Prism Sound Orpheus - Audio Media

Anything You Want,You Got ItCREAM OPENS THE STUDIO DOORSSIMON TILLBROOK visits CreamRecording Studios, a new buildcreative facility with flexibilityat its core that defies thecurrent climate of theshrinking audio world.Photos courtesy of www.recordproduction.comLike me, you will have heard and read about the evershrinking studio community. We have always beenused to seeing studios come and go, but watchingthe long established facilities close their doors I beginto wonder how long it would be before high end musicfacilities would be little more than magical places recountedin stories told by aging industry professionals.Now that I have dragged the mood down it's timeto bring it back up again with news of a new high specfacility in London. The first reaction to such news is verypredictable… Why? Are they insane? Well, in this case thethought, and the people, behind the scenes make for afoundation of sanity and credibility that is necessary forsuch a project to succeed in these times.The studio is called Cream, the latest venture ofsuccessful pro audio company GearBox. “GearBox isa private limited company that has been trading for 11years and is involved in various activities,” explainsGearBox owner and Managing Director, Richard Eastwood.His company has built strong relationships and an excellentreputation across all areas of pro audio with both its rentaland sales divisions. As Eastwood explains: “GearBox hasbeen built upon high end equipment rental to musicstudios, the Soho post production community, broadcastand outside broadcast companies, amongst others.“We have a bespoke sales division with the emphasison advice and support that extends into after sales service.We look after our clients, and that has created the name andreputation we enjoy”.In late 2005, GearBox relocated to its new premises in thePark Royal area of northwest terms of space, from 2,500ft 2 London. It was quite a leap into some 12,000ft 2 , which iswhere the fun began.It was at this point that construction of additionalfacilities began. First in were the White Rooms. There aresix White Rooms, four medium-size and two large, arrangedas two sets of three on top of each other. “So many editsuites you see appear to be an afterthought in mostplaces,“ explains Eastwood, “utilising whatever space is leftto squeeze people in.“ That is not the case here. With theadditional space available in the new premises, RecordingArchitecture came in to design these purpose built rooms.“The White Rooms are fully acoustically treated and canbe supplied empty or with any combination of equipmentrequired,“ says Eastwood.With the existing infrastructure provided by GearBoxin terms of its rental, sales, and technical support, youstart to understand how these creative facilities canwork. Dedicated Sohonet line connections and AppleXserve Gigabit Ethernet networking and DigiDeliveryGTsystems allow each White Room client to communicatewith the outside world, betweenother White Rooms, or>40AUDIO MEDIA MAY 2008