About Us

Darklands Audio is a professional recording studio at the heart of Dublin city centre located in The Chocolate Factory Creative Arts Centre. Established in 2012 and run solely by multi-instrumentalist, composer, engineer and producer Daniel Doherty. Since then Daniel has worked with a mix of Irish and international artists including  FONTAINES D.C., THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN, COOLIO,  HOPE SANDOVAL (MAZZY STAR), DENZEL CURRY, VERSATILE, OBIE TRICE, SWIFTY MCVAY (D12),  DAMIEN DEMPSEY,  SOMEBODYS CHILD, MERYL STREEK,  QBANAA, EFE

Daniel has also scored 2 feature length films working closely alongside director MARK O’CONNOR on the multi award winning CARDBOARD GANGSTERS and with director JOHN CONNORS on award winning THE BLACK GUELPH (set for release in 2024) as well as working on multiple short films. 

Before Darklands was established Daniel spent 12 years playing and recording around the world with his bands Sickboy (Drummer, backing vocals) and Ghost Estates (Drums, Bass, Synths, Vocals, Sampler).

He has also worked in some of the best studios alongside some top engineers including Nathan Burgess (Usher, Denzel Curry, Gucci Mane, ASAP Rocky), Marc Carolan (Muse, The Cure, Depeche Mode), Tony Doogan (Belle & Sebastian, Mogwai) James Darkin (Hozier, Sinead O'Connor, Paulo Nutini) and John Henry (Head Engineer-Grouse Lodge).

In the studio Dan prides himself on putting people at ease and in the right frame of mind to get the performance the song deserves. Whether it's a full band, MC, folk singer, string section or choir you can rely on Daniel to approach each session with good technique and a level head for professional results every time.

LOCATION

Darklands Audio is a professional recording studio in the heart of Dublin city centre, just a 2 minute walk from O'Connell St. The studio is part of The Chocolate Factory a creative community, event space and Cafe 

26 Kings Inn St Dublin 1

GEAR LIST

Console

TL AUDIO M4 24 CHANNEL TUBE CONSOLE

cONVERTERS

Lynx Aurora 16 mastering grade x 2

MICS

Neumann Km184 x 2 (Stereo Pair)

Neumann TLM 193 x 2

Coles 4038 x 2 (Matched Stero Pair)

SE electronics Gemini

Akg 414 BULS

Akg D112

Octava MK 012 (Stereo Pair)

Cascade Fatheads x 2 (Stereo Pair)

Seinheiser MD421 x 2

Seinhiser e604 x 3

Shure beta 52a

Shure Beta 57a

Rode NT5 x 2 (Stereo Pair)

Shure SM58 x 4

Shure SM57 x 6

OUTBOARD

API 3124+MB (4 Channels API 312)

Universal Audio 6176 x 2

Empirical Labs Mike E Tape Saturator & Distressor

Elysia Xpressor

Ridge Farm Bolier

Stam Audio SA4000 MKII (With Neve Mod)

DBX 160A (With Jensen Output Mod) X 2

DBX 160X (With Jensen Output Mod) X 2

SPL Transient Designer X 6

Audient Asp 880

WEM Copicat

Revox A77

Line 6 Bass Pod

DAW

Pro Tools 2020

Ableton 11

Apple Mac Pro 5.1 6 Core 32GB RAM

MONITORING

Yamaha NS10 with Quad 306 amp

Genelec 1030A

INSTRUMENTS

PIANO

Will. Steinman Upright Piano

DRUMS

Premier Elite Maple

Kick: 24" Toms: 12" + 15"

Snares: Pearl Masters Maple 14"

Premier Elite Maple 14"

Porkpie Percussion Big Black Brass 14”

Pearl free floating steel shell 14”

Cymbals: Sabian Vault 19" Crash

         Sabian HHX Banda Turca 13" Hats (The best hats Ive ever heard!!)

Sabian AA Rock Crash

Sabian AA 21" Rock Ride

Random!:

Roto Toms

Bongos

AMPS

VOX AC 30 BLUE BULLDOG

Marshall JCM 900 (90’s tube combo)

FENDER devile 4x10

Fender bassman 100 (1970’s)

Ampeg SVT- 350

AMPEG 212AV CABINET

GUITARS & FX

Fender Jaguar Bass

Fender Duo Sonic

Earthquaker Devices Avalanche

Death By Audio Reverberation Machine

Vintage Pro Co The Rat

EHX Electric Mistress

BOSS DD-5

Boss Vintage Flanger

Boss Slicer

Boss DS 1

Boss Tremelo

Joyo Tube Screamer

SAMPLERS & KEYS

Ableton Push

Moog Subsequent 37

Roland Juno 106

KORG MS-20

Dave Smith Evolver (Analog)

ROLAND SH-09

Roland SH-101 Clone (Analog)

Korg Minilougue (Analog)

KORG VOCLA KEYS (Analog)

MPC 500

KAM Direct Drive Turntable

Recording / Mixing / MASTERING / Production

Record and mix your project in a relaxed environment with people who care about getting the sound YOU want. No matter what your level or what stage your song is at we can get really hands on and help with writing and producing or we can BACK OFF! and just capture you doing what you do best. 

Flying solo?

Are you a solo artist? Would you like to add more instruments to your songs and go for a bigger sound? Are you a MC with no beats? Don't worry we can HELP! Our in-house producer engineer also happens to play loads of instruments, make beats and arranges and composes! 

With our great selection of analogue and digital equipment, acoustically treated live  and dead rooms and years of experience you can be sure your project is safe in our hands.

Check Out Sound Examples

note 1: (50% deposit required to book recordings)

note 2:  minimum booking for per hour rate is 2 hours

Mastering

The final essential step in every recording! We offer a basic mastering service of €50 per track.

VOICE OVER

A great sounding voice recording is essential to any professional media project. We use top quality microphones, preamps and AD/DA converters to give you that top quality sound you hear on film & TV. Recent clients include: Audible, Twitter, RED BULL, GAA, AIB, and Little Beast Films. 

Source Connect Enabled for international Voice Over Projects

note: minimum booking 2 hours

FILM & TV SCORE

Daniel has composed 2 feature length film scores for Cardboard Gangsters, working alongside director Mark O'Connor and Five Knight Films and The Black Guelph by John Connors & Tiernan Williams at Clusterfox Films as well as music for multiple short films.

RECORDING DEALS

EP DEAL (5 DAYS for the price of 4)

Book 5 Days Recording for the price of 4!! get the  5th FREE!

Total Days Recording: 5 Total Hours: 50

50% deposit required to book the deal & secure dates

ALBUM DEAL (10 days )

Book 10 Days Recording for the price of 8!! get the 9th & 10th day FREE!

Total Days Recording: 10 Total Hours: 100

50% deposit required to book the deal & secure dates

 GIFT VOUCHERS

Vocal voucher! record your favorite song €150

Are you a budding singer, Rapper or have a friend or relative that loves to sing? Give them the ultimate gift of the Darklands Audio vocal voucher. Get that polished professional sound and have fun whilst soaking up the atmosphere of a professional studio.

What's Included?

• A Darklands Audio vocal recording voucher will be posted out as soon as you buy online (€3 Postage charge will apply at checkout)

• 2 hour recording session of a track of your choice with a professional sound engineer

• 2 professionally mixed and mastered CD's and digital transfer of your recording on MP3 & WAV files

VOUCHERS MUST BE USED WITHIN 120 DAYS OF PURCHASE