Video interviews & studio tours

Metropolis repositions as a unique "one-stop" multimedia centre

Mike Gillespie promoted to spearhead development of integrated services

The Metropolis Group is to reposition its state-of-the-art studio complex in west London as a unique "one-stop" multimedia production centre that will offer a comprehensive range of audio, video, DVD, graphic design and New Media services under one roof.

The development of these integrated services will be spearheaded by Mike Gillespie who has been promoted to the new role of Group Business Development Manager for the Metropolis Group. He was previously creative director at Metropolis DVD UK.

Metropolis's music, film, TV and video clients will now be able to take advantage of a menu of integrated services that includes:

a.. audio recording, mixing and mastering
b.. stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixing and mastering
c.. DVD-Video and DVD-Audio authoring
d.. DVD content production (including video post-production services)
e.. 3D animation
f.. graphic design
g.. video editing
h.. web design
i.. Enhanced Resolution Audio pre-mastering (for SACD and DVD Audio).

This move follows the launch, last September, of a custom-built DVD production studio at Metropolis's recording and mastering complex in west London. The complex also includes seven state-of-the-art, 
fully-equipped studios, three customised mastering suites, two 5.1 surround sound mastering suites, an edit room, a design studio, and some of the world's best engineers and technical support staff.

Laura Traill, managing director of the Metropolis Group, says: "Repositioning Metropolis as a multimedia production centre will stimulate greater synergy between our studios, mastering and DVD divisions. It will enable us to offer a greater range of products and services to a broader range of clients and allow us to pass savings on to clients."

She adds: "When we set up the DVD division, it was always seen as a third area of business, alongside recording and mastering. But we have found that it has opened the door to many different clients from the film, TV and video sectors, as well as the music industry. The more clients we talk to, the more we find that offering a comprehensive range of production services under one roof is of great interest and use to them."

She says: "Mike Gillespie, who has been running our UK DVD division, has for some time been at the front end of showing our clients how we can do things differently. He is ideally placed to oversee the integration and development of all areas of our business, across studios, mastering and DVD."

Mike Gillespie, Group Business Development Manager for the Metropolis Group, says: "We have already started to broaden the range of services we offer and we're seeing increasing crossover between all divisions of our business. We have shown this to be effective with the work we have
done recently for the Super Furry Animals DVD album, 'Rings Around the World'. The stereo and 5.1 mixing, mastering, editing, DVD creative services, encoding and authoring were all carried out under one roof at Metropolis."

Metropolis video tours on RecordProduction.com

Metropolis Studios tel:  0208 742 1111

The MMF Rolls Out The Red Carpet for Industry Luminaries

On September 19th the London Hilton in Park Lane will once again be the focus of music industry stars and top brass as they gather to celebrate the Music Managers Forum's (MMF) seventh annual British Music Roll of Honour.

Slick production and plenty of surprises are planned for the annual star-studded event, which promises to be as high profile as last year's when
Lionel Richie played for his manager Barrie Marshal and Phil Collins reformed Genesis for one night to honour the band's manager, Tony Smith.

James Fisher, general secretary of the MMF, says: "As in previous years, we will be inviting a number of international artists to take part in the awards ceremony. They will play a key role in inducting well-known industry figures into the British Music Roll of Honour and honouring the recipient of the Peter Grant Award for outstanding achievement."

Since its inauguration in 1995, the MMF's British Music Roll of Honour has marked the achievements of a wide range of industry luminaries including Rod
Smallwood, Muff Winwood, John Kennedy, Gail Colson, Harvey Goldsmith, Barrie Marshal and Rupert Perry. This year's inductees are of equally high calibre, but in keeping with tradition their identities will remain secret until nearer the time.

The event will also feature the BDO/MMF Manager of the Year Award which last year went to Rob Holden David Grays Manager as well as the Producer of the Year award, which was introduced in 1997 and has so far been presented to Mike Hedges, Guy Chambers - Steve Power, Ray Hedges and Artful Dodger - Mark Hill.

Tickets for the Roll of Honour are now on sale and all enquiries should be directed to the MMF on Tel: 020 8741 2555. Fax: 020 8741 4856. 
Email: info@ukmmf.net 
Web: www.ukmmf.net

APRS holds 5.1 seminar

New Studio opens in London

Producer Julian Standen, Long time freelancer, has opened his new studio, The Library, in North London featuring a ProControl desk, 70's Neve and valve gear recording to Pro tools via Apogee converters. 

It has allowed him to start Library Music a publishing company where he is swapping studio time with selected acts for 'single song assignment' publishing rites, then placing the tracks with labels. Bug Music has come aboard with an administration deal,- The first signing, all girl rock act Twist have already received play listing on the major rock radio shows, a second single is sceduled for September.  Library Music stable mates Inimenter & Cleaner have strong interest from UK indies and majors alike. Meanwhile commercial work at The Library is just as brisk, with the following acts kick starting the studios first 6 months of business:

Crackout - 2 x Singles - Hut Recordings UK 
Andy Mitchell - Album recording - Telstar Records
Pillbox - single- NYC records 
James Maddock - (2nd album demos) - Sony US

http://www.librarystudio.com

Moses Avalon's latest news

In Moses latest news letter read about the recent developments at Arista.

Sphere Studios open's SSL J Series room to mix Genesis in 5.1

Producer Nick Davis has become the first client to book Sphere Studio's new SSL-equipped mix room, which officially opened for business during June.

Davis, who's production credits include XTC and Herbert Gronemeyer, is using facility to mix a 5.1 soundtrack for a forthcoming Genesis DVD, due for release in the Autumn through Virgin. The DVD features footage of the band's 1992 concert at Earls Court, the last time Phil Collins performed with Genesis.

The completion of the 5.1 surround mix room marks another step forward for Sphere, London's newest recording complex. The 72-channel J series console that forms the centrepiece of the studio was delivered and installed in May, along with a surround monitor system based around Dynaudio Acoustics monitors.

www.spherestudios.com

Millennia announces the LPE-2 "Analog Legacy" archival/reference phono processing system

Because early phonograph recordings were produced with a wide variety of non-standard phono compensation curves, the LPE-2 was developed to offer a virtually unlimited array of pristine compensation networks for modern (33-1/3) and legacy (78) pressings. For recordings in need of sonic repair, the LPE-2 also offers four bands of Class-A biased, all-discrete signal path equalizing filters, offering a wide range of surgical correction.

The NEW LPE-2 front-end employs Millennia's acclaimed HV-3 preamplifier technology perfectly optimized for phono application. Featuring user-selectable input impedance and capacitance, the LPE-2 front-end is a true differentially balanced (double balanced) discrete-hybrid design, offering ultra-low noise and superb analog resolution.  

Also, six channels of TCL-2 Twincom opto-compressors with Twin Topology have recently been installed into one of the world's preeminent mastering houses, Gateway Mastering & DVD in Portland, Maine. Bob Ludwig has selected TCL-2 Twincom as the most versatile, transparent and dynamically stable analog dynamics processor available for surround and stereo mastering applications. For more information visit the site at: http://www.mil-media.com 

Benefits and services top the agenda for a revitalised APRS

Board members at the APRS's recent AGM put forward a series of innovative plans and ideas designed to benefit every member of the
Association over coming months and years.

The meeting, held on March 28 at the Royal Ocean Racing Club, focused on ways in which APRS could develop its strategies. Members benefits and
services were high on the agenda with Acting Executive Director, Peter Filleul emphasising the realities of a fast changing industry by stating
that the APRS must support the real needs of its different sectors.

"Tailored schemes for members services including accountancy, legal advice, stake-holder pensions, insurance, freight services and travel
arrangements are now in place and discussions toward establishing corporate and private health schemes are underway," he says. "The
organisation itself is being drastically re-structured to reflect the shifts in recording practice including a change of focus for the 'Pressers and Duplicators' group which will be re-launched in the summer as APRS Mastering and Music Facilities."

New member categories are also in the pipeline. In collaboration with both the MPG and the AES, there will soon be a way for individuals to join all three organisations in one go.

"The new 'Recording Professionals' sector will be targeted at the freelance producer/engineer, who we used to call the 'Project Studio' owner and those employed engineers and technicians who lust after access to all the materials, publications and activities generated by the three
organisations,'" Filleul adds.

In common with other trade associations, APRS is introducing a Corporate Sustaining Member sector for those companies both inside and outside the
industry that are committed to support a recording trade association.  These members will have their logos on all APRS materials and publications. They will also have special access to the membership and website and will be able to take advantage of product and service marketing opportunities.

The APRS has also launched a series of Members Nights, the first of which took place this month at the Thistle Hotel, Lancaster Gate and featured an intimate look into the business secrets of five prominent industry entrepreneurs.

Malcolm Atkin, from the new Sphere Studios complex; Dennis Weinreich, from Videosonics; Focusrite's Phil Duddridge; Graham Sharpless from
Disctronics and Andy Richards from the new all digital satellite room, Out of Eden, shared their reasoning for making new technology the key to
their the business decisions.

New APRS Training Courses for admin staff; Equipment Showcases in studio settings and an annual Handbook are among a range of additional member benefits that will be in place this year.

"We hope to launch the APRS Handbook at the AES in Amsterdam in May" said Filleul, who described the new publication as a comprehensive
reference and listings manual with high quality editorial content, produced to high quality print standard that will be distributed to all the APRS client bases as well as to members.

Live studio web cams

RecordProduction.com now have a daily live video feed from Great Linford Manor Studios.  Take a peek in to the studio and see what's going on every day from around 7pm GMT.  The number of cameras will be expanded with 24 hour studio broadcasts due in the next few weeks.  

There will be a number of interesting daily and weekly events soon plus special webcasts that will be of particular interest to producers, studios and artists alike.

Classic Sound Party

Classic Sound celebrated the move to their new North London premises during the last week of March 2001.  Stacks of industry people including studio designer Andy Munro, NFK's Bill Ward, APRS chairman Dave Harries, HHB's Steve Angel etc etc turned out. We will try and bring a selection of pictures over the coming week.  To find out more about the studios, please contact Nick Dimes. 

MusicUnsigned.com goes off-line

Sadly, MusicUnsigned.com has gone off line. We will bring more news as it comes in... 

Top music producers road show video

MPG and Musicunsigned.com presented seminars and gigs at 8 different universities and cities around the UK in February 2001. We are pleased to bring a video from the event here.

Grammy winners celebrate

Some notable old favourites won Grammy's this year including Steely Dan winning the Album of the year and U2 winning Record of the year.

APRS steps up a gear

The APRS is forging links with the film and television industry by actively participating in the Production Show, which runs at Olympia, London from March 13-15.

APRS board member Dennis Weinreich says: "The Association's attendance at this show offers a great opportunity for those involved in pro audio to extend their contacts, expertise and influence into film, TV & video production. There's plenty for us to talk about - not least technological advances and how these impact on our respective businesses."

The Production Show is one of a number of APRS-supported events planned for 2001 and designed to respond to the current needs of its members as they comes to terms with the extraordinary technological changes taking place across the music industry. Among these is a collaboration with the MPG and AES examining watermarking technology, which takes place on March 1 at Olympic studios in Barnes, London.

Other APRS events planned for the imminent future include a presence at the DVD Europe exhibition taking place at the Business design centre, Islington, in April and the AES convention in Amsterdam which takes place in May.

As part of an on-going review of the way in which the APRS operates the Association is holding regular user forums during 2001 aimed at giving members an opportunity to participate in this review. Proposals generated by these events will be put before an Extraordinary General Meeting scheduled for later this year.

Tony Briscoe sets up at Sphere

Producer Tony Briscoe, the man responsible for the cool sounds of Def Jam/ Mercury signing Aaron Soul, has set up a production base in one of the brand new production rooms at Sphere Studios, Battersea.

Briscoe, who is renowned for his work with artists such as Craig David, Beverley Knight and Lifford, is using his facility for writing and recording. The suite is equipped with a Mackie digital 8-bus console and a Pro Tools system running Studio Vision software.

He says: "Apart from a very convenient location, Sphere's production rooms are spacious, comfortable and offer an excellent acoustic
environment, which was a primary reason for choosing to work there. I'm also delighted that Sphere is incorporating the technology to link my
room to the main studios, which means I'll be able to transfer work across to the studios and complete entire projects without having to
leave the building."

To find out more about the studios, please contact Nick Dimes. 

Top music producers road show

MPG and Musicunsigned.com are presenting seminars and gigs at 8 different universities and cities around the UK in February 2001. The seminars will focus on career paths in the Music Industry, the gigs will feature local acts competing for a showcase final in London.  To find out more visit their web site by clicking here!

Check out our pictures taken at one of the recent shows. The video will be here shortly.

HoboMusic goes off the rails

HoboMusic.com, the on-line music industry site, has gone off line this January, no doubt a victim of the dot com 'bubble trouble'

Funding seems to have dried up and caused the venture to halt in its tracks within six months of launch.  We will bring further news as it comes in.

Swanyard's swan-song

At the end of February 2001 the studios will be closing their glass doors for the final time.  Michelle Ward has sent us this press release. 

Swanyard have produced many hit records and go out with a bang with Dido's new smash album that was recorded there going platinum in the States. In the run up to closing, they are selling off lots of equipment including a pair of MTR90's and grand piano.  If you're interested in finding out more about the equipment, call Michelle on +44 (0) 20 7354 3737.  Give her a call anyway and cheer her up! 

Work starts at Abbey Road

London's World famous studio complex is set to start their massive refurbishment which will take place over the next few months.  Studio One is having a brand new 5.1 optimised control room and Studio Three is being refurbished to make way for their new 96 channel (!) SSL J Series console and 5.1 monitoring system.

Call Colette at Abbey Road to find out more  on +44 (0) 20 7266 7000.

Air Studios new web site

Take a trip over to Air Studio's new web site which now features Quick Time VR tours of the studios.  Click this link to visit their site, or, click this link to watch the 'HR' (human reality) tours on our site!

Chris Kimsey goes 'round to Sphere

Legendary producer and engineer Chris Kimsey has moved to London's new Sphere Studios.  He is now based in the first completed production room at Sphere and has been seen carrying huge amounts of new gear including Pro Tools in to the room.

Meanwhile the studio construction continues on schedule and top studio booker, Patti Nolder, has started work at the studios getting the bookings lined up for when they open in a few months time.  To find out more about the studios, please contact Nick Dimes. 

SSL recalls Colin Pringle

Colin Pringle is to become the new Managing Director of Solid State Logic from 1st January 2001. Staff and studios alike have expressed their aproval with leading studio figures who know Colin, such as Ian Davidson of the Townhouse Studios, saying that "the news is fantastic!"

Having previously been with SSL in the late 80's to mid 90's, Colin recently re-joined SSL as Marketing Director and has quickly risen to the top position.  With his wealth of industry experience he is expected to be a leading player in the pro audio community in an exciting era of change and progress.

John Jeffery, the previous Managing Director, headed up the company for 10 years and will continue as a consultant for the company.

Visit SSL's web site by clicking here.

Townhouse rebuild Studio 2 - no more Stone Room!

New SSL 8000G+ for DVD

Townhouse have re-built Studio 2 removing the fabled Stone Room and have created one of the UK's biggest and most impressive mix rooms.  The room features Genelc surround monitoring and coupled with their new SSL 8000G+, they will be set to grab a large slice of the growing DVD 5.1 mixing work looking for good surround equipped rooms.  Check out their new look web site by clicking here.

A party sponsored by Quantegy and SSL was held at the studio complex to celebrate its launch last week - 19th October.  Over 500 people attended.  We hope to bring some pictures soon.

Abbey Road Studios choose new SSL 96 channel J Series

Abbey Road have just announced that their Sam Toyashima showpiece Studio 3 is to get a shiny new and gigantic 96 channel SSL J Series console.  The studio will no doubt see other changes too and the new look room will be open ready for bookings early in the New Year.  Click here to see their web site.