The Studios
Metropolis Studios was the first division to be established of Metropolis Group and is the backbone of the building. It consists of 4 recording and mixing studios and 4 production rooms and is the largest independent recording facility in Europe.
Studio A
Studio A is the larger of the two tracking rooms at Metropolis Studios. The 60m2 control room houses an SSL 9072 'J' series console with Genelec1035A main monitors. It is considered to be Metropolis’ ideal room for tracking or mixing. The studio area comprises three rooms with differing acoustic properties: a main area (90m2), a stone room (15m2) and a 'dead' room (15m2), each with ceilings close to 6m high and excellent lines of sight for musicians and engineers. All of these areas have natural daylight and can handle demanding tracking and orchestral sessions of up to 26 players. Studio A boasts a self-contained private lounge (with tie lines, kitchen and toilet) overlooking the live areas.
Equipment: A SSL 9072 J series console, Genelec 1035A main monitoring, Yamaha NS10, PMC or Auratone nearfield monitoring, Quad 520F amps, Three separate recording areas, largest suitable for up to 26 piece string section, Private reception area, lounge, kitchen and toilet, Custom 8-way foldback system, House sync, Protool HD 3 with Prism ADA-8 interfaces configured to 24 inputs & outputs (expandable) or Otari MTR 100(with dolby A or SR), Standard Plug-in set includes : Waves Gold, Autotune, Serato Pitch n Time, Soundtoys, McDSP, Sonnox EQ, Timeline Lynx syncronisation, Ampex ATR-100 1/2" or 1/4" with dolby A or SR, Panasonic 3700/3800 DAT machines. HHB CDR / Denon CD, DVD/SACD Player, Superb sounding Fazioli 7'6" grand piano and Large surface areas for extra ancillary equipment.
Outboard: Lexicon : 480L, PCM 70, AMS : DMX delay, Manley variable MU stereo valve compressor, Maselec Prism : EQH-2 eq, MLA-2 compressor, DBX : 2x 160, 2x 165, Roland : DimD, SDE3000x2(with analogue trigger), Eventide H3000 D/SE, Pultec : 2x EQP1A valve eq, GML 8200 stereo EQ, Urie 2x UA 1176, Neve 2x 2254 compressors with stereo link, Ensoniq DP4 multi fx, Drawmer : 3x DS 201 gates SSL rackmount stereo compressor, Panscan panner, BSS DPR 402 de-esser, Yamaha Rev7, SPX1000, SPX90, Bel Flanger BF-20.
Studio B
Studio B is the second of two tracking rooms at Metropolis. The 35m2 control room features an SSL G series 4064 console with Genelec 1035A monitoring. The studio is very self-contained and is most commonly used for album sessions at any stage from conception to tracking and mix. A notable feature of this studio is its private lounge and dining/kitchen area, which are incorporated into the control room environment by opening the two large acoustic doors at the rear of the control room. The space can be used more economically by utilising the mobile outboard racks, allowing efficient placement of outboard and computer equipment during recording and mix sessions as projects dictate. The live area comprises a central live area (30m2) flanked by two isolated areas (20 & 12m2) with more controlled acoustics. The dead corridor between control & live rooms has tie lines and amp/vocal space.
Equipment: A SSL 9072 J series console, Genelec 1035A main monitoring, Yamaha NS10, PMC or Auratone nearfield monitoring, Quad 520F amps, Three separate recording areas, largest suitable for up to 26 piece string section, Private reception area, lounge, kitchen and toilet, Custom 8-way foldback system, House sync, Protool HD 3 with Prism ADA-8 interfaces configured to 24 inputs & outputs (expandable) or Otari MTR 100(with dolby A or SR), Standard Plug-in set includes : Waves Gold, Autotune, Serato Pitch n Time, Soundtoys, McDSP, Sonnox EQ, Timeline Lynx syncronisation, Ampex ATR 100 1/2" or 1/4" with dolby A or SR, Panasonic 3700/3800 DAT machines. HHB CDR / Denon CD, DVD/SACD Player and a superb sounding Fazioli 7'6" grand piano and large surface areas for extra ancillary equipment.
Outboard: Lexicon : 480L, PCM 70, AMS : DMX delay, Manley variable MU stereo valve compressor, Maselec Prism : EQH-2 eq, MLA-2 compressor, DBX : 2x 160, 2x 165, Roland : DimD, SDE3000x2(with analogue trigger), Eventide H3000 D/SE, Pultec : 2x EQP1A valve eq, GML 8200 stereo EQ, Urie 2x UA 1176, Neve 2x 2254 compressors with stereo link, Ensoniq DP4 multi fx, Drawmer : 3x DS 201 gates, SSL rackmount stereo compressor, Panscan panner, BSS DPR 402 de-esser, Yamaha Rev7, SPX1000, SPX90 and a Bel Flanger BF-20.
Studio C
Studio C is one of the three studios on the top floor at Metropolis. Built around a 72 channel Neve VR console, it is fitted with PMC main monitoring. The control room (55m2), which looks out into the atrium and enjoys natural daylight, is particularly suited to mix sessions involving a lot of additional equipment with its large worktop area (6m2) behind the mix position. At the back of the room is an overdub booth (10m2), ideal for percussion, vocals or guitars. The control room has been designed with a machine bay that will accommodate up to three multitrack machines and is positioned to allow for full visibility of all DAW systems and/or multitrack metering from the console.
Equipment: NEVE VR 72 channel console, Flying Faders v3.1 automation, PMC BB5/XBD active main monitoring system, Yamaha NS10, PMC, or Auratone nearfield monitoring, Quad 520 F/Bryston 3B amp, Overdub booth, Custom 8-way foldback system, Prism AD1 / DA1 converters, House sync, Protools HD3 with Prism ADA-8 interfaces configured to 24 inputs & outputs (expandable) or Otari MTR 100(with dolby A or SR), Standard Plug-in set includes : Waves Gold, Autotune, Serato Pitch n Time, Soundtoys, McDSP, Sonnox EQ, Timeline Lynx syncronisation with system supervisor, Ampex ATR 100 1/2" or 1/4" with dolby A or SR, Panasonic 3700/3800 DAT machines. HHB CDR / Marantz CD, Comprehensive analogue and Z systems digital routing., 32" Plasma Screen and a Sony DVD Player.
Outboard: Lexicon : 480L, 224X, PCM 70, T.C. M5000, AMS : DMX delay, RMX 16 reverb, Yamaha REV 5, SPX 900, 2x SPX 1000 multi FX, Roland : DimD, SDE3000x2(with analogue trigger), Maselec Prism : EQH-2 eq, MLA-2 compressor, PULTEC : 2x EQH 2, 2x MEQ 5 valve eq, Manley variable MU stereo valve compressor, DBX 160 x2, Urie 3x UA 1176, GML 8200 stereo EQ, NEVE 33609 stereo compressor, FOCUSRITE : 2x ISA 131 compressors, K H : custom mod.UE 400 2 channel eq, Panscan panner, Drawmer : 2x DS 201 gates, Eventide H3000 D/SE, Bel Stereo Flanger BF-20, T.C. 2290 Digital Delay, Empirical Labs : 2x Distressor EL8-X (with British Mode) and EMT 244 reverb.
Studio E
Studio E is the room most often utilized for 5.1 mixing and as a sound to picture room. An SSL XL 9072K series console running in conjunction with the 5.1 PMC main monitors and M&K nearfield monitors makes this room sought after for large mixing projects and overdubbing. Enjoying views of the atrium with its natural daylight, the 55m2 control room has an overdub booth (9m2) with outstanding line of sight to the console. A separate machine bay and two large plasma screens complete studio E.
Equipment: SSL XL 9072 K series console with Ultipan 5.1 panning, PMC BB5 / XBD / MB1 active 5.1 main monitoring system, Yamaha NS10, PMC, or Auratone nearfield monitoring, Bryston amps, 4x Prism A/D1 and D/A1, Comprehensive Z systems multi-channel digital routing, N-Vision house sync, 2x 42" Plasma Screens, Overdub booth, Protools HD3 with Prism ADA-8 interfaces configured to 24 inputs & outputs (expandable) or Otari MTR 100 multitracks (dolby A and SR) / MTR 90 mk 2, Timeline Lynx syncronisation, Standard Plug-in set includes : Waves Gold, Autotune, Serato Pitch n Time, Soundtoys, McDSP, Sonnox EQ, Ampex ATR 100 1/2" or 1/4" with dolby A or SR, Panasonic 3700/3800 DAT machines. HHB CDR / Denon CD, VHS/DVD/SACD Player and a Custom 8-way foldback system.
Outboard: Lexicon : 480L, 224X, PCM 70, T.C. M6000 multi channel reverb, AMS : DMX delay, RMX 16 reverb,Yamaha REV 5, SPX 900, Roland : Dim D, SDE3000x2(with analogue trigger), Manley variable MU stereo valve compressor, Tube Tech : 2x CL1A valve compressor, 2x PE1B Valve EQ, Neve : 33609 stereo compressor, DBX : 2x 160 compressors, Urie 2x UA 1176, Maselec Prism : EQH-2 eq, MLA-2 compressor, GML 8200 stereo EQ, K H : custom mod. UE 400 2 channel eq, Panscan panner, Drawmer : 2x DS 201 gates, Ensoniq DP/4 multi-fx, BEL BF-20 Flanger (1u grey), Eventide H3000 D/SE, Empirical Labs : 2x Distressor EL8-X (with British Mode), Summit : 1x TLA50 tube leveller, Chandler : Germanium Mic Pre/DI.
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