Best Recording Studios in New York City (2026)

The NYC studio scene

New York City’s recording studios are split between Manhattan and Brooklyn, with over 75 studios listed on Room For Sound. Manhattan studios lean toward established, high-end facilities with vintage consoles, while Brooklyn has become a hub for indie and electronic production in converted industrial spaces. Rates range from $20 to $175/hr.

Top-line Manhattan studios

EastSide Sound Studios

$175/hr - Mid-Level, Top-Line

The most storied room on this list. Past clients include John Zorn, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson (Grammy nomination), Les Paul (Grammy Award), Sting (Grammy Award), and Joss Stone. This is a room with serious legacy.

Area 51 NYC Studios

$150/hr - Mid-Level

Running Pro Tools 10 with Augspurger and Tannoy monitors, Area 51 has hosted Esperanza Spalding, Beyonce, India Arie, Usher, DMC, George Benson, and the Allman Brothers. A proven facility across genres.

Dubway Studios (Mezzanine)

$150/hr - Rehearsal, Podcast, Top-Line

Dubway is one of NYC’s most versatile studios, with clients including Alicia Keys, Bjork, Vampire Weekend, Beck, Renee Fleming, Yo-Yo Ma, and Lenny Kravitz. They also operate a Main Floor Studio at $100/hr.

MCP Studios

$150/hr - Top-Line

Built around a Neve VR with flying faders and custom Griffin G-1 main monitors with subwoofers. Past clients include Mumford & Sons, Sting, and Nas.

Brooklyn studios

Donut Shop Studios

$95/hr - Top-Line

Custom Augspurger monitors and a client list that reads like a festival lineup: Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky, DJ Khaled, Pharrell Williams, Travis Scott, Future, and LL Cool J. One of Brooklyn’s premier hip-hop rooms.

Conveyor

$100/hr - Top-Line, Mid-Level, Podcast

A multi-format studio in Brooklyn with credits on the Super Bowl, plus sessions with Jeff Coffin and Arthur Moon. Covers recording and podcast production.

MAPA Studios

$100/hr - Top-Line

Located near the L train’s Montrose station in Bushwick, MAPA has an outdoor area and kitchen for longer sessions. Past clients include Mixmag, Soul Clap, Wolf + Lamb, and PillowTalk. Ideal for electronic music production.

Cowboy Technical Services

$100/hr - Top-Line

A Neotek Elan console built in Chicago, Pro Tools HD2, and Neve, Manley, and Chandler outboard. Past clients include Steve Earle, Teddy Thompson, and The Bottle Rockets. A character-rich room for Americana and rock.

Budget options

Sabella Studios

$125/hr - Top-Line

A Neve 8068 console, multiple Pultecs, and UREI 1176s. Past clients include LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Derek Trucks, and Warren Haynes. Serious vintage gear at a reasonable NYC price.

SweetSounds Studio

$100/hr - Top-Line

A 16-channel Neve 5088 analog console with Pro Tools 10 HD and Legacy Focus SE monitors. Credits with American Authors, Sheppard, Waka Flocka Flame, and Kevin Abstract.

How to choose a studio in New York

Manhattan vs Brooklyn: Manhattan studios tend to be more established with higher rates. Brooklyn offers more indie-friendly pricing and vibe, especially in Williamsburg, Bushwick, and Greenpoint.

Transport: Unlike LA, you don’t need a car. Most studios are near subway stations. Check the L, G, and J/M/Z lines for Brooklyn studios.

Rates: Manhattan averages $100-175/hr for top-line rooms. Brooklyn ranges $50-100/hr for comparable quality.

Browse all studios in New York and Brooklyn, or filter by Top-Line or Podcast studios.