Ministry of Sound refurbishment
Recently refurbished, the main room at the UK’s iconic Ministry of Sound is now home to a KV2 Audio sound system designed by Technical and Production Manager Oscar Zammit and integration specialist, Louis Jemmott.
Acoustics: Why Art Needs Science
It’s a little-discussed fact that the tempo of classical music compositions slowed in direct response to the ability to build larger performance spaces. As building techniques allowed larger halls to be constructed, their reverberation times forced composers to downshift tempo in order to retain musical intelligibility.
We have learned much about acoustics since, but we are in danger of losing this and other lessons...
It’s All in The Game
If you still regard games consoles as child’s play and their sound requirements as trivial, it is time to think again. And if you are involved in the composing, recording or postproduction markets, it is past time to think again.
Games are not only growing in their sound sophistication, they represent a growing and challenging opportunity, where new frontiers are being pioneered.
Bad Sound and Short Sight
I’d come to talk audio but, right now, I’m getting a lesson in cinema projection. I’d expected to be discussing cinema mixing, surround sound and room acoustics but audio is not alone in its level problems.
Between sound and vision, cinema is looking anything but the high-gloss, high-value experience promised by high-grossing Hollywood blockbusters. It’s not looking – or sounding – good…
Life, the Cloud and Everything
‘Is the cloud mature? It’s been around for so long – way before people started calling it the cloud. I, personally, can’t wait for people to stop calling it the cloud.’
And there we were, ready to get excited about yet another 21st century technical revolution. So much for this ‘cloud’ thing that’s all lined up to change the way we work and play…
Interview: Hackenbacker, The Director’s Cut
‘I hate the term audio postproduction. I hate it!’
The head count at the table of the very agreeable Soho restaurant has temporarily been reduced to two, as the smokers take a break outside.
That leaves Hackenbacker head Nigel Heath making a confession he might have found less easy in front of studio staff and PR.
Case Study: Saint Mary Cathedral
As principal design consultant at Dickensheets Design Associates, Ken Dickensheets places a high value on finding the right solution for any application – whether for public buildings, educational facilities, corporate applications, theatres, or a house of worship install. This extends beyond designing immediate solutions to meeting their long-term needs.
That was particularly important with a recent cathedral installation in Austin, Texas.
Interview: The Dark Side of the Mix
Anywhere there is a mixing desk, engineers have seen digital systems pulling ‘outboard’ processing inboard – in just the same way guitarists have seen their custom pedalboards challenged by digital multi-effects.
For some this is progress but for others it’s a loss of individuality and control. All agree, however, that it’s inevitable. All want to know what’s coming next – and the guitarists are ahead…
Press: Make or Break?
I used to drink in a pub in Cambridge called the Free Press. I liked it.
In trade publishing, an ‘ad rich’ environment equates to a more free editorial agenda than an impoverished one. When ads are scarce, magazines may be afraid to publish critical or conflicting stories – from editorial comment and product reviews to advertisers’ competitors’ press releases – for fear of losing essential revenue. The question here is: who needs who the most?
Good Enough and Getting Better
I owe a debt to conversations I have had with recording studio designers.
Their work requires them to be expert in an unusually wide number of fields – from the obvious areas of acoustics and equipment, to interior design and psychology. Add music biz anecdotes, and many would make great after-dinner speakers. It was a studio designer who put me wise to the problem of a ‘good enough’ audio chain.
Cloud Computing: Silver Lining or Stormbringer?
Look up! Clouds are gathering over the internet. Some may have silver linings. Others are most certainly storm clouds.
These clouds are computing clouds – cloud computing. If it’s a new term to you now, it won’t be for long. These clouds will change the way you use your computer and the way you use your music, video and photo libraries. Forever.
Cloud Break – Delivery & Funding Future Music
Shark: 'Good morning sir. Can I interest you in advertising your company through our most excellent media broadcast service? It is the leader in its field and attracts more of your target audience than you can shake an industry demographic at... and it's a gift at our present rate.'
Mark: 'Wow, that sounds just perfect for my very specific marketing requirements! Where do I sign?'
Performing Rites: Relearning Recording
‘It was one of the greatest experiences of my life – we’d throw little vocal challenges at each other, and this game of one-upmanship resulted in some beautiful vocal renditions. We are really proud of the results. I wish people could see how much fun we had.’
You couldn’t ask for a better commendation for live studio recording. But how many of today’s recording studios are able to support a live session?