About Us

At Desert Fish Studios, located in Toronto, Canada, we use whatever it takes to get the best out of your music and voiceover. Whether it’s recording, mixing and/or mastering using the latest Dolby Atmos Music technology to the most luscious 24 track 2” analog tape, Desert Fish Studios, owned and operated by multi-award-winning engineer/producer Jeff Wolpert, has the gear and experience to make it happen.

Learn More Our Team Testimonials Credits

About Desert Fish Studios

Desert Fish Studios is a full service Music and Dolby-Atmos/Spatial Audio Music Toronto recording studio and audio production facility, owned and operated by multi-award winner Jeff Wolpert.

Located in the historical Urbanspace building at 401 Richmond St West in the heart of the Entertainment District in downtown Toronto, Desert Fish Studios is equipped with the very latest immersive music technology from Dolby, PMC Speakers and Digital Audio Denmark. Their custom designed and Dolby calibrated 9.1.4 control room also has an SSL 24 input console, 24 track analog tape machine and a myriad of vintage and modern analog gear from manufacturers such as Sontec, dBx, Oram, Crookwood, Focusrite, Avalon and others.

Our Team

Jeff Wolpert – Owner & Chief Engineer

A multi-award winning engineer, mixer, producer, editor, and educator, Wolpert has worked with some of the biggest names in today’s music industry in addition to a successful career working in film and television.

A graduate of Concordia University in Montreal (BFA Studio Music), Wolpert went on to earn his Master of Music Degree in Sound Recording (Tonmeister) from McGill University in 1982. Upon graduation, he joined Inception Sound where during his 11 years there, he helped build it from one eight-track studio into two 48-track studios. He then became the chief engineer at McClear Digital Recording and Post Production Studios, a five-studio multi-format recording and mixing facility.

Currently he is the owner and chief engineer of Desert Fish Studios, located in downtown Toronto and opened in 2012. As well he is the Director of the Master of Music in Music Technology and Digital Media program at the University of Toronto. He has 3 JUNO Awards and 8 nominations for Engineer of the Year. Known for his mastery of acoustic recording and intricate mixing, Wolpert is also recognized for his vast technical and computer knowledge.

Testimonials

Lawrence Shragge

Film Composer

"I have had the privilege of working with Jeff for… well… over %$#! years. Jeff is an extraordinary engineer with a very musical soul. He has dragged me begrudgingly into a technologically musical world that I have significantly benefited from. I could not have asked for a better musical collaborator."

Loreena McKennitt

Singer-songwriter

"Its been a privilege and a blessing to work with Jeff for over 30 years on a wide range of projects, from studio recordings to live concerts, in extraordinary venues such as the Alhambra in Spain and Royal Albert Hall in London, England. He is thorough, steady, deeply knowledgeable and reliable….and has a great sense of humour. Everything you need in a top class engineer!!"

Jonathan Goldsmith

Composer/Producer

“I have had the great pleasure and privilege of working with Jeff Wolpert and Desert Fish Studios for many years - Jeff records and mixes all of my film scores and album productions. The studio itself is state-of-the-art calibre in every respect, and Jeff brings to each project a lifetime’s wealth of knowledge and expertise, along with deep artistic and technical focus, and creative sensibilities of the highest order…”

Roberto Occhipinti

Bassist/Composer

"Desert Fish with Jeff Wolpert has been my go to studio for over 20 years. From Acoustic Jazz trio to large Orchestral recordings, Jeff’s musical training and recording expertise, combined with the latest in recording technology make Desert Fish an unsurpassed facility in Toronto."

Lili Haydn

Composer/Violinist/Vocalist

"Kevin and Desert Fish were a delight to work with on our remote sessions. Kevin was lightning fast, intuitive, and made everything sound absolutely fantastic! I look forward to working with him and Desert Fish again!"

Fides Krucker

Singer/Producer/Educator

"Recording the audio version of my first book, Reclaiming Calliope, was an excellent experience thanks to Kevin Li. I was nervous but Kevin’s kindness and support put me at ease. He is a patient person with superb ears that pick up the smallest detail. Kevin’s sensitive feedback helped determine whether or not a ’take’ worked and if the emotion was real and balanced. His solutions were always smart and appropriate. Kevin is a deft time manager too! I recorded an album with Jeff Wolpert several years ago and have always been 'over the moon' with my Desert Fish experiences, but recording my first audio book felt especially daunting. Kevin made the process not only possible but, from the feedback I have received, the end result is warm and engaging for the listener. The publishers were also completely satisfied. I am grateful to Kevin and Jeff!"