Location Recording

The majority of commercial classical recordings are made on location and so it is important that Tonmeister students have experience of location recording in venues away from the University campus and can deal effectively with all of the technical, organisational and logistical issues involved. To this end, the Department is equipped with the necessary kit to operate two full mobile recording units, including two student-drivable Vauxhall Combo vans.

Students are able to record concerts at the very best venues all across the South of England and the Midlands, including the prestigious churches and concert halls in London.

Recent recordings have been made by students at the following venues:

  • Guildford Cathedral
  • Arundel Cathedral
  • Royal Festival Hall
  • Barbican Centre
  • Queen's College
  • Birmingham Symphony Hall
  • London Guildhall
  • Royal College of Music

As well as the extensive collection of microphones available to students, the following equipment is available for use on location recordings:

  • 8 channel Neve portable console
  • 24 channel DDA console with LCR panning and direct outputs
  • Rogers LS 3/5 loudspeakers
  • Auratone loudspeakers
  • AMS RMX16 digital reverberation
  • 4 x Tascam HD P2 digital recorders
  • 1 x Tascam DA88 digital recorder
  • 4 x Quad 405 amplifiers
  • 4 x Flightcased Tascam DA-30 DAT machines
  • 2 x rigging ropes
  • 4 x F and E large microphone stands (20 metre)
  • 3 x 50 metre 7-channel multicore cables
  • 10 x 100 metre microphone cable drums

Also available for multichannel recording is:

  • Flightcased Tascam DA-88
  • 5 x Rogers LS 3/5 loudspeakers
  • 5 x loudspeaker stands
  • Yamaha surround sound amplifier