Past Clients
Broken Social Scene • Brendan Canning • Born Ruffians • Cadence Weapon • Charlotte Day Wilson • Crystal Castles • Daniel Caesar • Decades • Dear God • Diamond Ring • Iskwe • Islands • Jacques Green • Jesse Reyez • July Talk • K-Os • Little Junior • Matt Mays • Micah Erenberg • Michael Rault • METZ • Mute Choir • Pet Sun • Programm • Repartee • Shad• Shade • The Mooks • The Darcys • The OBGMs • Tokyo Police Club • Weird Womb • Wintersleep • The Weeknd • Young Guv
WHO WE ARE
Dreamhouse is Toronto’s neighbourhood Studio in the heart of downtown, built by founder Alexandre Bonenfant in 2012. Since then the studio has had the pleasure of hosting hundreds of talented artists, both locally and internationally and have produced some of the most influential albums over the past decade to come out of the country and beyond. The studio plays home to resident producer/engineers Calvin Hartwick, Alexandre Bonenefant and Matt McCalla. Our goal is to provide a unique experience for artists and clients big and small - in an eccentric and comfortable atmosphere with high quality recording services at affordable pricing.
Dreamhouse is also home to Majesticsilk Records, Nightmare Mgmt and four monthly producer rooms.
ALEXANDRE BONENFANT
PRODUCER/OWNER
Alex is a Toronto based Juno Award winning and Polaris nominated music producer; engineer, recording studio owner, artist manager, and co-founder of the Majesticsilk Records. Alex graduated from the Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology in 2004 and after five years apprenticing opened his own recording studio, Dreamhouse Studios.
CLIENT HIGHLIGHTS: METZ, Sam Coffey & the Iron Lungs, Flowerface, Crystal Castles, Dead Broke, Taylor Knox, July Talk, The OBGMs
FAVOURITE LOCAL SPOT: Buddha's Vegan Restaurant
CALVIN HARTWICK
PRODUCER/STUDIO MANAGER
Graduating the Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology (OIART) in 2012 he went on to receive the Couvillion Memorial Award a year later recognizing his success and hard work post-graduation. Since then he has become the head engineer and manager at Dream House Studios located downtown Toronto.
CLIENT HIGHLIGHTS: Grammy nominated & JUNO Award Winning ‘Freudian’ by Daniel Ceasar (2018)
Polaris Prize Winning ‘Parallel World’ by Cadence Weapon (2021)
Juno Nominated ‘Cant Fly Without Gravity’ by K-OS
FAVOURITE LOCAL SPOT: Horseshoe Tavern
KARA
MACKINLAY
INTERN
Kara is a junior recording engineer and mixer based out of Toronto, Canada. Graduating from the Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology in 2021, she has been assisting at Dreamhouse Studios. Kara is also a multi-instrumentalist who plays violin, vocals, guitar, piano, and cajon in her band with her sisters; The MacKinlays.
MATT MCCALLA
JUNIOR ENGINEER
Matt is a producer based in Toronto who has produced for GoldLink, Wale, Tory Lanez, Andreena Mill, and Phil Ade, to name a few. Working as a recording engineer, he currently records numerous artists within the city and mixes/masters records upon request. As a DJ, Ahki has opened for Khalid, Leela James, GoldLink and more.
A graduate of The Remix Project and participant in the Red Bull Music Academy, he is well acquainted with the different pockets of talent Canada has to offer and is always expanding his network.
GEAR LIST
ANALOG to DIGITAL - Dreamhouse Studios strive to provide our clients and artists with a unique experience while giving them access to the variety of unique gear to suit any project.
CONSOLE
• API 1608 Console
HARDWARE/SOFTWARE
• Apogee Symphony 32 I/O
• Apple MacMini with 64g RAM
• Ableton 11
• Logic Audio
• Pro Tools 12 Subscription
MONITORS/HEADPHONES
• ATC SCM25a
• Avatone
• Bryston 3b x2
• Fostex/AKG/Sony Headphones
• Genelec 8040
• Yamaha ns10m
PREAMPS/EQUALIZERS
• Ampex 351
• Ampex 600
• API 512b x3
• API 550B x2
• API 550A x10
• API 560 x5
• BAE (Neve) 1073 x6
• BAE (Neve) 1084 x2
• Chandler Limited Germanium Pre/DI
• GML 8200
• Magnecord PT63-JM
• Neve 5432 Sidecar (34128 Modules x8)
• Sony SRA-3
• Tube Tech PE 1C
D.I. & MISC
• Avalon U5
• Radial JD7
• Radial JDI
• Radial X-AMP
• Radial XTC Reamp
COMPRESSORS
• ADR Vocal Stressor F769X-R
• Alan Smart C1
• API 2500
• Empirical Labs Distressor EL8 x2
• Empirical Labs Fatso
• Standard Audio Level-or
• Summit Audio TLA-100
• Tube Tech CL1B
• Universal Audio 1176 x2
MICROPHONES/DI
Condensors
• AKG 451 x2
• AKG 414 x2
• Blue KIWI
• Lawson L47FET
• Neumann M149
• Neumann U87 x2 (vintage)
• Neumann KM184 x2
• Shure Beta 91
Dynamics
• AKG D112 x2
• AKG D12e
• Electro-Voice ND-468
• Electro-Voice RE-20
• Sennheiser 421 x2
• Sennheiser 441
• Shure Beta 52
• Shure Beta 57
• Shure sm57 x3
• Shure sm7b
Ribbons
• Beyerdynamic M160 x2
• Beyerdynamic M260
• Coles 4038 x2
• RCA 77DX
• RCA BK5 x2
• Royer 121
AMPLIFIERS
• Alan Riches Custom Guitar Cabinet
• Ampeg SVT CL w/ 8x10
• Beltone (60’s) Combo Amp
• Fender Super Reverb
• Fender Bassman
• Marshall JCM 800
• National (60’s) Combo Amp
• Orange Rockerverb
• Roland Jazz Chorus
• Supro (60’s) Combo Amp
• Supro Royal Reverb
• Vox AC30HW2
INSTRUMENTS
Guitars
• Danelectro Baritone
• Epiphone Sheraton II
• Fender Bass IV
• Fender Jazzmaster
• Fender Telecaster (American)
• Fender Precision Bass (American)
• Fender Mustang Bass
• Gibson ES 150 d (1969)
• Gibson Les Paul Traditional
• Martin D28
Keys
• Gerhard Heintzman Upright Piano
• Fender Rhodes
• Hammond Organ
• Korg MS20
• Moog Minimoog
• Roland Juno 60
• Sequential Circuits Six Trak
• Sequential Prophet 10
• Wurlitzer 200a
Drums/Percussion
• Assorted Snares, Cymbals and Percussion
• Ludwig (Keystone Badge)
PROCESSING & OTHERS
• Eventide H3000
• Fulltone Tube Tape Echo
• Lexicon Model 200
• Pioneer SR-202W Spring Reverb
• Roland RE-501 Chorus/Delay/Reverb
• SansAmp PSA1
• Assortment of guitar pedals
Location
Dreamhouse Studios is located in the heart of downtown Toronto at the south end of the historic Chinatown at Queen & Spadina, and a few steps from the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern, and other hot spots like Kensington Market, AGO and steps from the TTC and more.
AMENITIES NEARBY
Pubs/Bars:
Horseshoe Tavern, Black Bull, The Red Room, Ronnies, Java House, The Cameron House, Wide Open.
Coffee:
Dark Horse, Jimmy’s, Le Gourmand, Strange Love Coffee, Pilot Coffee Roasters, Moon Beam Coffee.
Area Fast Food/Restaurants:
Buddha’s Vegan, Seven Lives Tacos, Makers Pizza, Swallow, Parka, Fusaro’s Italian Kitchen, Banh Mi Boys, Kinton Ramen, Planta, Kumpfer and Kim (vegan), Burger’s Preist, Khao San Road, Salad King, Kings Noodle, Dumpling House, Otto’s Berlin Döner, Taste of India.
If you need any last minute gear we are right across the street from Steve’s Music. LCBO & The Beer Store 10 minute walk.
Get In Touch
We are always looking to collaborate with artists big and small. Reach out and lets connect on a future project.
email: calvinhartwick [at] gmail [dot] com
tel: 647 938 7965