Studio
VERSION CITY RECORDING STUDIO
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ
RECORDING – MIXING – MASTERING – DUB MIXES – REMIXES – DUBPLATE SPECIALS
Version City is the workshop of veteran producer/engineer/performer/recording artist King Django. From its creation in 1997, Version City has been an important and influential studio, particularly in New York/New Jersey ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. Bands and artists from all over the US and the world come to the humble basement to record, or send in their tracks for mixing, re-mixing, dub-mixing, voicing or mastering. While specializing in Jamaican and Jamaican-influenced music, Django has produced and engineered a wide range of styles including punk rock, doo-wop, jazz, rhythm & blues, klezmer, funk, hip-hop and more.
Until 2001 the studio was located in a cellar on East Third Street in NYC. Through the years many bands and artists passed through. Tons of reggae, rocksteady and ska tracks and many complete albums were recorded at the original hideout of the NYC Ska Mob. The anarchist atmosphere and strong smell of urine and raw sewage led to the spontaneous creation of the first Version City CD but also eventually contributed to the destruction of that rat-infested location.
In 2001 Django rebuilt the studio in its new location and continued improving it with new and better equipment. The new Version City, located in New Brunswick, NJ now offers both full analog and digital recording along with Django’s renowned production and engineering skills. We also offer mobile digital multi-track recording, so we can record your band anywhere! In addition, we can organize DUBPLATE and VOICING SESSIONS with many foundation reggae artists.
For more info about recording rates or to schedule a session, contact django@versioncity.com
Before I get into the band testimonial, a brief personal aside.
My name is Captain, I have been listening to King Django and his work with Skinnerbox, Stubborn All Stars, Murphy’s Law, and all the others since the bygone days of middle school. I even have an “I wanna riot” tattoo. Before joining Askultura I had the honor of having Django perform at a bar I managed in south Florida. Leading up to the show and during I was a giddy little fanboy. The first night he played was also the first night I played a song with Askultura, and to make it all the more a dream, Django also joined them on stage and we stood shoulder to shoulder. Long story short, I am, and will always be a huge fan and I can never express my appreciation for the honor he did me that night.
I am the washboard scraper for Askultura from Miami, Florida (America), although I have only been in the band for the last year, the album we have just released has been a three year endeavor among 10 musicians and certainly a labor of love (with a touch of lust). Knowing that all the time and effort was able to be put in the hands of King Django for mixing [The Science of Sweet Snatch] and mastering filled us all with pride and supreme confidence. I can not imagine a person I would rather have work with our music. The proof is in the pudding, our album had just been released and the level of quality Django has brought to it reaffirms his never failing status as a legend.
Andrew here; guitars and voice, Askultura. I wish to add a few things to Captain’s memo as I was the lucky sonuvagun in charge of maintaining contact with the various players throughout our mega recording process. With ten musicians and songs sitting upwards of 5 minutes the process seemed doomed from the beginning yet we busted through with the help of wonderful engineers and mixing artists here in Miami and especially with the great ears & reassuring professionalism, knowledge, and top telephone manners of King Django. (A quick aside: As a kid I remember reading National Geographic magazine and seeing those foxes with the really big ears that can hear all ranges of frequency and sounds. I’m not saying King Django is a fox but he’s got great ears). I must have called him several times a day for two weeks straight with questions, concerns, and troubles and all was soothed & allayed at point of hang-up. He expertly mixed a track of ours as well as handling a deluge of secret tracks and track-bumpers into a perfectly timed master replete with cd text and delivered with master notes overnight from the streets & avenues of New Brunswick, NJ to the sweltering jungle of south Florida. I can calmly proclaim that we would not have the final “Ten Strong” cd we have now-sounding & organized as it is-without the work that King Django put in. He’s worth every drop of bourbon in the picnic basket! Grazie amico! Cent’anni!
I have a little reel to reel recording setup. New to it all and eager to learn. We planned on having our masters done at Version City. Even through the tracking and mixing process, Jeff was eager to lend advice and 20 years experience was just a phone call away. Priceless. When it came time to master, he gave several takes and provided insight and crucial advice. The tracks really came alive in th natural way that I really hoped for coming from analog tape. Django goes the extra mile. Great guy. Great sound. Can’t wait to do it again!
I have known King Django going on 17 years now. He has been a mentor for my humble musical endeavours, giving my old band Franceska its first exposure on the Roots, Branch, and Stem compilation. He’s also been a willing dispenser of advice, sonically and business-wise. All these years later, the opportunity to have Django do a version for The Sentiments was not to be missed. He took the track to places we could only imagine and did a great job bringing out our sound! The masters he did for us also sound amazing (at a very reasonable price, I might add)! Now, get your ass (<<<Stubborn Records logo reference) over to Version City!
Nice work on the recording and mixing. Stoked on hearing the masters of the the tracks. I’ve never felt so much at home while at a recording studio.
we luv yew.
We have had only good experiences with Version City Studios. We have worked with King Django in recording, mixing and mastering and he handles himself and his work in a professional manner. He has a knack for capturing energy in a recording and none of that gets lost during mastering.
We had the best experience working with King Django. The masters took our EP to the next level! He notices the little things that only the experienced will catch. We WILL go back to Version City!
If you want someone to tell you, “wow, You recorded that at home? I can hardly tell.” DON’T GO to Django! If you want someone who has better ears and equipment than you, then give your music the justice it deserves, GO to Django. Blowing Neither sugar nor smoke up your ass, Jeff will Care more than most and truly do his best to bring his ear, with your intentions and desires, to your music and bring everyone else the best product. If you bring him a turd, that bitch will be well-polished my friend. Thanks again for our awesome EP.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=217173788311911&set=a.143834122312545.35810.100000578749892&type=1&theater hope you can see this, but yeah, big up the version from the nottingham massive
Django thank you- the masters sound great. I appreciate your hard work and the time you put into the project. You were great to work with and you have brought out the best in our recordings ! big thanks!
For 10+ years, Django has been a friend, a teacher, a collaborator, a musical guide and an inspiration. When the time came to mix and master Wareika Hill’s debut album, he was the first name on my list, and he managed to take a collection of disparate recordings and flesh them into a fully cohesive album with style and substance to spare (no easy feat). When it comes to handling my tunes, there’s no one I trust more.
Hey Django,
I’m Bola, the bass player from The Liners from Ecuador. Thnks for mixing and mastering our first 45′ EP, I love the way it sounds, just like listening an 1960′s LP Record.
Great job!!
Thnks again.
Regards.
Bola.
Hey King! Greetings from Ecuador! I play guitar in The Liners.
Just passing by to say thanx for your great job producing, mixing and mastering our first 45. You really know what you are doing!
Hope to meet you someday and work with you in person… maybe our next LP, who knows!
Keep The Faith!
Creo que estas palabras de Django definen el sonido final del primer single (45) de Liners “To be honest, my approach is like… not to try to imitate what was done in the 60s and 70s, but more to try to make it sound like what those producers/engineers would have made it sound like given the equipment and things that we have available to us today(…)”
Gracias por todo, hiciste un trabajo increíble!
Good god this man has an ear! Django was able to mix our songs and make them sound better then we imagined. Punctual, proffessional, and he knows his reggae. Thanks Django! Highly recommended!
Excellent, quick, consistent, classic and very efficient work comes from Version City all the time. It is always a pleasure to work with Mister Django! We sent him our second and third records to master and he knocked em out like nobody else could! Thank you again sir and keep em comin’!!!
Peace and thanks- Ryan Scroggins
django el dia que tengo poco de pasta me voy en tu estudio a grabar mis disco!!!muy buen producer—suerte –barriobeat
Its always a pleasure to work with Django. He has gone out of his way to make sure Hub City Stompers and Bomb Town were portrayed the way they needed to be heard. He listens to the artists needs and where they want to go, and he makes it happen!
Django at Version City has even managed to make Hub City Stompers sound professional… an undertaking of immense proportions. For rilly, though, being in a ska band, to have a resource such as Version City at one’s disposal is an opportunity not to be taken for granted… ESPECIALLY for anyone in the NJ & NYC area, having it right in your back yard.
Working with Django was a pleasure. He is a very efficient producer, very focused and doesn’t waste time. His studio produces amazing mixes with excellent quality.
As a vocalist who has always preferred singing live and had never enjoyed the recording process, I used to dread going into the studio. With Django, I’ve learned to not only enjoy recording but also the creative process of making music. His knowledge of recording and music theory makes working with him a partnership as he always looks to incorporate your vision. I look forward to working with him again soon…
Django, thank you for your wonderful work. you’re experience and excellence has always given Shem’s a great sound. Look forward to the completion of Days of Old.
All the best,
Aaron
Django really pull out the best sound of La Severa Matacera’s latest album V.I.S.A. We are enormously thankful with Django’s work at Version City Recording Studio and continue to be proud of our music and the sound we reached together!
Blessing!
Hi Django
Thank you for your good work and great mixes with Red Soul.
kisses from Granada
Red Soul Community
?! – With King Django at the I-trol tower you get maximum rub a dub power every single second minute and hour. Whether you are trying to mosh it up, skank it up, dub it up, mash it down or any variation of the above Version City is the place to do it. As a producer he has an unparalleled ability to see the artists vision and work with them to achieve that vision. Large up Version City every time.
Django just mixed our new album and we are stoked! it’s amazing how he manages to get the sound out of the recordings exactly as we love it and being able to work with him really was a pleasure. Version City definitely is the way to go!!
My Bigger Thomas bandmates and I have trusted Django with our last 2 albums (We Wear The Mask) and (Steal MY Sound). He always provides honest and direct advice and always deliver the best sound possible. He’s our partner in the studio!
thanks for the awesome recording and dub mixes on my album man! Everyone who hears it always says that “Southeast” “Dub” and “Java” are the best tracks!
When we have a Dub to mix or need a “special” we always ask to the King first!!! Version City, a place to be !!!
Deadlock salutes the King and Bluekilla give thanks. Top Banana.
All the best for Version City!
Django is the king. Straight up and down. He is a top notch engineer, producer, musician, and vocalist. One of the most talented cats that I ever met. The version city studio also has a wide array of equipment for any recording situation.
I have worked with Django on my band’s CDs. He has ears of gold and a heart to match. There is no one in the world whom I would have mix and master for me other than the King.
Django rocks! Great ears, great feel, great studio, and a great dude! 10 years later, he’s my first call, every time. Respect!
I have had the unequaled honor and pleasure to work with King Django on the full run of CDs in our “Living Traditions” field recording series. Each disc is amazing and would not have been as timeless and meaningful without his brilliant and deeply artful recording chops. Django is indeed King!
After struggling with different sound engineers to get the right mixes to our last project “Keep On Moving” we found King Django! I knew right away that our next single “Nachum Ish Gam Zu” NEEDED to be recorded, mixed, and mastered at Version City! Django reminds the artist that it’s not so much about the fancy/expensive equipment but more about the mic positioning, the engineer’s ear, and musical understanding of the artist’s sonic vision. Check out Version City in action at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09SBopUVfGw
The “Follow My Sound” album would not be what it is without the golden touch of King Django; the mastering sounds fantastic! The Prizefighters definitely look forward to working with Version City on our next project, strictly the best! Big Up to King Django, maximum respect from the Prizefighters.
Django, thank you for the awesome mixes! You were a pleasure to work with and we appreciate your going above and beyond with our album. Viva la Version City!