Studio 1

Studio 1 is the first of our two 8-channel spatialisation studios. It features a ProTools HD Accel 2 system (version 8 software) running on a 3GHz Mac Pro quad core computer, with 23" and 20" flat panel displays. Alongside this there is a MOTU 424 with 24i/o interface, on which we run Ableton Live, MOTU Digital Performer, Apple Logic and other alternative mixing and DAW environments. There is a total of 1TB of dedicated audio hard disk space, while a further 1TB Firewire drive provides automated backup.

Monitoring is by British company ATC in the form of two SCM50A and six SCM20A PRO active monitors, with a Genelec 7070A subwoofer.

The TDM architecture of ProTools HD allows a much higher track count (196 tracks at 48kHz/24 bit) and a larger number of simultaneous, real-time processing plug-ins than is possible with host based systems. Plug-ins including GRM Tools Classic and ST, Waves Diamond (C4, L1, Q10, C1, S1, Enigma, MondoMod, Ultrapitch, Renaissance Compressor / Reverberator / Equaliser, Audiotrack, MaxxBass, SuperTap, Doppler, MetaFlanger, DeEsser, PS22 & Paz), Focusrite D1 & D2, and many others. Stand-alone software includes Max/MSP, IRCAM's Studio and Research bundles and many Unix applications.

Kontakt 2 is provided for sampling, with a Yamaha SY99 acting as master keyboard and providing additional synthesis. An original EMS VC3 MKII with DK1 keyboard controller (circa 1973) provides authentic analogue synthesis and processing capabilities.

Mackie Control and Control XT units provide 24 channels of flying fader interaction with ProTools, while the analogue desk is a Soundcraft Spirit Studio 16-8-2.

Location

Studio 1 is located in our purpose-built sudio suite in a Grade 1 listed building. It is acoustically isolated from adjacent studios and from the rest of the building, with floating floors and extensive sound proofing. It has natural light via a large double-glazed window affording a between-the-speakers view out over the sea towards the Great Orme.

Hardware

Apple MacPro quad-core 3GHz
23" and 20" Apple Cinema Displays
Digidesign Pro Tools HD
Digidesign 96 I/O interface
MOTU 424 and 24i/o interface 2 x 1TB GB FireWire hard disks
Panasonic SV3800 Professional DAT
Sony MDC-E10 Professional MiniDisk
Alesis ADAT-XT20 digital 8 track recorder
Mackie Control and 2x Mackie XT control surfaces
Soundcraft Spirit Studio 16-8-2 mixing desk
Yamaha SY99 keyboard synthesizer
EMS VCS3 MKII modular analogue synthesizer
2 x ATC SCM50A and 7 x ATC SCM20A PRO monitors< br/> Genelec 7070A subwoofer

Selected Software      

MacOS X 10.6
Digidesign ProTools 8
MOTU DIgital Performer 7
Ableton Live
Apple Logic Studio
Standard Digidesign plug-in suite:
    (EQ, dynamics etc.)
GRMTools Classic:
    Bandpass, Comb Filters, Delays, Doppler, Freeze, Pitch Accum, Equalizer, Shuffling
GRMTools ST:
    Contrast, Equalize, FreqShift, FreqWarp
Waves Gold TDM:
    TrueVerb, C4 Multiband Parametric Processor,
    L1 Ultramaximiser, Q10 Paragraphic Equaliser,
    C1 Parametric Compander, S1 Stereo Imager,     Enigma, MondoMod, Ultrapitch,
    Renaissance Compressor, Renaissance Reverb,     Renaissance Equaliser, Audiotrack, MaxxBass,
    SuperTap, Doppler, MetaFlanger, DeEssaer,
    Paz Psychoacoustic Analyzer, PS22 Pseudostereo
BAT (Bangor Audio Toolkit)
Cycling 74 Max/MSP/Jitter version 5
IK Amplitube
IK Sampletank 2
IK T-Racks
Propellerhead Reason Adapted
IRCAM Studio and Reserch software:
    Audiosculpt, Modalys, Diphone, PSOLA Additive,
    SuperVP, OpenMusic, SPAT, NMI, FTM
Csound
SoundHack
Many UNIX based programs
(for example, Shapee by Christopher Penrose)