Studios

Music Technology Studios

One 24 I/O SSL-based recording studio, with two recording booths and a window on to the Phipps Concert Hall), containing:

  • 12-core Mac Pro
  • SSL AWS-924 Analogue production console and DAW controller
  • SSL Alpha Link AD/DA convertor‌
  • RME MADIFace USB
  • UAD-2 DSP Accelerator card c/w Plug-ins
  • A stereo pair of calibrated Genelec 8260A's
  • Eight channels of headphone amplification
  • A selection of preamps (DAV, Avalon, Manley, API)
  • Outboard EQ and Compression (Avalon and UA)
  • Soundfield processor SPS 422B
  • Custom Matamp 1224 mk2 all tube guitar amp with two 212 cabinets
  • Custom Matamp G200 mk2 tube bass amplifier and one 410 cabinet
  • Yamaha Studio Drum kit
  • A selection of microphones (see below)
  • A selections of DAWs (Protools, Reaper, Logic, Live, Nuendo, Digital Performer) and plugins (Altiverb XL, Flux, NI Komplete, etc.) as well as Max and M4L.

Four 5.1 composition and mixing studios with plasma screen for post-production, containing: 

  • 12-core Mac Pro
  • RME Fireface UFX interface
  • UAD-2 DSP Accelerator card c/w Plug-ins
  • Mackie Control
  • Midi Keyboard controller PCR-500
  • Calibrated 5.1 Genelec 8040s with sub
  • Widescreen LED Screen
  • A selections of DAWs (Protools, Reaper, Logic, Live, Nuendo, Digital Performer) and plugins (Altiverb XL, Flux, NI Komplete, etc.) as well as Max and M4L.‌

Three overdub, composition and foley studios, each with a small recording booth, containing:

  • 12-core Mac Pro‌
  • UAD-2 DSP Accelerator card c/w Plug-ins
  • RME Fireface UCX interface
  • Calibrated stereo Genelec 8040s with sub
  • Four channels of headphone amplification
  • Mackie control
  • Various preamps (Neve, Avalon, Focusrite, and/or SPL)
  • M-Audio Axiom Air 61 Midi Keyboard and Pad controller
  • Calibrated 5.1 Genelec 8040s with sub
  • A selections of DAWs (Protools, Reaper, Logic, Live, Nuendo, Digital Performer) and plugins (Altiverb XL, Flux, NI Komplete, etc.) as well as Max and M4L.

One critical listening room / Interactive Sound Design / new interface laboratory, with adjacent workshop, containing:

  • Stereo pair of Genelec 1038s
  • 5.1 8020s with sub
  • Various custom and commercial sensor interfaces, controllers and actuators with MIDI and/or OSC
  • 24" Imac
  • RME Fireface UFX interface
  • Yamaha 01v desk
  • 2 x Roland 100m analogue synthesiser
  • 2 x EMS VCS III Synthesiser
  • EMS Synthi Sequencer 256
  • various historical sound design hardware (vocoder, multieffects, etc)
  • A selection of sound design and performance software including Max, M4L, Live, Ircam Tools, etc.

One eight-channel composition and mixing studio, containing:

  • 12-core Mac Pro
  • 8 Genelec 1032 A with sub
  • SPL 8.1 channel volume control-model 260
  • 8 Ultra match pro AD/DA converter-model SRC 2496
  • Mackie control
  • Midi Keyboard controller PCR-500
  • RME Fireface UFX audio interface
  • UAD-2 DSP Accelerator card c/w Plug-ins
  • Studer B 67 stereo reel-to-reel tape machine with Dolby A noise reduction

A selections of DAWs (Protools, Reaper, Logic, Live, Nuendo, Digital Performer) and plugins (Altiverb XL, Flux, NI Komplete, etc.) as well as Max and M4L

One Spatialisation and Interactive Research lab (SPIRAL)

A striking 6m2 cube containing a 25-channel digital loudspeaker array.
A facility that is mainly used by our postgraduate and research community, featuring:

  • 25 x (networked) Genelec 8240AP loudspeakers in a 3 x 8 vertical array
  • 4 x (networked) Genelec 7270 subs
  • 1 x RME ADI 6432 64 channel MADI interface
  • A selection of DAW’s (Logic, Ableton Live, Nuendo, Digital Performer, Reaper) and plugins (Altiverb XL, Flux, NI Komplete, etc.) Ircam Sound design software, Max, M4L

The loudspeakers are phase/time aligned using Genelec’s GLM system. All connections in the studio are digital with analogue (mic and line) inputs being catered for via a Yamaha O1V with 16 channel digital I/O card. All connections to the computer are made through a MADI-AES bridge and patchbay.

The studio is used for research into the development of new control mechanisms for the spatialization and diffusion of sound in performance and composition. Additionally, the studio is used for composing multi-channel electroacoustic pieces to be played in concert and installation environments.

EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE FOR ALL STUDIOS:
Our technical store within the Richard Steinitz Building is manned by two student placement technicians, supervised by our studio manager, who are on hand from 8.45am to 6.30pm to offer friendly and professional advice on the use and deployment of a large selection of state-of-the-art recording equipment. All the equipment listed below can be borrowed free of charge:

  • wide-reaching microphone list
    • ribbons (Coles, Royer)
    • wide-diaphragm (Neumann u87/u89),
    • tube (Telefunken, Neumann M147/M149, C12),
    • small diaphragm (dpa 4006, Neumann km104),
    • shotgun microphones for location recording
    • and many others (dynamic, electrostatic, condenser)
  • Numerous HD cameras (Cannon, Sony) with tripods
  • 2 Nikon D3300 SLR camera Plus lens kit
  • Various handheld digital audio recorders (Tascam, Roland, Sony, Zoom)
  • 4 multichannel field recorders (Tascam, Zoom)
  • Numerous acoustic (Guild, Fender, Ibanez) electro-acoustic (Yamaha), and electric (Gretsch, Schecter, Fender) guitars, as well as electric basses (Ibanez, Fender, etc.)
  • a wide selection of outboard gear and recording interfaces.
  • and much more...