The Town House

Townhouse Studios (also known as The Town House) was a recording studio located on Goldhawk Road, London which was once owned by Virgin. It was opened in the late 1970s, but permanently closed in 2008.

Peter Gabriel had recorded part of his self-titled third solo album (referred to Melt) at this studio during mid-late 1979, regarded as one of his most creatively successful efforts. Studio 2 at The Town House was the birthplace of what became the "gated reverb" effect, as heard on the drum pattern for Peter Gabriel's "Intruder" played by Phil Collins. Accounts vary as to how the sound came about, but it can be agreed that the sound resulted from a heavily compressed "reverse talkback" microphone (specifically an STC 4021 Ball & Biscuit) connected to the SSL 4000B console and treated an built-in noise gate. Phil would become a regular client at The Town House throughout the 1980s, following his experience of the Peter Gabriel session.

Equipment (1979-82)
Mixing desks
 * SSL SL4000B 32-channel (Studio 2)

Tape machines & recording (Studio 2)
 * Ampex MM-1200 2" 24-track
 * Ampex ATR-100 1/4" 2-track
 * Ampex AG-440 2/4-trk
 * Nakamichi cassette deck

Outboard equipment (Studio 1 & 2)
 * AMS DMX 15-80 digital delay
 * ADR SCAMP units
 * BEL Flanger
 * Dolby 361 NR
 * Dolby M32 NR
 * EMT 140 plate reverbs
 * EMT 240 gold foil
 * EMT 250 digital reverb
 * Eventide Harmonizer
 * Lexicon DDL
 * Marshall Time Modulator
 * MXR Phaser
 * Orban De-Esser
 * Rebis 401 limiters
 * Rebis 301 EQ
 * Roger Mayer RM68X noise gates
 * UREI 1176
 * UREI LA4