Our Story
From Punk Beginnings to Pro Sound Excellence
In the mid ’70s Iain started out capturing the raw energy of Edinburgh’s punk scene at Southside Studios. Bands like Freeze, Scars, Fire Engines, The Valves and TV21 all cut their teeth on his recordings. Those DIY sessions, along with work for Island, Virgin and A&M, laid the foundation for Offbeat Recording Studio, founded in 1994.
In the late ’80s, Iain was even signed as an artist by Simon Cowell, an experience on “the other side of the glass” that gave him a performer’s perspective he still brings to working with narrators and musicians today.
Kirsty brought her skills as a musician and studio manager, and together we shaped Offbeat into a place where professional polish and creative energy go hand in hand.
Today, alongside Olivia, we’re a close-knit team dedicated to helping authors, narrators, and performers sound their very best. Olivia also works as an actor: she’s a solo performer in the currently touring Common Tongue, appears in Irvine Welsh’s film Reality Is Not Enough, and was part of the theatre version of Trainspotting. Her stage and screen experience brings a unique depth to directing and supporting narrators in the studio.
Why Choose Offbeat?
Other studios might tick the boxes, but Offbeat brings something different — a welcoming space with history, character, and over 30 years of creative energy. Clients tell us they feel at home here, and that’s exactly how we want it.
And yes, we still make music under the name Harmonic Overdrive, and Kirsty’s performance teas (praised by Tilda Swinton herself) continue to fuel the voices that come through our doors.
Clients Who Speak Volumes
Broadcasters: BBC, Channel 4, STV, Sky, Film4
Publishers: Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Hachette, Polygon, Saraband
Film & TV: Award-winning projects trust us for ADR and voice
Get in Touch
Follow our latest projects on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, YouTube — and check out Iain’s IMDB Film & TV profile.
