Not so long ago, Ridge Farm had something of a reputation for specialising in heavy metal music.

Those of a more cynical nature suggested that the record companies chose the studios to keep their HM acts away from the extra-mural temptations of inner city life — there aren't many nightspots in the sleepy village of Capel.

A glance at the booking diary, however, shows that Ridge Farm attracts a diverse roster of acts including, Andy Hill, Gus Dudgeon with A Bigger Splash, Tony Mansfield with various groups (including Captain Sensible), Icicle Works with Pat Moran, Box Of Frogs with Paul Samuel-Smith and Little Richard with Stuart Colman.

The studio facilities, housed in a 17th Century barn behind the main house, have recently undergone a major refurbishment programme.

Ridge Farm boasts perhaps the most idyllic setting of all the UK's rural, residential recording studios.

The 16th Century farmhouse and outbuildings are surrounded by landscaped gardens, trees and fields. There are no neighbours in sight or earshot.

Ridge Farm has been operating as a studio for almost 10 years.

Under the guidance of Keith Slaughter, the control room has now been substantially enlarged to almost double the previous working floor area. It was given new acoustic treatment at the same time.

The SSL4000 — one of the first to be installed in this country — has been replaced by an SL4048E Master Studio System, with 40 channels, full automation and total recall. A new Quested Q215 monitoring system has been installed along with various items of outboard gear.

Owner Frank Andrews has been more than pleased with the results and reports favourable comments from the artists using the studio.

'Business has been good,' said Andrews, 'but there are a lot of residential studios now with more coming into the market place. It's going to get tougher.

'At times you do feel slightly vulnerable out here. The residential market is not that big and a lot of people prefer to go home at night — not everyone's in love with the countryside. We are only an hour from London but the capital does have a gravitational pull.

'Though we tend to take bookings for two or three months in advance, there are always the spare days between longer bookings, and not enough people realise that we can offer these days at short notice.'

Taking on board the first SSL 4000 series console in the UK was a gamble that paid off for the studio. But will Andrews be gambling on digital investment?

'We took a chance with the SSL and a lot of people thought we were mad at the time, but we were proved right. When we sold it last year we got what we paid for it.

'There will be a lot of pressure this year for us to go digital, but I'm still waiting for the right machine and I don't really feel inclined to buy at the moment. I don't want to make any errors.

'Once artists use the new technology they naturally want to use it again, but at the same time the continuing development of new technology delays the decision process. What really holds it back is the inability of the recording industry to afford it. As everyone says, studio rates are too low.'

Andrews has plans to expand his areas of operation but these do not include further studio facilities at Ridge Farm. 'I don't think having two studios works in a residential situation. The whole idea of this system of recording is to get away from it all, and away from other people,' he explained.

In the studio, as estate agents might point out, many of the original features have been retained. But beams and bending walls add greatly to the ambience of the building. It is one of those rare establishments that merits being termed unique.

There's no other barn quite like it.