THE ANIMAL FARM

A PROFESSIONAL RECORDING STUDIO TUCKED AWAY IN THE NEW JERSEY COUNTRYSIDE.

Our facility is an approximately 2000 square foot space, with a comfortable, dry-sounding live room; generous control room; lounge and kitchenette; three guest suites and a full bathroom. We are equipped with industry-standard microphones, microphone preamplifiers, equalizers, compressors, monitoring, and all of the latest software. And we have a killer amp collection that rivals any on the east coast.

A passion for creating MUSIC

Our exhaustive list of professional services caters to a diverse clientele, ranging from self-funded, DIY musicians, to professional, major-label artists.

TRACKING

A true tracking studio at heart, our unique collection of microphone preamps, mics, and outboard gear ensures you get the best capture on the way in.

PRODUCTION

We are professionally trained musicians with acute abilities to finesse your music, sharing in your vision and taking your songs to the next level.

MASTERING

It’s important your tracks hit hard and are loud enough for enjoyment, without sacrificing dynamism and movement. We’ll get you there.

MIXING

With our flexible AD/DA interfacing, it’s easy to flip into a fully-functioning mix environment.

Project Management

From pre-production through the mastering process, we can guarantee your project stays on time, on budget, and on task.

SESSION INSTRUMENTATION

Need a violinist? How about a whole string quartet? Soprano saxophone? We know a guy.

ABOUT THE OWNER

Dr. John Forrestal is an accomplished guitarist, mix and recording engineer, videographer, and state-certified educator in the state of New Jersey. He has guest lectured about music at Bowdoin College, Amherst University, Berklee College of Music, Northern Illinois University, Salem State University, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Chulalongkorn University (TH). He has performed at, among other places, Lincoln Center, Kresge Auditorium (MIT), and Harvard University, as well as toured nationally in several acts and as a session guitarist.

He received his Ph.D in Ethnomusicology from Boston University, focusing on the musical traditions of the pii klaung [ปี่กลอง] ensemble from Thailand that accompany Thai martial arts. He holds a dual B.M. from the Berklee College of Music in Composition and Audio Engineering; and an M.M. in Musicology from Boston University.

Currently, John is a high school music production teacher at Somerset County Educational Services Commission, an alternative-behavioral school that provides out-of-district educational services for students with behavioral needs across New Jersey. He owns and operates The Animal Farm, a recording studio in Flemington, NJ, as well as Forrestal Creative, a video production and editing company with his wife, Lina.

ABOUT THE FARM

The Animal Farm was founded in 2020. Spanning just over 2000 square feet, the facility was constructed in a historic dairy barn from 1880. The entire facility was rebuilt from the ground-up. An emphasis was placed on using raw and unfinished materials (concrete, raw wood, recycled/up-purposed barn wood) for the purpose of both acoustics and aesthetics.

Three bedrooms are available for lodging, as well as a kitchenette (hot plate/air fryer/microwave/refrigerator/coffee maker) and full bathroom. Our prices for lodging are modest in comparison to local hotels or Airbnbs, and we hope you consider staying on-site when booking us for your next project.

Our floor plan is somewhat novel: the live room exists upstairs, above the lounge and control room. For that reason, the floor has been constructed in such a way that isolates and decouples the control room from the live room completely. Even in exceptionally loud recording sessions, very little sympathetic resonance or “rumble” makes its way into the live room.

Our lounge area is outfitted with numerous fun coffee table books, poetry and literature, board games, vintage video games, and Tape-Op magazines for your perusal.

We have been fortunate to house and provide services for bands from all over the world, including Australia, Germany, Italy, and artists from across the US.

DO YOU LIKE GEAR? SO DO WE.

Contact us for specifics, but just know, if there’s a sound you’re after, we have the tools to create it.

INTERFACING AND MONITORING

  • Antelope Audio Orion 32HD
  • Hearback Bus monitoring system (8 mixers)
  • Dynaudio Core 59 speakers
  • Yamaha NS10M speakers
  • Headphones: Sennheiser HD650; Sony MDR-7506; Beyerdynamic DT770M

SOFTWARE

  • Pro Tools 2026
  • Logic Pro X
  • Studio One 5 Professional
  • CD Mastering: DSP Quattro
  • Audio restoration: iZotope RX; Adobe Audition
  • Composition and Scoring: Sibelius

Microphone PREamps

  • Millennia Media HV-3D
  • CAPI VP312 x2
  • CAPI VP28 x2
  • CAPI VP28P x3
  • Tonelux MP5A x2
  • Avedis MA5 x2
  • Electrodyne E501 x4
  • API A2D
  • Heritage HA73 x2
  • Heritage HA73EQ x2
  • Daking MicPre IV
  • Teegarden Magic Pre 2100
  • Aphex 1788 x3
  • Warm Audio WA73EQ
  • Warm Audio WA273
  • Sytek MPX-4aii x4

equalizers

  • SSL 611 x4
  • Great River / Harrison 32 x2
  • CAPI 550 x2
  • CAPI LC40 x2
  • API 550 x4
  • Electrodyne E511 x2
  • Audioscape EQP x2
  • Audioscape MEQ
  • Kush Clariphonic
  • Kush Electra
  • Klark Teknik DN410
  • Trident A-Range x2

Compressors & Outboard

  • Audioscape Rev A 1176 x2
  • Audioscape Rev F 1176 x2
  • Purple 77
  • Hairball Audio Rev D 1176 x2
  • DBX 162
  • Urei LA-4 x2
  • Audioscape LA-2A
  • Audioscape Vari-Mu
  • IGS Tubecore Vari-Mu
  • Kush Tweaker x2
  • Empirical Labs Distressor x2
  • Empirical Labs Fatso Jr. x2
  • RND 542 Portico x2

DYNAMIC MICS

  • SM57 x 8
  • SM58
  • SM5B
  • SM7 / SM7B x4
  • e409 x2; e609 x2; e906 x2
  • 421 x 3
  • 441-N x3
  • M201N x2
  • M88TG x2
  • M69TG x2
  • PR20
  • PR35
  • PR30
  • PR40 x2
  • ATM25 x4
  • 635a omni x2
  • Audix i5
  • ATM650
  • Shure SM59
  • Shure 540S
  • Shure 545

LARGE DIAPHRAGM CONDENSER MICS

  • AEG U47
  • AEG U67/19a19
  • AEG 19a19 (cardioid) x2
  • AEG M49 w. Thiersch capsule
  • Stam SA800G V1
  • Stam U87
  • Peluso 2247 SE
  • Peluso P12
  • Peluso P251
  • Advanced Audio CM67SE
  • Advanced Audio CM47 FET
  • Peluso P87

SMALL DIAPHRAGM CONDENSER MICS

  • Beyerdynamic MC930 x2
  • Peluso P84 x2
  • AKG C451E x2
  • Shure SM81 x2
  • Shure KSM141 x2
  • AKG C460 x2
  • AKG C480 x2
  • Avenson ST2 x2
  • MBHO 410 omni x2
  • ATM450 x3
  • Shure 181/S x3
  • Beyerdynamic D57C x4
  • Beyerdynamic D58C
  • Line Audio CM3 x2
  • Line Audio CM4 x4
  • Line Audio OM1 x2

RIBBON MICS

  • AEA R84 x2
  • AEA R92 x2
  • AEA N22 Nuvo
  • Beyerdynamic M160 x2
  • Beyerdynamic M130 x2
  • Oktava ML-19 x2
  • Oktava ML-16 x2
  • Nohype Audio LRM-2B x2
  • NoHype Audio LRM-V x2
  • Coles 4038 x2
  • Royer R121 x2
  • sE VR1 x4
  • Cascade Fathead x3
  • Cascade VIN-JET

DRUMS

  • Yamaha Recording Custom (12/13/16/22)
  • Tama Superstar (12/14/15/16/18/24)
  • Fibes Acrylic, Farmingdale-era (12/13/16/22)
  • Slingerland Concert-Toms, Niles-era (12/13/16/22)
  • Ludwig Champagne Sparkle, 1968 (12/13/16/22)
  • Ludwig Acrolite
  • Ludwig Superphonic
  • Ludwig Super-Sensitive
  • Ludwig Pioneer
  • Oriollo Bellmaker 8×14
  • DW Bell Brass, 5×14
  • Duluth Bell Brass, 7×14
  • Ludwig Coliseum split-shell
  • Yamaha Recording Custom, birch 5×14
  • WFL maple, 8×14
  • Fortune maple, 8×14
  • Yamaha Steel 5×14
  • Yamaha Copper, 6.5×14
  • Yamaha brass, 8×14

CYMBALS

  • House sets: Zildjian A Custom (14 Hats, 16 Crash, 18 Crash, 21 Ping Ride); Sabian AAX (14 Hats, 16 Crash, 18 Crash, 21 Ride)
  • Other cymbals (Meinl Sand/Byzance, Paiste Giant Beat/2002, Zildjian K/Z; Istanbul) available for rent (inquire for price)

PERCUSSION

  • Shakers
  • Tambourines
  • Djembe
  • Cajon
  • Congas
  • Bongos
  • World Instruments (talking drums, xylophones, etc)

GUITAR AMP HEADS

  • Marshall (JTM45; ’76 Plexi Super Lead; ’85 JCM800 2210; JCM900; JCM2000 DSL)
  • Dr. Dan JTM50 Black Flag
  • VHT Pittbull CL100
  • Diezel Herbert MKII
  • ENGL SE670 “Special Edition”
  • Bogner Ecstasy 101A, 20th Anniversary
  • Bogner Shiva KT88, 20th Anniversary
  • Mesa Dual Rectifier
  • Third Rail Amps “Soldano SLo100”
  • Peavey VTM60
  • Peavey Butcher
  • Orange (OR120 90’s; AD140HTC; Thunderverb 200; Dual Dark 50; Rockerverb 50 MK1 6L6)
  • Matamp GT1
  • Fender Bandmaster ’68; Bassman 50
  • Sunn O))) Model T; Concert Lead (red and white); Beta Lead; 1200S
  • Ampeg V2, V3, V4, V4-B, V7
  • Sound City 50 Plus, 120R
  • Ceriatone ODS (Dumble clone)
  • Trainwreck Express clone
  • Mesa Mark III no-stripe
  • Hughes and Kettner Triamp MKI
  • Sovtek MIG100H
  • Traynor YBA-3; YBA-1
  • Carvin X100b; X60b; Legacy

COMBO AMPS

  • VOX AC15C1
  • Fender Champ clone
  • Fender Deluxe Reverb, DRRI
  • Fender Twin Reverb, ’68
  • Fender Concert (Paul Rivera-era)
  • Fender Tweed Deluxe clone, 4×8″
  • Silvertone
  • Traynor TS25
  • Comins/Alessandro Twin
  • Rivera M60
  • A bunch of junky solid-state amps for fun (Crate, Marshall, BOSS)

SPEAKER ENCLOSURES & CABINETS

  • 2×12: Vader OS (V30); Diezel OS (V30); Warlock (V30/K85); Sunn O))); Random 2×12 with EVM12Ls
  • JCM900, T75
  • 1960a, Creambacks
  • Marshall Anniversary w. Greenbacks
  • VHT (P50)
  • Bogner, V30
  • Orange, V30
  • Ampeg V4 cabs x2 (Swamp Thang, Silver Bell, Gray Wolf, Shucks) – these SLAP
  • Mesa half-open, OG speakers (50 watters?)
  • Mesa OS (V30/G12H Anniversary X-pattern)
  • Mesa OS (Redback 150/Man O War split pattern)
  • OS Custom 4×12 (Eminence Legend/Wizard)
  • OS Custom 2×15 (Eminence Legend)
  • Ernie Ball Musicman, JBL K120
  • Sunn O))) CTS AlNiCo
  • Randall OS, V30
  • Fender 2×15, Jensen C15N
  • Sound City L610H, Eminence OG
  • Traynor “Big Ben” 8×10

BASS AMPS / CABS

  • Mesa 400+
  • Orange AD200B
  • Fender Bassman 300
  • Oliver Bass 150
  • Ampeg ST-42 Colossus
  • Ampeg V6
  • Ampeg Fridge
  • Bassman 300 Fridge, ported
  • Eden 4×10
  • Gallien Krueger NEO 4×10

Contact us about guitar pedals: we’ve got a lot!