The Sound Theory

Hands down the best studio in the Bay Area and it’s all because of an engineer named Rico. I have been working with him consistently for 3 years. I am blessed to have found this place.

The only source of knowledge is experience and Rico definitely has it! I can honestly say that ever since I stepped foot in The Sound Theory I’ve had no need to look elsewhere. His excellent work ethic, high quality work, professionalism, and passion definitely takes him to the top of the list!

Rico is truly amazing! He is very professional and gives A++ quality. I’ve already recorded twice with him and created two awesome tracks (radio ready). Sound Theory is the ONLY studio I will use to record my album. Rico is a true artist and DOPE engineer.

Super happy with my voiceover session yesterday at Sound Theory. Rico makes you feel welcome and comfortable. The studio is roomy and comfortable.
Rico asked if I wanted his professional opinion, I told him, «yes,» and so he gave me feedback whenever a take wasn’t up to par. He warned me when my pitch or speed changed, and he kept all the takes consistent. Sometimes I nailed it, sometimes I needed five takes (I’m not a pro!). Together we selected all the best takes, and when I edited the whole piece together later, my voice was super consistent and clear.
This is my new go-​to studio. Thanks, Rico!

Super happy with my voiceover session yesterday at Sound Theory. Rico makes you feel welcome and comfortable. I asked him to warn me when my pitch or speed changed, he kept me honest. The recordings were perfect. This is my new go-​to studio.

I’ve been working with Rico for over 8 years and he always takes care of the artist. I would recommend him 100 times over. Let’s just say when Rico moves I move with him.
Just an all around great guy and even greater engineer. It’s a pleasure to do business with him and you’ll love his set up and work ethic.

I’m personally not a rapper or singer but my husband is and Rico is amazing super patient and tells you the truth without hesitation and he motivates you to do better.

Top equipment, top staff, and top service. Rico really knows what he’s doing and will go the extra mile to help you sound the best you can. I will definitely come back!

Rico is the man, Always having fun at the sound theory!

Rico is very sweet and has been one of the most patient production staff i have ever worked with. Rico has been educated through schooling and has experience as a saxophone player. He has been very professional and nurtures the artists needs and goes above anD beyond to make the artist be happy. rico has always given me my proper receipts & files as far as i know he keeps records of everything he does.
he has also allowed me to sample hard to find thing right from his own equipment which is seemly ready for ANYTHING.
Its great working with you RICO!

Rico is incredibly patient and is motivated by the same passions for art that drive his clients. He’s easy to talk to and to work with, listens closely to what is needed, is detail-​orientated, and appreciates all forms of music. He gives tours of the place and a 20-​minute session without charge so that clients can see if the studio is the right fit for them before booking a session. Rico has a very open heart, which is a quality more relevant to the profession of recording than one would expect (he cares deeply about the finished work.) He’s flexible, understanding, encouraging, and has a long list of clients to prove it, so book appointments early! Rico’s an artist in his own right, and that certainly helps create radiant masterpieces. He’s also super nonjudgmental, so feel to need to try one thing 50 times for the piece.
The studio is clean with hardwood floors and a very indie vibe. Love it. Equipment is also superb. The atmosphere is very focused and there’s a sense of productivity. Overall, a pristine recording studio, and one that I would definitely recommend.

I initially found Rico Via Thumbtack. I went for a session that was a trial. I also booked time after it to work. I loved The Sound Theory from day 1. Rico did not include the «Tour» time into my session. I really appreciated that because I am self funded.
I am a Vocalist. I make Dance Music. For my time there Rico’s expertise is at recording vocals. I am able to book time with him and know that when I arrive he will be ready and I can go in and right out. I don’t like to waste time at the studio. There is little to no talking about irrelevant things so we get it done.
The studio is clean, there are clorox wipes available to use. This very important to me that the Mic is fresh and clean. The environment is also smoke free! I LOVE THAT too. So much more commercial then some studios I have visited.
Rico keeps his clients on schedule and I am not made to wait because another client is running over.
With Rico’s guidance and time focused on production quality my music has improved. Listen to the quality of the songs I recorded at The Sound Theory vs «Other Studios», please note that many people are involved in the process so factor all that in as well. If you make music you understand that every part needs to be polished and perfect. Vocals, Track, Production, Mix-​down, and Mastering.
You may google me and listen. I recorded Emotions, Thirst, Predator and Even if you’re crazy at the Sound Theory. Compare my past recordings from different studios and make your own conclusions. The Sound Theory has helped me grow as an Artist. Lenny Ruckus (my current producer) and I are pleased.
This is the place to go. Plan ahead booking time, because Rico is busy so set your expectations to meet that.

These guys were going to get 2 stars, based more on the niceness of the people at the studio versus my experience. Then I had a follow up from the owner so he earned himself a star. I am still on the fence, and 3 stars here means someone «recommends» something. YMMV. Here’s the play by play.
So, I do voiceover work, and have done so professionally since 2002. I am trained, I’ve been in commercials, I have an agent. VO work is where you see a commercial or watch a cartoon, and there’s someone talking — and you don’t see them. It’s a whole business. Yes, you can make real money doing it.
I have been working from home and trying to find a local studio to partner with. I used Thumbtack to find a few. This company popped up. Now, I’d seen them before but didn’t see a Unilocal review so I never followed up. Due to my need, I just took the plunge to check them out and see if they had what I needed.
Rico is a pleasant, upbeat personality. The studio is sizable, and functional. Not pretty, but functional. And a lot farther than people working in their garage, etc. So Kudos.
Rico talks a lot about his business, and what he has too offer. Fine; I am used to this spiel. I told him about my business needs. I noticed he didn’t seem to retain things I’d told him between conversations — from Thumbtack to phone to person meeting. Irony — clients he had on site had checked me out online and knew all about me and my music — but Rico had no idea and seemed to assume that I was there to do music production until I reminded him I was there to find a studio for VO work.
Anyway, during the tour, we were social and pleasant, we toured his facility on a Thursday for 90 minutes (was supposed to be an hour), we did some takes, he sent me home with some tracks. That’s the short story.
The long story is — up front in his pitch he offered a «free one hour session» where he said «I am different from other studios.» He played a lot on his knowledge of the business in LA and how he masters/​mixes at the same time as doing your session, and how he’s not like the rest.
I told him I’d bring in scripts for us to record, and that I’d take him up on that offer. Mind you, if I can save money, sure. The call on the free one hour session was made by him, not me.
When I got there — he introduced me to every client on the premises (and had them demo their music to me), and spent a lot of time pitching his music production skills and services, and even pushed to have me jam along with one of his musicians. I spent about 15 minutes out of that 60 minutes on the mic, and he spent about 5 minutes editing what I recorded. The rest was chitchat, and then a 30 min random discussion on his keyboardist and a jam session I felt rude to decline. On the mic — headset issues, mic issues, music stand issues, and while in the booth, you could hear and feel the thumping of music production going on in the second control room he has on site.
When I got home and heard the output of the files — I was not happy. They had a lot of quality issues, you could hear tracks of people in the control room talking in the background, they were just a mess.
I wrote Rico immediately that Thurs to tell him the files were unusable, and realizing he’d probably just overpitched, I offered to pay for him to clean them up if I could get them by 6 pm Fri (a whole day later). He replied late Thurs night to say he’d be in a session til 6, but he’d get it to me right after.
At 9 pm, no word. I wrote back saying — no need to follow up on this, I’ll work with another studio going forward. I basically did the work on these tracks again myself. I’d basically wasted a day working with is studio on them.
Way later, he responded he’d just got out of late session, and left a nice txt saying he wished me the best.
Then Monday he sent the files, cleaned up, with a nice message saying he realized it’s important to be clear about what he’s offering, and he’s really not offering a free one hour session, he’s offering a free studio tour and a chance to mess around on the mic.
So, I told him — thanks for following up. A day late, and a dollar short, but he means well. I think he and the people at the studio are super nice. They do have a ton of ratings that seem to all be 5 stars on their site. So, they seem to be talented, and to make clients happy.
From the quality of the music I heard — they are talented at the studio, and everyone’s friendly, and I’d have loved to work with them in future on a music project. BUT — I came to find a professional studio for my VOICEOVER project needs.
I hope that Rico can refine his business pitch and work harder to listen and communicate better with the client — so that it’s all about meeting their needs, not his. They are the ones paying, after all.

Great Studio!!!
Great Sound!
Rico is awesome to work to with. He will treat you like a friend and give you great suggestions. Very patient and very fast. Our next album is already sounding so good.

Went in to help my friend track her vocals. Rico did a great job, very friendly and knows his stuff. After a tour of the place, we got into the recording. The vocal booth was very well treated and had a headphone volume control in there which was a nice touch.
The control room was very pleasant to be in, with the lighting and room treatment. The equipment, a Pro Tools modded HD system with NS10 monitors was great and we could clearly hear what was being recorded.
Rico was very efficient with the overdubs and we finished the session in a breeze.
Highly recommended. The place is still under construction, but it’s good to go for mixing/​mastering or vocal recordings.

Talk’n about a one stop shop… This place has wat ever u need… If ur do’n music in the Bay u must stop by the Sound Theory Recording Studios… Rico is the cat u want mix’n ur music…