
WHO WE ARE
Darklands Audio was set up by Dan Doherty in 2013. He has spent the last 12 years playing around the world and recording with his bands Sickboy and Ghost Estates and is currently performing, producing and writing with Hip Hop Duo Creative Crime.
He has worked in some of the best studios in the country alongside top engineers including Marc Carolan (Muse, The Cure), James Darkin (Hozier, Sinead O'Connor, Paulo Nutini) and John Henry (Head Engineer-Grouse Lodge). He has a diploma in Music Technology from BCFE.
A multi instrumentalist who plays drums, bass, guitar and piano with a keen interest in electronic production using Akai MPC's, Ableton and various Software and hardware Synths.
He recently finished his 1st score for the Film Cardboard Gangsters which is now the most successful Irish Film of 2017 winning awards at Manchester Film festival and Newport Beach film festival in The US.
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.
Recording / Mixing / Production €300 10 Hours!! / €35 Per Hour
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.
note 1: (50% deposit required to book recordings)
note 2: minimum booking for per hour rate is 2 hours
Mastering €50 per track!!
The final essential step in every recording! We offer a basic mastering service of €35 per track.
VOICE OVER €35 per hour!!
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: RED BULL, GAA and Little Beast Films.
note: minimum booking 2 hours
REHEARSALS
REHEARSALS WITH FULL BACKLINE FROM €65 / OFF PEAK (mon-fri 10am-5pm) €12.50 per hr (min 2hr booking)
MUSIC PRODUCTION COURSES
Check out the ABLETON LESSONS page for more info
MUSIC lessons
Check out the MUSIC LESSONS page for more info
HD LIVE VIDEO RECORDINGS €299!!
Darklands Audio has teamed up with The Sound Feed to offer a great live performance video package. We shoot a multitrack multi angle HD video of ONE of your songs over two hours all for €299!! Oh and all the backline is provided!! Just show up and look and sound good!
note 1: one round of mix changes after initial mix (€150 deposit required to book)
FILM & TV SCORE
We have just finished our first score for the film Cardboard Gangsters, working alongside director Mark O'Connor and Five Knight Films.
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
Apogee Rosetta
MICS
Neumann Km184 x 2 (Stereo Pair)
Neumann TLM 193
SE electronics Gemini
Akg 414
Akg D112
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 m58 x 4
Shure SM 57 x 2
OUTBOARD
Universal Audio 6176 x 2
Emirical Labs Mike E Tape Saturator & Distressor
Focusrite ISA 8
Focusrite Octopre Platinum
Roland vintage Space Echo
WEM Copicat
Digi design 002
Line 6 Bass Pod
DAW
Pro Tools 12.5.1
Ableton 9.5
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"
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
FENDER EVIL TWIN
AMPEG BA-115 BASS AMP
GUITARS & FX
Fender Jaguar Bass
EHX Electric Mistress
BOSS DD-5
Boss Vintage Flanger
Boss Slicer
Boss DS 1
Boss Tremelo
Joyo Tube Screamer
SAMPLERS & KEYS
Ableton Push
MPC 500
KAM Direct Drive Turntable
M-Audio Oxygen

RECORDING DEALS
EP DEAL €1200 (5 DAYS for the price of 4)
Book 5 Days Recording for the price of 4!! get the 5th FREE! Saving €300!
Total Days Recording: 5 Total Hours: 50
Total Cost: €1200!
50% deposit required to book the deal & secure dates
ALBUM DEAL €2300 (10 days )
Book 10 Days Recording (Saving €700! Usual price €300 x 10 = €3000)
Total Days Recording: 10 Total Hours: 100
Total Cost: €2300!
50% deposit required to book the deal & secure dates
ABLETON LESSONS
ABLETON INTRO 4 WEEK COURSE €195
- Ableton Intro > Learn the basics and start making tracks with Ableton
Summary: Start making music with Ableton now! Our 4 week hands on Ableton intro course is the perfect way to get started with Ableton Live. We want you to walk away from this short course with the ability to make your own track from scratch. Familiarise yourself with Abletons interface and learn how to load and use some of Abletons instruments. Learn basic drum programming using the drum rack, program & play bass and synth lines using the Analog synth, learn how to record and edit midi, learn how to sync loops using abletons warp feature and finally apply effects, mix, master and export your track.
Duration: 4 weeks One 2hr class per week
Class time: 2 Hours
Week 1: Software intro > Devices & set up > Session & Arrangement View > Recording Audio & Midi
Week 2: Start composing your track > Drum Rack intro > Basic drum programming > Bass & melody with Analog Synth
Week 3: Warping Intro > adding warped loop to your track > Arranging your track in session and arrangement view
Week 4: Effects > Mixing > Mastering > Song Export
SAMPLING INTRO €195
- Sampling Intro > Learn how to chop vinyl and build a track using samples
Summary: This course teaches how to make full tracks using samples from Vinyl records. Lean how to record, edit, chop, time stretch and pitch the samples inside Ableton using the Simpler sampler. Build full tracks around the samples by adding drums and synths with Abletons drum rack and analog synth. This Fun 4 week course will have you addicted to sampling and digging through your local charity shop for oddball vinyl releases.
Duration: 4 weeks One 2hr class per week
Class time: 2 Hours
Week 1: A history & examples of sampling > Gear set up > Recording Vinyl into ableton > Loading samples to Simpler
Week 2: Simpler modes> Classic Mode > One Shot Mode > Slice Mode > Set up Analog Synth
Week 3: Start building a track by using a sample loop > add drums using drum rack > add bass
& melody using the analog synth
Week 4: Add Effects > Mixing > Mastering > Song Export
MUSIC LESSONS
DRUM LESSONS
Learn basic drumming techniques one to one with an experienced drummer
Cost: €25 for 40 mins / Book 4 classes for €90
Note: Lessons must be paid in advance PAY CASH / BOOK VIA PAYPAL BELOW
BASS LESSONS
Learn basic bass guitar techniques one to one with an experienced bass player
Cost: €25 for 40 mins / Book 4 classes for €90
Note: Lessons must be paid in advance PAY CASH / BOOK VIA PAYPAL BELOW
GIFT VOUCHERS
Vocal voucher! record your favorite song €100
Are you a budding singer 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 gift wrapped vocal recording voucher will be posted out as soon as you buy online (€2 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
BASS LESSONS X 4 €90
What's Included?
- A Darklands Audio gift wrapped bass lesson x 4 voucher will be posted out as soon as you buy online.
- 4 40 minute bass lessons
VOUCHERS MUST BE USED WITHIN 120 DAYS OF PURCHASE
DRUM LESSONS X 4 €90
What's Included?
- A Darklands Audio gift wrapped drum lesson x 4 voucher will be posted out as soon as you buy online.
- 4 x 40 minute drum lessons
VOUCHERS MUST BE USED WITHIN 120 DAYS OF PURCHASE
Rehearsal Studios
RATES & Times
Weekday Evenings: 5.30pm-10.30pm €65
Weekends: 10am-3pm / 3pm-8pm / 5.30pm -10.30pm €65
OFF PEAK: Monday-Friday 10am-5.30pm €12.50 per hour (min 2 hour booking)
Full Backline provided Drums, Bass amp, Guitar amps x 2, Mics & PA