14 studio SOUNDBITES f Sound Devices has purchased a new facility for its US HQ in Wisconsin. It is expected to relocate into the 27,000sqft facility in the first half of 2012. “This move is part of Sound Devices’ continued commitment to our customers, our community and to the marketplace,” said Jon Tatooles, managing director, Sound Devices. “It gives us the necessary room to grow, and to have all departments, including engineering, manufacturing and sales under one (much larger) roof.” www.sounddevices.com
www.prosoundnewseurope.com February 2012 BELGIUM
Residents add vroom to MotorMusic With external engineers and producers residing in the MotorMusic building, a new audio production cluster has become reality, writes Marc Maes
Staf Verbeek was an early resident
f Post-production studio The
Jungle Group has invested in 12 Fairlight EVO mixing consoles, as part of a studio refurbishment programme across its trio of Soho, London sites. Azule Finance worked with the post house to arrange the acquisitions. www.azule.co.uk www.fairlightau.com www.thejunglegroup.co.uk
Towards the end of last year, the MotorMusic management took the decision to open up part of its spacious building for thirdparty audio activities. “We had spare room and we felt that this could serve kindred spirits – people who would not actually be part of the company but could hire working space with us at favourable rates,” explains MotorMusic manager Hans.
f
An early resident in the Mechelenbased studio was veteran recording engineer Staf Verbeeck; after having sold the legendary Jet Studios, he worked as audio engineer at Ancienne Belgique in Brussels – now he returns to the recording business in one of the country’s finest facilities. The combination of Staf ’s expertise and vast inventory of recording equipment with MotorMusic’s spacious recording room, acclaimed
acoustics and control room centred on an SSL 9000 K will add a new dimension to MotorMusic. “Staf’s equipment is a dream for any engineer, we now have a working relationship benefiting both his and our clients,” says Hans. Musician, film score composer and sound designer Johan Hoogewijs has also started working in the MotorMusic building – Hans and Hoogewijs have known each other for many years and the idea that “we should team up one way or another” was always there. Hoogewijs is a well-known composer for TV and film in Belgium and Holland – his company Sonic Silence caters for radio sound design. A completely different ensemble entered the recording facility when the Chamber Orchestra of Belgium (Belgische Kamerfilharmonie) est ablished their HQ in the facility. “Ben Haemhouts, artistic director of the orchestra, and general manager Veerle Simoens came to see us – they
wanted to have their administrative headquarters here and we believe this may be a win-win for both parties,” Hans says. He adds that their particular organisation and structure is different from public orchestras, allowing more flexibility. “The Chamber Orchestra of Belgium is one of the finest classical orchestras, it also offers opportunities to use their players on recordings for film and even pop and rock albums.” MotorMusic strongly believes in the cross-pollination of the different resident partners because they attract new projects, making the studio environment energetic. “It’s a matter of matching the best engineers with the types of music,” says Hans. “I’d like to see our studio, and the cosy relaxation bar, act as a meeting point for artists, engineers, producers and other clients – a stimulus for networking, yielding potential new projects.” Q www.motormusic.eu www.motormusic-mastering.eu
SSL-equipped East Point is accessed via a secret bookcase in the billiards room
UNITED KINGDOM
Miloco Studios: new island retreat, new Avid products Erica Basnicki Miloco Studios has partnered with Sugababes producer Nigel Frieda to launch Osea Island, “the UK’s ultimate retreat for the music industry”. The privately owned island is located in the Blackwater Estuary off the Essex coast, and was chosen to film the outdoor scenes of new Daniel Radcliffe ghost flick The Woman in Black. The island’s musical offerings are centred around East Point, a recording and mix studio based in Manor House – entry to which is located through a
secret bookcase in the billiards room. The studio is equipped with a Solid State Logic 4064 E Series 64-channel and an Avid Pro Tools HD3 rig, with an upgrade to HDX planned for the near future. In related news, Miloco has announced the introduction of new Avid products to its flagship Londonbased studios. The Bridge, Miloco’s programming/writing room, was outfitted with Pro Tools HDX cards while The Engine Room was upgraded with new HD I/O audio interfaces. Q www.miloco.co.uk