The University of Winchester has installed Unity Audio Rock MkII monitors and Avalanche subwoofers as part of an expansion of the facilities at its School of Media and Film. The new sound recording and postproduction facilities were created by Veale Associates.
‘Unity’s reputation for building great sounding speakers was an easy choice,’ says VA Technical Manager, Richard Liggins. ‘We chose Rock MkII monitors and the Avalanche sub for a number of reasons – foremost of which is their forensic honesty and accuracy of sound stage, a vital component of any 5.1 mix system. Placing sounds in a surround field is a delicate business, and the Rocks make that process easier.
‘As a mix monitor, the Rocks offer a good balance between accuracy and musicality, and they provide a reliable and effective platform that invites a more adventurous approach to recording and mixing,’ he continues. ‘Student’s in particular find them to be a fine learning system as the clarity and accuracy reveal the details of tutor-led technique classes very well.’
‘The University chose Unity Audio Rocks for both recording studios, as part of a close-field and 5.1 surround set-up, due to their reputation of being incredibly accurate and unforgivingly honest,’ says Niall Thomas, Lecturer in Music Production at Winchester University. ‘The equipment allows our students to be critical about the sound they are producing from day one and confident they are making informed decisions at every stage of a project.
‘The BA (Hons) Music and Sound Production, and BA (Hons) Music Production and Performance courses at Winchester provide students with the opportunity to learn in industry standard facilities and be taught by industry practitioners. The programme embraces a practical approach to learning with a balance of in‐situ workshops and lectures, promoting aural and kinaesthetic learning styles. Our Unity monitors help us deliver this unique blend of learning experiences. We could not be happier with the choice.’
Unity Audio’s Rock MkII is capable of delivering performance that belies its compact size. It uses a 50kHz folded ribbon tweeter, with a 180mm woofer featuring a 0.2mm aluminium foil. The combination of drivers delivers a frequency response of 37Hz-38kHz (±3dB).
The Avalanche active subwoofer is designed to transform the Rock monitors into full-range three-way systems, extending their low frequency performance down to 22Hz and increasing the SPL. It is also an optimal 2.1 or 5.1 partner in a surround-sound set-up.
