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Top 5: Atlantis Studio, Stockholm

Producer/mixer/co-owner Stefan Boman and Chief Engineer Niclas Lindström guide us through Atlantis Studios’ Top 5 attributes.

By

9 July 2026

ECHO CHAMBER

Niclas: I use it on almost every session I do, whether on vocals, strings or any other instrument. It sits really well in the mix and has a very unique sound. When I send the reverb into the headphones, people often say, ‘Oh, I love that reverb. It sounds so good!’

Stefan: Because of the echo chamber’s popularity, we created a plugin called Atlantis Dual Chambers, which has sold very well. People would often ask me, ‘But how does it sound?’ To me, the echo chamber sounds lush and romantic. With the plugin, it’s very easy to dial in – you can quickly decide if you want more or less – yet it never takes over the mix. It just sits beautifully, exactly as Niclas said.

MAIN LIVE ROOM

Stefan: The main live room is a big reason clients choose us. Today there aren’t many great-sounding rooms left, as so many studios have closed or been rebuilt with smaller spaces. Our live room is one of our strongest selling points.

Niclas: When musicians walk in, pick up their instruments and start playing, they almost always say, ‘Oh, it sounds so good in here.’ I hear it all the time, whether it’s drummers, string players or horn players. It’s strange how well it works for so many different instruments. Even though we have iso booths, most musicians prefer to play in the main room. We’ve had session drummers who play every day elsewhere but come here just to sit in the room and play for fun. That says a lot.

THE VIBE

Stefan: Even though it’s not gear-related, the vibe of the studio is hugely important. Pretty much all our clients have a real infatuation with Atlantis. People walk in with a good feeling and often say, ‘I really love this place.’ Part of that comes from the studio’s history with ABBA, and also from the previous owner and engineer, Janne Hansson – a brilliant engineer and all-round well-loved guy. Many clients are fond of that history. It’s always nice to hear them say, ‘It’s so good to be back here.’ You can see they enjoy working in the space. Getting the right vibe is key because you want people relaxed and enjoying themselves. If clients arrive in a bad mood, the session is going to be a lot harder.

THE NEVE CONSOLE

Niclas: It’s a 24-track Neve 8026 with 1084 preamps. The monitor section has been extended – it was originally 16 channels because that matched the tape machines at the time. It’s a relatively minor modification.

Stefan: The console is another big draw for clients. It was bought brand new in 1974 and has serious history – a lot of ABBA’s music was recorded on it. There’s a real romanticism attached to it, especially when people see the old YouTube clips of the ABBA girls standing next to the console. They go, ‘Oh, it’s the same console!’

BOLIN GRAND PIANO

Stefan: The Bolin Grand Piano we have here is a unique and innovative instrument, designed by the famous Swedish luthier and piano maker Georg Bolin. Unlike traditional grand pianos, it features a welded steel frame instead of cast iron, which gives it a richer overtone spectrum and a more dynamic tonal response.

Niclas: It was originally built for influential jazz pianist Bill Evans and was designed to enhance expressiveness and control, suiting his delicate touch and harmonic approach. In 1967 the piano was acquired by the studio, which was then called Metronome Studios.

Stefan: During the 1970s, as ABBA used the studio extensively, the piano became a key part of their recordings. It’s often referred to as the ‘ABBA Grand Piano’ because it was used on nearly all their recordings between 1973 and 1977. It’s the piano Benny plays on tracks like ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Mamma Mia’.

Atlantis Studios (formerly known as Metronome) sits in the heart of Stockholm and is one of Northern Europe’s most renowned recording studios. Famed for being the place where Swedish pop superstars ABBA recorded much of their material until 1977, it has also hosted many other iconic artists over the decades, including Quincy Jones, Roxette, Lenny Kravitz, The Hives, and most recently Ghost.

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