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Facilities Overview
Our purpose-built school offers over twenty-five separate learning environments, including recording studios, post-production & editing facilities, a live sound venue, DJ booths, computer suites and lecture rooms.
The facilities at SSR reflect real-world professional environments that provide world-class training experiences so enabling SSR students to progress easily into employment.
Paul Collis from STS, a major Live Sound company, echoes the sentiments of our industry partners:
"SSR has performed a great service to employers from the North West as we can now look to SSR for all our future employees in the safe knowledge that they will have been trained on industry standard equipment and have the skills, knowledge and competencies that we require."
Facilities include:
> 14 x recording and post-production studios
> 1 x 200 capacity live sound venue
> 4 x portable live workstations
> 2 x DJ booths
> 2 x 21-seat PC Suites
> 1 x 21-seat Apple Mac suite
> 1 x lecture room
> 1 x 1 x student lounge with workstations, internet access, vending machines and study areas
Software includes:
> Digidesign Pro Tools
> Apple Logic Pro Studio & Final Cut Studio
> Steinberg Cubase, Hypersonic & Wavelab
> Propellerhead Reason & Recycle
> Ableton Live
> Sony CD Architect
> Celemony Melodyne
> Avid Media Composer & Media Station PT
> Microsoft Office
> Hundreds of plug-ins from Digidesign, McDSP, Sonnox, Focusrite and others.
> Wide range of live sound applications from Shure, Sennheiser, Digidesign, Allen & Heath, Yamaha,
Sound Vision, SMAART and others.
Neve Studio (Spirit Studio)
The Neve Studio - Advanced Level www.ams-neve.com
The 1500sq ft facility located on our fourth floor houses a Neve VR48 console and some impressive outboard gear. Our top end 'Spirit Studio' will rival any studio in this area and across the UK. The space was designed with help from the world renowned Acoustic Design specialist, Jochen Veith.
As Mike Joyce, drummer for The Smiths said, "Manchester has never really had a professional, top end studio, this is it. I can’t wait to bring some bands here. They will be blown away."
Whilst the main space is open plan, an isolation booth has also been constructed and the studio is wired to the Charlie Jone Venue. There are many new studios now following the concept of an open plan control room/live room, as it offers a far more creative environment by breaking down the conventional boundaries that exist between performers, producers and engineers.
Complimenting the Neve, are the world renowned PMC MB2S-A monitors. According to PMC, SSR is so far the only education centre in the world to house these top end PMC monitors. We are very proud that our students will have such state of the art equipment at their disposal.
DiGiCo Studio
The DiGiCo Studio - Advanced Level
Offering the very latest in digital recording and production processing. The studio features the actual console used this year at the Beijing Olympics; the world-renowned Soundtracs DS-00 console, which is also expanded with two additional fader side cars and an I/O rack with a Pro Tools HD3 Accel system.
The studio is our most versatile to date and can be used for pretty much any requirement; music recording and production, film & TV audio post production and broadcast. In addition, the DiGiCo Studio is also wired to SSR’s Live Venue allowing multi-track recording of our regular shows and events. With 4 embedded touch sensitive screens, the console offers dynamic control, effects and parametric EQ on every channel with unrivalled versatility. Who uses DiGiCo consoles? Foo Fighters, George Michael, Strokes, Jean Michel Jarre, Rod Steward, Killers to name a few.
Key Features:
> Soundtracs DS-00 Console, 2 x EX-00 Fader Expansion packs and I/O Rack
> Mac Pro, 23” Cinema Display
> Digidesign Pro Tools HD3 Accel
> Solid State Logic Delta Link MADI HD & Opti Coax Converter
> Sony 40” LCD
> Avid Mojo SDI
> Manley Variable Mu
> Roland Chorus Echo SRE-555
> Roland Stereo Flanger
Monitoring:
> Dynaudio M2 Monitors and T1000 amplifier
> Yamaha NS10-M and Quad 405 Amplifier
ICON Suite
The ICON Suite - Advanced Level
Incorporating the Digidesign Control Surface which redefined efficency in workflows for music and post production. By offering complete intergration with Pro Tools HD along side the traditional feel of an analogue mixing console, our students can practice the theory and techniques learnt throughout our courses utilising the most modern mixing approaches on the latest equipment available.
Key Equipment:
> Digidesign D-Command Control Surface
> Digidesign Pro Tools HD3 Accel
> Digidesign V10
> Digidesign Sync I/O
> Blackburst Generator
> Sony Video Deck
> PC or Mac Pro (to suit requirements)
Monitoring:
> Dynaudio BM6A 5.1 Surround
Einstein Studio
The Einstein Studio - Intermediate Level
Combines classic analogue and valve technology with the very latest digital equipment. Focussing around an 80-Channel Amek mixing console, 2" tape machine, a Pro Tools HD3 Accel system and a vast array of outboard equipment, students can capture the sound and feeling associated with traditional recording techniques, while exploting the endless benefits of digital technology. The DiGiCo Suite is also wired to the Charlie Jones Live Venue allowing recording of any events or artists using the 2000Sq foot space.
Key Features:
>80-Channel Amek Einstein Super-E Console
> Saturn 624 2" Multi-track recorder
> Digidesign Pro Tools HD3 Accel
> Lexicon 224XL
> Lexicon PCM80
> Neve 9098 EQ & Pre-amp (x2)
> Tubetech CL1B Compressor
> Avalon VT-747SP Compressor & EQ
> Mac G5
Monitoring:
> ATC 100SM
> Yamaha NS-10
Charlie Jones Studio
The Charlie Jones Studio - Intermediate Level
Housing a Yamaha DM2000 - one of the world's most popular digital mixing consoles for audio and post production, complete with Virtual Circuitry Modelling and built-in Dynamic Controllers, EQ, effects and reverb. The Charlie Jones Studio allows students to get to grips and lose the fear thats often associated with Digital mixing consoles. There is a range of outboard equipment and also tie-lines to the Charlie Jones Live Venue to allow any live event recordings.
Key Features:
> Yamaha DM2000 Digital Console
> Digidesign Pro Tools HD2
> Digidesign Mic Pre
> Yamaha Motif Rack
> Drawmer Gates and Compressors
Monitoring:
> Genelec 1031A
Control 24 Studio
The Control 24 Studio - Intermediate Level
As with the ICON Suite, the Control 24 Studio is also centered around a control surface rather than the more traditional analogue mixing Console. Often found in a variety of large & medium sized facilities for both music and post-production, the Control 24 is ideal for capturing performances into Pro Tools HD quickly as well as automating many aspects of the mixing process. Complimented with a range of ourboard equipment from industry icons such as Neve, TL Audio and Drawmer - there is plenty to keep any traditionalist content!
Key Features:
>Control-24 control surface
> Pro Tools HD3 Accel
> Neve 1073 DPD Pre-amp
> Drawmer 1960 Vacuum Compressor
> TL Audio TL C1 Valve Compressor
> Joe Meek VC2.2
> Lexicon LSP15 Multi-Effects Unit
Monitoring:
> Quested VS3208
> Yamaha NS-10
Ghost Studio/Suite 2
Ghost Studio and Suite Two - Entry Level
Both of these studios incorporate Soundcraft Ghost 24-Channel mixing desks, alongside Pro Tools LE systems. Students wishing to apply automation to projects can do so using Command 8 control surfaces. A range of outboard equipment and a synthesiser is also at students' disposal.
Key Equipment:
Soundcraft Ghost 24-Channel Desks
Digideisgn Command 8
Digidesign 003 racks
Lexicon MPX 500 effects processor
Alesis Quadraverb stereo effects unit
Joe Meek Compressor VC2.2
Alesis ADAT LX20
Monitoring:
Quested S8 (Ghost Studio 2)
Tannoy Reveal (Ghost Suite 2)
Ghost Studio/Suite 1
Ghost Studio and Suite One - Entry Level
These studios are ideal for entry-level users. Both incorporate Soundcraft Ghost 24-Channel mixing desks, alongside Pro Tools LE systems.
Key Equipment:
Soundcraft Ghost 24-Channel Desks
Digidesign 003 racks
Lexicon MPX 500 effects processor
Joe Meek Compressor VC2.2
Alesis ADAT LX20
Monitoring:
Adam P22A (Ghost 1 Mixdown)
Roland DM90 (Ghost 1 Live)
Yamaha Suite
The Yamaha Suite - Entry Level
The Yamaha 8 Suite is designed to emulate a typical home or project studio setup housing a Yamaha DM1000. Complete with Pro Tools LE, a Command 8, Yamaha monitoring and a small selection of outboard equipment (but plenty of plugins!) it is ideal for programming, editing and production.
Key Equipment:
Digidesign Command-8 Control Surface
Digidesign 002 Rack
Joe Meek VC2.2 Compressor
Monitoring:
Yamaha MSP7
Foley Suite
Housing a 003 Factory Bundle work surface along with a 42" Plasma Screen, the Foley Suite is the ideal place for our Post Production students to carry out their work.
The room is equiped with a ‘Foley Pit’ which provided students with various surfaces and textures to carry out Foley work for their projects.
Key Features:
> Digidesign 003 Factory Service
> Sony Bravia LCD TV
> Avid Mojo
Monitoring:
> Digidesign RM2s Monitors
Edit Suite 1 & 2
Housing a Command 8 work surface and purpose-built workstations running the latest software, the Edit Suites are ideal mixing environments for students.
Key Features:
> Command 8
> Digidesign 002
Monitoring:
> Digidesign RM1s Monitors (Edit Suite One)
> Genelec 8030 Monitors (Edit Suite Two)
Charlie Jones Live Room
SSR's 200 capacity venue
As part of the Charlie Jones Project and in association with Wigwam Acoustics, SSR have developed an outstanding new Live Sound Training facility.
With the invaluable support of some of the UK sound industry's most prominent equipment manufacturer's and service providers, the facility will incorporate the very best sound equipment used in the industry today.
Key Equipment:
> DigiDesign D Show Venue with Side Car, Local Rack & Stage Rack
> Midas Verona 56ch console
> Allen and Heath GL 2800 32ch monitor console
> 4K Rig by db
> Sharp LCD 37" & Pioneer Plasma 37
> DSP by Allen & Heath and Yamaha
> On-Stage Monitoring by M-Audio
> Vanne Damme Cabling
DJ Booths
The DJ Booths provides an interactve teaching environment for a full range of DJ disciplines. Providing the ideal environment for the multi-format DJ. Vinyl, CDJ's (mp3 or audio), Ableton Live and Serato Scratch Live can be combined to give you the ultimate selection of creative dj tools.
Computer Suite 1 & 2
Two Computer Suites house a total of 42 purpose-built workstations, each running the latest versions of the most industry-standard software along with a whole host of plugins and applications. Each computer suite is fully air conditioned, aswell as having video projection and audio monitoring from the tutor's workstation.
Key Equipment:
Digidesign Mbox / Mbox 2 Mini interfaces
M-Audio Audiophile 2496 soundcards
M-Audio Axiom 25 MIDI Controllers
Roland PC300 MIDI Controllers
Digidesign Command-8 Control Surface
Samsung 19" Widescreen Monitors
Key Software:
Digidesign Pro Tools
Digidesign DV Toolkit 2 & Music Production toolkit
Steinberg Cubase & Hypersonic
Propellerhead Reason
Ableton Live
Sony CD Architect
Wavelab
Recycle
Allen & Heath IDR
Digidesign Venue Standalone software
Shure Workbench
Yamaha DM
Apple Suite
The Mac Suite houses a total of 21 workstations, each running the latest versions of the most industry-standard software along with a whole host of plugins and applications. The Mac Suite is fully air conditioned, aswell as having video projection and audio monitoring from the tutor's workstation.