24 l March 2014
www.psneurope.com
Giving voice to the performing arts studionews
ITALY
Mike Clark reports on a new Italian facility for classical music, dance, theatre and TV
LOCATED JUST a short distance from the airport of Treviso, a town in north-eastern Italy’s Veneto region, Teatro delle Voci (The Theatre of Voices) Studios is an incredibly flexible structure offering a wide range of facilities for artists and performers. The recording studio component, although only running since last year, has recently embarked on an upgrade, with new main monitors and numerous other additions to its already wide assortment of outboards and effects. The multi-function philosophy took shape at the drawing board stage, when the architects and structural designers working on a new project for what once the site of a cinema were joined by John Flynn and Claudio Belletti of Acoustics Design Group, whose brief was not only to ensure that all the structural aspects regarding the acoustic treatment of the various areas were designed and constructed in such a way as to obtain optimum insulation between rooms and prevent sound
UNITED KINGDOM Alchemy celebrates new Hammersmith HQ By Dave Robinson
A NEWhome for London’s Alchemy Mastering officially opened its door at the end of last month. Clients, associates and friends were invited to the renowned studio’s new mews HQ in Brook Green, near Hammersmith in west London, to view the facilities and meet the team. Alchemy Mastering first opened its doors 17 years ago in London’s Fitzrovia, with Barry Grint (Abbey Road) and Rowan Laxton (West End Music) at the helm. In 2003, Alchemy made a dramatic expansion to a stunning
location atop the Centre Point tower in central London. It wasn’t to last: five years later, a dispute with the incumbent landlord led to a sudden closure of the studio and a period of regrouping by the directors. Grint recalls a difficult time: “The closure was terribly sad, as the company was very well respected and profitable. For a period afterwards we managed to find some temporary space, before settling in Smithfield East London. Despite having brand new studios, it soon became clear that the location would not work for our mastering clients. “It was a difficult decision to
separate into two companies, but it made commercial sense,” he continues. “Fellow director Phil Kinrade – who joined the company in 2000 from Chop ‘Em Out – Rowan and I were known for the Alchemy name so, the voice-over element has become Alchemy Post still in Smithfield and our new company remains Alchemy Mastering.” Former Alchemy and Air Studios mastering engineer Matt Colton has re-joined Grint and Kinrade as a director and equal partner. Colton says: “The move to Brook Green came at a point where I felt I wanted to move on from being an employee and
working with Phil and Barry was an excellent way to pursue that. Together, we have created a
their ability to add a variety of sonic ‘colours’ to our projects and enable us to concentrate further on mastering work… these include the Chandler Germanium pre-amp, Comp and Curve Bender, Daking Mic Pre/EQ and FET compressor II, Empirical Lab Fatso EL7, Maselec MEA-2 mastering EQ and MCA-2 mastering
Acoustic flexibility is paramount
transmission outside the building, but also to provide clients using the main (450sqm) room an infinite choice of acoustic conditions. ADG’s solution was a variable acoustic set-up that, by changing the configuration of the motorised wall panels all round the room (on floor and mezzanine level), and lowering other huge panels flown from the 12m high ceiling, enables virtually any requirement to be met: from hard rock to symphonic music and everything between, as far as recording is concerned, but also allows to host live shows (there is a stage, seating for a 300-strong audience and a grid and fly facilities for lighting and scenery). Located on the mezzanine at opposite ends of the room, the
two control rooms are cabled with all the other rooms and Control Room A, which
hosts a 32-channel Solid State Logic 6000 E, brought in from facility manager and sound engineer Emiliano Maggiotto’s previous studio, also features Pro Tools HD, Alesis Masterlink ML-9600 HD, Tascam DA-30 MkII Pro and HHB CDR-830 recorders. Here, Maggiotto gives an insight on the latest upgrade: “Three months ago, we took delivery of a pair of ATC SCM150ASL main monitors and six weeks ago the latest additions to our selection of outboards arrived, chosen for
based on more than 250 prestige projects worldwide. Partner Claudio Belletti
explains “All the systems (air conditioning, electrical, security, lighting, scenery, AV cabling, etc) had to meet precise acoustic criteria and, after installation, the components for the treatment of the various areas (main room, control rooms and vocal booths) underwent strict overall tests. Each wall and ceiling panel has an absorbent side and a reflective one, so effectively there are endless acoustic combinations.” Recording projects completed
SSL 6000E in the control room
compressor, plus Thermionic Culture’s Phoenix mastering PLUS and a new brand for us – Cartec Audio – we’ve now got their EQ-Pre 2.” The company called in for the
complex acoustic work aimed at guaranteeing musicians and engineers optimum recording conditions, ADG, is an international practice specialised in designing broadcast studios, performance spaces, music recording studios, film post production and mix studios and other acoustically demanding spaces, and its wide experience is
to date that have taken advantage of the variable acoustics have ranged from rock bands to the ninety-piece Orchestra Ritmico Sinfonica Italiana, and, apart from the room’s great flexibility, not many other studios are also able to provide theatre, dance and concert rehearsal facilities and areas equipped for holding AV training courses as well as hosting (and recording) live events, showcases and TV shows. Maggiotto enthusiastically concludes with the latest equipment news, “Negotiations are under way for the purchase of a Neve VR60 console with moving faders, which should be going into Control Room A and the SSL moved to Control Room B.”
www.teatrodellevoci.com
fantastic boutique facility in a wonderful Mews property on the doorstep of the Major Record Labels”. Recent projects include
James Blake’s Overgrown (Colton) and Gabrielle Aplin’s English Rain (Grint).
www.alchemymastering.com
Let’s play master and service: Alchemy is ready to go in Brook Green
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