Upgrades to facilities.

The tech team have been hard at work over the summer upgrading our studios to optimise performance and workflow; rotating consoles, installing new equipment, repositioning monitors, purchasing hard-to-find kit and repurposing entire rooms. The studios have never looked better and are ready for you to get busy. Read on for details on the upgrades.

Spirit Studio

Our flagship studio has had some big changes.

• The console and monitors have been rotated 180° creating more space for lessons and better visibility of the Neve console.
• The monitors have been recalibrated, providing improved low frequency performance and a wider, more consistent listening position.
• The outboard racks have been split into two separate units, located either side of the console.
• The whole studio has been simplified and re-organised, with a lot of redundant cable and tie lines removed.
• The installation of the Aviom foldback system has also been improved with the main, noisier unit now located in the machine room.
• A new rack-mounted Mac Studio has been installed.
• There have also been changes to aux sends and reverb returns.
• Five classic Stand Easy audio screens are now available for the main room

Mastering Studio (formerly ICON Studio)

Our ICON studio has been repurposed into a Mastering Studio.

• The D-Control console and racks have been removed and replaced with mastering suite style furniture, ergonomically positioning the outboard equipment in the listening position
• The studio has been fully re-wired.
• Outboard equipment has been normalled to the audio interface, rather than mic pres, prioritising mixing and mastering workflows.
• The studio is now stereo only, and there is significant improvement to monitoring performance.
• A Drawmer MC2.1 monitor controller has been installed
• Swapped 2x 96 I/O with newer HD I/O 16×16 audio interface. There is also a mastering-grade Prism Lyra 2 audio interface for even higher quality I/O.
• Still a great facility for recording – the studio retains the Neve, Amek, Avalon and Avid mic preamps.
• Installed a 24 track tape machine, CD, DAT and cassette units, allowing transfers and more.
• New rack-mounted Mac Studio.
• Redecorated, added sofa and plant to create a more relaxed vibe.

Synth Suite (formerly S3 Suite)

We’ve changed the S3 studio into a Synth Suite. Removing the S3 console and Dock to make more room for your creations.

• Centered the monitor controller and Push 2, with the MKS-70 and Maschine MK3 to the sides.
• Relocated the front Genelec 8030s from the wall, and removed the centre speaker, providing stereo and quadraphonic monitoring options.
• Changed listening position and calibrated monitors to make significant improvements to performance.
• Added Moog Subsequent 37, Doepfer A-100, Owl Modular and Roland JD-800 synths.
• Replaced the iMac with a rack-mounted Mac Mini, and added the screen to an adjustable arm
• Added a second MIDI I/O, and a Korg SDD-2000 delay unit.
• Swapped Lexicon effects unit for TC Electronic M-ONE-XL.
• Customer patch added with mini-jack, XLR, 1/4″ jack, MIDI ties.

Introductory Studios

All introductory studios now have new rack-mounted Mac studios, replacing the iMacs. They’ve also been fitted with 27″ screens on adjustable arms, which massively improve ergonomics when using the computer. We’ve also added new MOTU 24 Ai and AO audio interfaces. Both input and tape insert points are now available on patch bays, and all monitoring systems have been calibrated.

Audient Studio 1

In addition to the above, we’ve swapped M-Audio monitors for PMC/Digidesign RM2 in Audient Studio 1.

Audient Studio 2

Rotated the control room 90°, significantly improving monitoring performance, upgraded the projector and added a sofa. The room is still large enough to seat 20 students, with better visibility into the live room.

Audient Studio 3

Rotated the control room 90°, including repositioning acoustic panels, which means more floor space for group sessions.

Audient Studio 4

Rotated the control room 90°; which has significantly improved monitoring performance. We’ve replaced the Mac Mini with rack-mounted Mac Pro. Finally we’ve freshened it up with AKA Design rack furniture, a paint job and added sofa and chair.

S3 Studio (formerly C|24 Studio)

The former C|24 studio has been updated and refined.

• Replaced the C|24 with the S3, Dock and iPad
• Monitor control via Dock, iPad and Avid Xmon
• S3, Dock and iPad fully compatible with Logic Pro and Pro tools. Monitor control possible for Ableton
• Removed the Avid-style monitor path. L&R are now outputs 1-2 for better compatibility with Ableton
• Studio fully rewired. Normalled the mic pres/comps/EQ
• Added 8 channel Audient mic preamp. 16 mic preamps in total (Audient, Neve, TL, Drawmer)
• Replaced iMac with rack-mounted Mac Pro and 27″ screen
• Added a customer patch panel, including mini-jack, XLR and 1/4″ jack. Also has a headphone socket for control room monitoring (via XMon)
• Talkback mic is now mounted to an adjustable arm
• Audio interface calibrated
• Listening position moved further into room
• Significant improvement in monitoring performance
• Removed one of the sofas and tweaked the layout to increase space available for lessons

Shared Live Room

The live room shared by S3 Studio and Mastering Studio has been fittingly renamed, redecorated and new lighting added. The room has also been had a PA system permanently installed for any rehearsals.

S6 Suite

New rack-mounted Mac Studio.

Edit Suites

Replicating an ideal home studio setup, our Edit Suites have had some upgrades:

• New rack-mounted Mac Studios
• New screens
• Calibrated monitors

Project Suite

The old Radio Studio has been cleared out and transformed into this new versatile facility. A flexible space for you to work on your projects. Fitted with AKA Design furniture and a secondary table for additional equipment such as synths and drum machines from our sign-out stock.
The suite includes:

• 27” iMac
• Dynaudio monitors
• 25-key Native Instruments MIDI keyboard
• Ableton Push 2
• MOTU 8in/8out audio interface
• Mackie analogue mixer
• Outboard compressor, gate and FX

Charlie Jones Live Venue

Our in-house venue complete with the Ritz’ old sound system has also been upgraded.

• 56 channel Midas analogue console has been swapped for a smaller Soundcraft providing more space at front of house
• Analogue outboard rack has been created for FoH and positioned on the riser
• Utilisation of the point source PA, set up alongside the line array
• Newer rack-mounted Mac Pro

Mac suite 5

We’ve made some changes to the back of Mac Suite 5.

By utilising the old DJ Trolley at the back of Mac Suite 5, we’ve created a workbench that’s ideal for getting hands-on with hardware synthesisers and drum machines, and utilising them in Ableton and Logic Pro projects.  The new set up includes:

1x Behringer MonoPoly (Korg MonoPoly clone)
1x Behringer MS-1 (Roland SH-101 clone)
1x Behringer RD-9 (Roland 909 clone)
1x Mackie analogue mixer
1x Focusrite 18i20 audio interface

Study zone

We’ve created a dedicated quiet study area in the room that was Mac Suite 2. The room’s been redecorated. The iMacs from the Green Room and the library books from the reception area have been relocated so all of the resources are in accessible in one place. There is also worktop space available for those who bring their own laptops.

Sign-out equipment

We have loads of a equipment available for you to sign-out via Cheqroom or reception. From synths to drum machines, pianos to pedal boards, drum kits, guitars and hundreds of mics. All available for you to use and inspire your creativity. Our collection is ever growing and we’ve added some exciting new additions, such as:

1x Behringer RD-9
1x Behringer MS-1
1x Behringer Monopoly
1x Behringer TD-3 ‘Modded Out’
1x Pedalboard (Including Ibanez Tube Screamer, RAT 2 Classic distortion, Strymon flint tremolo and reverb, and BOSS digital delay and loop station)
1x Nord stage piano
2x Macbook Airs to replace the older Macbook Pros (due to arrive shortly)

Studio etiquette

With all of these new upgrades and additions it’s important to keep the facilities and equipment in good working order for everyone to use.

‘Packing up and backing up’ – please ensure you leave enough time at the end of a session to pack up equipment properly and to save, export and back up your work. With large, complex projects or sessions with a lot of equipment set up this could take over 30 mins so please be mindful to ensure you aren’t late leaving. Please also ensure all equipment is normalised (faders set to 0) and packed away correctly (wrapping cables etc.).

Reporting faults – if you find a fault with any of the facilities or equipment please make sure you report it through the technical support centre. We understand things break and are happy to fix them however with so much equipment, in so many places, it’s important we’re aware of any issues so we can fix them as soon as possible.

Support – Importantly if you’re having issues when using a studio please ask for help! We have studio assistants at reception that are happy to help troubleshoot and support you in your sessions. Each studio also has a user guide you can find physically in the room as well as online available here.