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Recording Studios

Student playing drums

The three digital and one analogue desk-based control rooms are centred around Protools LE and HD recording systems. Comprehensive signal processing is available both internally and externally to the mixing desk with the use of a variety of outboard equipment and plug-ins. The three digital desk based control rooms house both 5.1 and stereo monitoring for the creation of professional surround mixes. Studio D, which consists of a Digidesign C24 control surface along with Protools HD and a variety of high quality mastering signal processors, has been designed as a post-production and mastering studio.

We have four control rooms built around four live rooms that are interlinked to allow recording from multiple live rooms for maximum isolation between instruments. One live room is dedicated for drums and has higher acoustic isolation.

Studio layout diagram

The studios have been built to high acoustic specifications, providing an accurate monitoring environment. For example, each room has been placed on special acoustic dampers to isolate them from outside noise and each other, and also to stop the sound from the studio annoying other people in the Newton Building. Between the control rooms and the performance areas are quadrupled glazed windows allowing good visual contact between the musicians and the studio engineer. The shape of the room has been designed to minimise the audible effects of room modes.

Recording Studios Equipment List October 2009

Studio A - Sony DMX R100 Desk. Protools

Monitoring
5 x Genelec 1030A
1 x Genelec 7060A

Dynamics
DBX 166XL
TLA 5021

FX
Yamaha SPX 990
TC Electronics M One
TC Electronics D Two
Lexicon MPX 100

Preamp
Universal Audio 2-610

Other
Digidesign Command 8
Emu Morpheus
MOTU Midi Timepiece
HHB CDR-850
Tascam DA45
Sony MDS-E12
UAD 2 - Duo

Studio B – Yamaha 02R 96. Protools

Monitoring
5 x Genelec 1029A
2 x Dynaudio BM15A
1 x Genelec 7050B

Dynamics
DBX 166XL
LA Audio 4+4

FX
Yamaha SPX 990
TC Electronics M One
TC Electronics D Two

Preamp
Universal Audio 2-610

Other
Digidesign Command 8
Emu Morpheus
MOTU Midi Timepiece
HHB CDR-800
Tascam DA30
Nord Lead 2X
Native Instruments Kore 2
UAD 2 - Duo

Studio C - Mackie 8 Bus Desk. Protools

Monitoring
2 x Tannoy Little Golds
2 x Genelec 1029A
1 x Genelec 7050B

Dynamics
DBX 166XL
TLA Ivory 2
Drawmer DS201
Behringer XR2000

FX
Yamaha SPX 990
TC Electronics M One
TC Electronics D Two

Preamp
TLA Ebony A3

Other
Digidesign Command 8
Emu Morpheus
MOTU Midi Express
HHB CDR-800
Tascam DA20
Waldorf Blofeld
UAD 2 - Duo

Studio D - Digidesign C24 Control Surface. Protools HD

Monitoring
Blue Sky Sat 6.5 Mk ii System
2 x Dynaudio BM15A

Dynamics
Tube Tech SMC 2B
Crane Song STC-8
SSL XL Logic G Series

EQ
Manley Passive EQ
Prismsound Maselec MEA-2

FX
TC Electronics D Two
Alesis Quadraverb 2
Lexicon MPX 100

Other
Digidesign Command 8
HHB CDR-800
Tascam DA20
Waldorf Blofeld
UAD 2 - Quad

 

Studios and laboratories

  • Audio production suites - containing PCs and Macs for audio production using Pro Tools and Reason.
  • Video post production suites - containing PCs and Macs for video production using Final Cut Pro and Adobe Creative Suite.
  • TV Studios - containing PCs and Macs for video production using Final Cut Pro and Adobe Creative Suite.
  • Radio Studios - containing PCs and Macs for video production using Final Cut Pro and Adobe Creative Suite.
  • Digital Media Performance Lab - a 100 seat multi-media performance space used for live sound.
  • Recording studios - a set of four fully acoustically treated studios, each with its own live room.
  • Anechoic chamber - a room with no echoes used to measure, for example, directionality of loudspeakers. Includes a virtual tour.
  • Semi-anechoic chambers
  • Reverberation chambers - rooms with little absorption, used to measure, for example, the absorption of concert hall seating. Includes a virtual tour.
  • Transmission suite - two rooms used to measure how much sound goes through the walls of buildings
  • Listening room - used to carry out subjective tests, for example on audio quality.