Our new recording facility has been constructed within our large warehouse in Foxdale, Isle of Man.
STUDIO
The Control Room is a combination of analogue and digital, giving the best of both worlds.
Featuring a TAC Scorpion mixing console, providing the classic warm British mic pre-amplifiers favoured by professional producers the world over, the studio provides up to four discreet headphone monitor mixes combined with the addition of a loudspeaker monitoring in the Live Room.
The 12 group outputs of this desk are fed to a MOTU HD192, Signature Series modified in Chicago by Black Lion Audio taking it to true audiophile fidelity. We also feed 8 direct outs to a MOTU 2408 (similarly modified by Black Lion), and the entire system is synchronised by a custom clock (as opposed to the internal clocks) tightening up bottom end and stereo image focus.
DIGITAL EDITING
Digital editing duties are handled by a custom built, silent running i7, with 6gB Ram running Windows 7, Cubase SX5 and WaveLab 6. Rarely has this computer seen the internet!
A Mackie Control Universal Pro interface (with additional extender) puts the fun back into piecing together final mixes, and one soon begins to take automation for granted!
This configuration allows for many different options to be offered with minimal effort. Though true analogue recording is now unfortunately a thing of the past, it is a legacy that we should never forget, and we can still offer that option having retained our Tascam MSR24 1" 24 track and TSR 8 1/2" 8 track machines.
The studio is made up of a control room, a vocal booth and a live room. Virtually total isolation is enjoyed between the live room and the control room, and monitoring may be either by headphones or a pair of EAW JF50s in the live room, depending on circumstances. The recording process is usually very efficient, and above the studio rooms are a 'green room' with kitchen where you may relax whilst colleagues are struggling with their parts!
The secret to a good recording is ensuring that you have a good initial signal, and a good signal path to the recording medium. Using vintage TAC Scorpion desks, by legendary manufacturer AMEK, we believe that our signal path is second to none. http://www.amek.com/
We pride ourselves in have a deep understanding of the signal path, and in addition to major modifications to our convertors we are currently in the process of modifying every channel on our main studio desk for even better clarity. It is a quest that never stops.
However, the quality and tone of the instruments used play a large part in the process and we hold a diverse range of keyboards, guitars, amplifiers and microphones which are available for use at any sesson.
Mics in our locker include the following:
Neumann TLM 49
AKG C414 (limited anniversary edition) x 3
Blue Bottle (Cardioid, Omni & Figure of 8 capsules)
SE Titan
ADK Vienna Limited Edition (Matched Pair)
ADK A51
Groove Tubes GT50 (Matched Pair)
AKG Solidtube
AKG 451 x 2
AKG SE300 x 2
AKG D12E (Classic Dynamic Bass Mic)
AKG 1000 x 3
AKG C747 x 2
Shure SM90 (PZM)
Shure SM391 (PZM)
Shure Beta 58 x 6
Shure Beta 57 x 4
Shure SM58 (Loads)
Shure SM57 (Lots)
Sennheiser E604 (8)
Keyboards available if required:
Moog Voyager Signature Edition
ARP Oddysey Mk1
ARP Oddysey Mk3
ARP Quartet
ARP Axxe Mk1
Korg Mini 700
Korg Micro Korg
Korg N1
Yamaha CS5
Yamaha CS15
Yamaha DX7 Mk2
Yamaha DX9
Yamaha AN1X
Roland JX8P
Roland Super JX10 (with modifier)
Roland Jupiter 6
Oberheim OB8
Technics Electric Piano
Hammond XB2
Roland VK8
Guitars / Basses available if required:
Fender Strat (Jap 1983 with Lace Sensor pickups)
Ibanez Roadstar 440 superstrat (1986)
Gibson SG (1971 with P90 pickups and tremolux trem)
Gibson Les Paul (1979 Artist with Moog Electronics)
Gibson J45 Acoustic (1971)
Godin A7
Godin Multiacc
Fender Jazz Precision Special (Jap, 1984)
Rickenbacker 2001 (1973)
Amplifiers:
Marshall Lead 100 (1974) with 1969 4x12 cab
Marshall Mode 4 with 4 x 12 cab
Marshall Valvestate 100 with two 4x 12 cabs
Don Audio Buggane Mk3 with two 1 x 12 cabs
Fender Blues DeVille 4 x 10 combo (90s re-issue model)
Selmer Concorde 2 x 12 70s valve combo
WEM Clubman 1 x 10 60s valve combo
Peavey Renown 2 x 12
Peavey Bandit 1 x 12
Trace Elliot 300w Bass Head with 4 x 10 cab
PRODUCTION/ENGINEERING
With many years of live and recorded sound behind us, we are happy to assist in the overall production of your music, or simply to record it to the highest standards.
With strong links with the Manx Heritage Foundation, Folk or Celtic music is regularly catered for.
Similarly however, a long pedigree in live sound both on and off the Isle of Man has ensured a confident understanding of many different genres of music, Rock, Pop, Jazz, Alternative, Even more Alternative etc etc.
Our day rate is currently £250 + VAT.
Please feel free to contact us with details of your project and we will be pleased to forward a quotation.
Last edited by Mark Cleator on 5th May 2011
