The Bay Eight you know and love has come a long way since its early days. If you’re looking for a music studio rental, we’re happy to welcome you. We even offer a cost breakdown so you know exactly what to expect. But did you know for most of our recording studios history, we weren’t open to the public?
Our Studio’s Early Beginnings
Midnight Blue was a private Miami recording studio owned and designed by Latin music legend Fabio “Estefano” Salgado. The Colombian songwriter/executive producer was part of the “Latin Explosion” of the late 90s. Estefano immigrated from Columbia to the US in 1989 to pursue his music career, and by 1993 he was working on Gloria Estefan’s 1993 album Mi Tierra. After opening in 2000, one of the first records Estefano produced at Midnight Blue was Paulina Rubio’s self-titled album, Paulina. This album was certified 8 times platinum by RIAA, with over 480,000 units sold, Estefano proved himself as one of the most prominent contributors to the “Latin Explosion.”
Estefano’s Legacy
Leaving his mark, the powerhouse songwriter took on another groundbreaking Latin project in 2002. This time, he was working alongside Latin singer Thalia. Estefano again proved himself by producing the 2x platinum record Thalia for the artist. This record cemented Estefano’s success, which led him to then produce Marc Anthony’s album, Amar Sin Mentiras. This album featured Jennifer Lopez and other Latin music icons across various genres. Gustavo Cerati, singer, guitar player, and Spanish Rock legend helped, wrote the song “Nada Personal.” Roberto Carlos, a Brazilian ballad singer, wrote/performed the song covered by Marc Anthony and produced by Estefano; “Amigo.”
The last of Estefano’s notable works at Midnight Blue recording studios was Jennifer Lopez’s, “Como Ama Una Mujer.” This album was a major success and was certified Number One on the Billboard charts in 2007. Having produced chart-topping hits for some of the best in the Latin music genre, and building one of the best recording studios in Miami; Estefano has permanently left his mark on Latin music history. Estefano broke barriers in the Latin music scene with x8 platinum albums for Latin superstars.” This why we are proud to say that we were once “Midnight Blue.” We love that we’ve been able to offer up music studio rental of this legendary and once very exclusive space.
No. 2 Infamous & DVLP
In 2008, 3-time World DJ Champion, Infamous, and Grammy-Award-Winning Hip-Hop Producer, DVLP, took over the studio. DVLP, who is Marc Anthony’s nephew, has been spending hours in the studio since he was eight years old. After being introduced to Lil’ Wayne by Juelz Santana in 2005, the two became frequent collaborators. DVLP co-wrote and co-produced the double-platinum track “Fireman,” marking the beginning of his and Wayne’s long working relationship.
Producer, multi-instrumentalist, and DJ Marco “Infamous” Rodriguez began working with Wayne in 2007. In addition to his work on multiple Wayne albums, he has also collaborated with hip-hop artists Drake, Jay Z, Lupe Fiasco, etc. A testament to his diverse talents, he was a guitar player in the rock-band Antenna. Most recently, he co-wrote and co-produced Teddy Swims’ #1 Billboard hit “Lose Control.”
In addition to their frequent collaborations, both DVLP and Infamous became trusted members of Lil’ Wayne’s inner circle. However, the two artists’ history actually goes back decades, to when both were members of The Allies, a DJ crew that started out in the 90s.
In 2007, DVLP and Infamous co-produced Lil’ Wayne’s “Talkin About It.” The following year, they acquired the studio from Estefano and began using it as their primary recording facility. They used the studio to create many more beats for Lil Wayne in addition to working with other hip-hop stars of the time.
The studio went on to experience a brief change in ownership. However, in 2012, Infamous bought back the studio after he and DVLP went their separate ways. After Infamous bought the studio, he used it as his personal production studio, with much of the work for Tha Carter V being done there. He worked with John Legend, Nas, and Rick Ross (on his album Mastermind ), all the while continuing his close working relationship with Lil’ Wayne.
Years later in 2015, a Rhode Island native who was ready to branch out beyond his audio engineering roots acquired the studio.
“The Studio, with its over 20-year history, is a testament to Estafano’s original vision. Our renovation was a massive modernization and expansion, bringing the studio up to date with state-of-the-art equipment and acoustic technology, all while preserving the essence of Estafano’s original vision.” -Matthew DeFreitas.”
No. 3 The Dawn of Bay Eight
In 2015 Matthew “Formatt” DeFreitas, acquired the studio. This is how Bay Eight Recording Studios Miami was born. For the first time, he opened the Miami recording studio to the public. Since then, Bay Eight has further cemented its place among Miami’s best recording studios. With RIAA-certified platinum plaques from J Balvin, SpottemGottem, and gold for Offest’s Father of 4 albums, Bay Eight has stood the test of time. With over 20 years of history, Bay Eight continues to live up to its prestigious legacy.
Renovations by Ross Alexander
Since Matthew’s takeover, the studio has seen three renovations, spearheaded by world-famous sound designer Ross Alexander. After Alexander’s modernization process, what was formerly known as Studio A became the SSL Room. Alexander, who was also behind the redesign of South Beach Studios and The Seati, excels at innovating iconic spaces while staying true to their roots. With over 40 years in the business, he is lauded for his ability to blend cutting-edge tech with analog warmth. He even designed Lenny Krativz and Pharells’ personal studios. His work remains a key part of Bay Eight’s success.
Today, Bay Eight Recording Studios Miami is a state-of-the-art recording studio with an SSL AWS900 Console, Augspurger Duo 15 speakers, and custom sound diffusion. And if you don’t know what any of that means it’s okay, because you’ll hear the difference in your recordings. Our music studio rental is still affordable despite our top-of-the-line equipment and notable clientele. So don’t hesitate to reach out!
Conclusion
If you walk into Bay Eight Recording Studios today, you will find there are still plaques from Estefano’s time. Our founder believes strongly in honoring the history of the studio. As he explains it, “The studio has a legacy behind it. It’s important to preserve it since the studio carries a reputation of being the best, they have to know where it comes from.”
Estefano’s legacy left a lasting impact on Latin artists of our generation, many of which we’ve had the honor of working with. Our aim is to continue pushing that legacy forward. We refuse to be stagnant; our strong foundations drive us to continually push boundaries and shape our evolving history. Together, let’s continue to create and grow, building a future that will continue to break the music industry. If you’re searching for a music studio rental near Miami, we’d love to be part of your music-making journey, just as you’ll be part of our studio’s legacy.
