikstrasse 8

8370 Sirnach

English

Tonstudio Störsender

Fabrikstrasse 8

8370 Sirnach