Smart Studios

Smart Studios was a recording facility on East Washington Avenue with multiple recording rooms spread across two floors, equipped with both analog and digital technology. The spaces offered different configurations to suit various recording projects.

The studio was established in 1983 by Butch Vig and Steve Marker in the Gisholt building with simple equipment. Over the following decades, it became a well-known recording destination for alternative music.

The studio became a gathering place where musicians from the region and beyond came to record, helping establish Madison as a hub for alternative music. It attracted artists who shaped the evolving rock scene of the 1980s and 1990s.

The studio was accessible to independent artists and offered affordable hourly rates for recording, making it attractive to emerging musicians. Visitors should plan ahead since the rooms were often booked by bands.

The studio gained recognition for using unconventional soundproofing materials like egg cartons, which allowed for affordable acoustic solutions. This resourceful approach showed how high-quality production was possible even with limited resources.

Location: Madison

Inception: 1983

Official opening: 1983

GPS coordinates: 43.08748,-89.36647

Latest update: December 7, 2025 10:06