Skip to main content
Become a MusicRadar VIP - it's free
- Join our community
SampleRadar
Access over 90,000 royalty-free samples
The MusicRadar app
Full access and custom feeds
MusicRadar Newsletters
The latest music and gear news inboxed
Earn Member Badges
Climb the MusicRadar charts
Coming soon: VIP-only Giveaways
Win pro-grade music gear and more
Join the conversation
Connect with other musicians and fans
BECOME A MUSICRADAR VIP
For the quickest way to join, enter your email below. We’ll send a confirmation email and sign you up to MusicRadar newsletters with the latest music news, gear reviews, tutorials and exclusive offers.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
Get VIP Access Quick

Become a MusicRadar VIP for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Welcome to Become a MusicRadar VIP !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Earn your first badge
Start reading to unlock your first badge
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Hot music news

Hot music news

The latest news from the hottest artists.

Explore
Make better music

Make better music

Explore tutorials, tips and guides for creating music.

Explore

Your membership perks

Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

Explore now

Get the MusicRadar Newsletter

Get the latest music news, gear reviews, deals and tutorials delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign up here

Sign Out
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Rodrigo's Cure
  • California Dreamin'
  • "Apotheosis of mediocrity" - Rundgren vs Swift
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Tech
  2. Recording
  3. Studios

Me in my studio: Planas

News
By Chris Barker
Published 25 April 2012

The Gentleman's Dub Club member shows us around his studio

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Intro

Intro

"I'm Toby Davies; a producer, DJ and instrumentalist working out of a studio near Camden and at a houseboat studio in Canary Wharf.

"I go under the aliases Planas, Landlord and Seemore Productions. I also play bass, write and produce for Gentleman's Dub Club."

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of 8
Tannoy Gold monitors

Tannoy Gold monitors

"I first heard these at Prince Fatty's studio in Brighton when we were recording some Gentleman's Dub Club tracks. Harry "Evergreen", our sound engineer, immediately went and bought a pair.

"I absolutely love them - even though the high mids are pretty militant there's a nifty frequency rolloff option next to the cones which you screw and unscrew by hand. They are passive rather than active which makes a really nice change from most modern monitors, if only because you can't hear the 'beep bidip bidip bidip' of smartphone interference through them!

"I have to shout out my Mourdant-Short MS902 shelf speakers: I use them at home which is where I get a lot of my initial ideas. I've had them for just over 10 years now and they're still going strong - I don't think my neighbours like them too much though!"

Page 2 of 8
Page 2 of 8
Neumann U87

Neumann U87

"Very clear, sensitive mic capable of getting some great takes. Sometimes I find it a little too sensitive, and for things like sax and trumpet I'll use something like a Shure SM-57 to stop the valve sounds and breath noises coming through as much.

"A pair of these make excellent drum overheads, if you can afford two!"

Page 3 of 8
Page 3 of 8
Focusrite Saffire 6

Focusrite Saffire 6

"A great little interface for the money with good preamps and solid build."

Page 4 of 8
Page 4 of 8
Bach Stradivarius Trumpet

Bach Stradivarius Trumpet

"I play a Bach Stradivarius, it's got a great tone and really slick valves.Instrument-wise I also use a Fender Telecaster and a Spectre Performer bass guitar."

Page 5 of 8
Page 5 of 8
Roland Juno G

Roland Juno G

"Such a versatile synth, I got it dirt cheap, second hand and it's become a really important part of my studio. I've fit it with an extra memory card so I can use it as a sampler and use the Roland effects and sequencer on any of my samples.

"In my Planas live band I only need the Juno and a laptop as it can be split between a synth, sampler, and midi keyboard all at the same time. I use the Juno in Gentleman's Dub Club as well.I also have a Roland FP-2 keyboard which is great for writing and getting that live sound as it has weighted keys and some really realistic keyboard emulations."

Page 6 of 8
Page 6 of 8
Blue Microphones Robbie pre

Blue Microphones Robbie pre

"Beautiful tube mic and instrument preamp with +36db of headroom. Designed to be used with the Kiwi Bluebottle which is a fantastic vocal mic, but is currently in Submotion Orchestra's studio as they're recording their second album at the moment."

Page 7 of 8
Page 7 of 8
Houseboat

Houseboat

"Harry runs a studio out of his houseboat in Canary Wharf: it's one my favourite places to work, especially when it's sunny as you can take your breaks up on deck!

"He's got loads of amazing gear there including Adam S2.5a monitors, two SSL channel strips which he put together from parts, a Vermona spring reverb and a Distressor compression/distortion unit."

The new single, Breathtaking by Planasfeaturing Ed Thomas is out now

Planas on iTunes
Planas onFacebook

Page 8 of 8
Page 8 of 8
Chris Barker
Read more
Will Yip
Artists Will Yip explains to us how he built his dream studio from the ground up, with some influence from Rick Rubin
 
 
Hot Chip in the studio
Studios "There's no barrier to capturing a performance": Inside Hot Chip's London studio
 
 
Erol Alkan
Artists Erol Alkan on the gear that he trusts above all else
 
 
Dani Filth
Artists Dani Filth tells us about his dream collaborators and his surprisingly stripped-back home studio
 
 
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: Raphael Saadiq performs onstage during the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Artists “I don’t want any undos. There’s no ‘undo’ in good music": Raphael Saadiq on why he records to tape
 
 
bonobo
Artists “I have an actual Rhodes in the studio, but I used the little Yamaha CP”: Bonobo reveals why he chose a $499 mini keyboard over a real electric piano
 
 
Latest in Studios
Hot Chip in the studio
Studios "There's no barrier to capturing a performance": Inside Hot Chip's London studio
 
 
Real World Studios
Studios “We’re searching for authenticity”: Real World studios launch free recording programme for unsigned acts
 
 
David Byrne, lead singer and guitarist for the Talking Heads, works with record producer Brian Eno in a recording studio in Mexico.
Studios Talking Heads frontman David Byrne discusses treating the studio "like a playground" with Brian Eno
 
 
DX10000CL headphones
Headphones "A flagship audiophile product": Final unveils new DX10000 CL headphone at jaw-dropping price
 
 
abbey road
Studios "It's like being in a toy shop": How Abbey Road is reinventing itself
 
 
, CA - December 09: John Mayer (right) and McG aka Joseph McGinty Nichol owners of Henson Studios give a tour of their recording and film studios on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 in , CA. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Studios “I know just enough to let the other people do their jobs": John Mayer explains why he’s bought Henson studios
 
 
Latest in News
Oli Howe
Artists Instagram reharm sensation Oli Howe on the formula behind his chaotic reworks of classic hits
 
 
An SSL 2+ MKII audio interface on a desk
Recording I sifted through Sweetwater's massive up to 50% off studio gear sale to bring you the best equipment discounts
 
 
Lola Young performs onstage at the 2025 Coachella Valley music and arts festival on April 11, 2025
Singers & Songwriters “Breathing feels like a chore”: Lola Young bemoans the effect of vaping on her health on TikTok
 
 
tapes
Samples SampleRadar: 485 free tape-treated samples
 
 
(L-R) Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, David Byrne and Jerry Harrison
Bands “They put horns on their record”: Talking Heads reveal they were accused of ‘selling out’ on debut single
 
 
John Lennon and Paul McCartney face the press
Singers & Songwriters “He could be a complete idiot, over some things”: Paul McCartney thinks that Lennon “expected more” from him in the early 70s
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...