It therefore comes as no surprise to learn that producing the cream of the music industry's talent requires the very best tutors and the very best equipment. This is particularly true in the College's recording studio which recently took delivery of a Yamaha DM2000 digital mixing desk.
"We use the desk for everything - main session work, studio recording, video sync and screen work," said Joe Johnson, the College's Studio Manager. "I like its controllability and the fact that it works seamlessly with Pro Tools."
The College also has a Yamaha O2R mixing desk in control room two. "We've had it about six years and it's proved to be an excellent workhorse over that time," added Johnson.
The College's two sound engineers, who perform a lot of educational recording, carried out considerable research before recommending the purchase of a DM2000 to the College Authorities. One of the engineers, Avgoustos Psillas, had already seen a DM2000 in action and had no hesitation about the recommendation. "I saw one in operation in Cyprus where a friend has a recording studio and was impressed with the facilities the desk had to offer. I particularly like the way the main record and edit system works with Pro Tools," he said.
"The desk has very good pre-amps: twenty-four in all, interfacing, on board processing and importantly, fits the restricted space we had available," continued Psillas. "We're delighted with it," he said, "It's transformed the way we work. We can now handle larger productions with ease and incorporate the control and input functions."
The current RCM Studios were opened in May 1994, with a commitment to creating a music technology learning resource relevant to the needs of a world-class music college. It has continuously developed over the last ten years, keeping up-to-date with the latest technologies and recording techniques. The studio and staff produces high-end quality recordings for both educational and commercial clients.
The facility offers digital stereo and multi-track recording facilities, as well as production workstations designed to meet the professional needs of composers working on film, TV and multimedia projects. The large 80sq.m live room, housing a Steinway D concert grand, make the studios an ideal location for recording a wide range of session types from soloists to large ensembles, from film scores to jazz, taking in rock and electro-acoustic music along the way. The studio control rooms are designed and linked so recordings can be made from any of the College's main performance spaces, enabling the production of symphony orchestra recordings from our purpose built concert hall, or to a 16th century harpsichord recital from the College's museum.
(Chris Henry)
