reported
by: Mr. Kenneth Delbridge
Committee Member
(Term 2000/2001)
On October 20, 2000, AES
Singapore Section organized a tour of the Audioplex Studios; the
group consisted of 13 AES members and 43 non-members. The
attendees were offered refreshments by the host studio prior to the
commencement of the tour; this was the 3rd event for the AES Term 2000/2001.
After an introduction by AES
Singapore Section Chairman, Robert Soo, the studio manager,
Leonard Fong, addressed the group. Leonard, a graduate from
the University of Middlesex with a B.A. (Hons) in Recording Arts, explained
the 10-year history of the Audioplex studio and their decision to move in
1994 to their current premises in the MediaStream building in Tampines in
Singapore. As Singapore’s leading music studio, they have attracted well
known artistes & producers from around the region to record and mix in the
facility, including artistes such as Aaron Kwok, Tanya Chua, Kit Chan &
Mavis Hee & producers like Michael Au (Jacky Cheung) & Go
Yamazato (Chage & Aska).
Leonard then handed the
tour over to Geoffrey Low, Studio Executive of The Audioplex,
a graduate from the London City University with an MSc in Music Information
Technology. After a short introduction about the tour, Geoffrey
started from Studio B.
|
Mr. Geoffrey
Low speaking to the audience in one of the studios at The Audioplex -
photograph by Mr. Michael Teh. |
The facility is
split into 3 studios; the 2 main rooms, which the tour concentrated on,
are the Neve-equipped Studio A and the SSL-equipped Studio B (both
automated mixing boards). Both of these two rooms have Quested 212B main
speakers with Genelec 1031A and Yamaha NS10M for near field monitoring;
they have access to a central machine room housing Sony PCM3348 ½” 48
track digital recorders, Studer A827 2” 24 Trk. Analog Recorders with
Dolby SR and Studer A820 ¼” 2 track master recorders. |
Inside each studio are various DAT
machines. Studio A is complemented by a ProTools 24Mix Plus system; Studio B
features a ProTools System 4.
The facility owns a large
selection of microphones for use within the complex: which includes the
classic AKG C-12VR Tube to the very straightforward Shure SM-57s. Both these
studios are equipped with a large selection of outboard gear: effect units
fromAMS, Ensoniq, Eventide, Lexicon, Sony, TC. Electronics and Yamaha are
available, as are signal processors from Focusrite, Tube-Tech, BBS and
others. An Apogee AD1000 A/D Converter finishes off the impressive list of
equipment available to clients.
The original idea to split the
group into two proved unsuccessful: the eager crowd squeezed themselves into
the control room for Studio B. Geoffrey had prepared a mix down
session of a track that they had finished earlier in the week to show the
group the SSL 4048 G Series with Total Recall Automation in action;
Geoffrey showed off the integration of a Digital Audio Workstation (a
ProTools System 4) synchronized to a Sony ½” digital recorder. During the
mix down, the audience was shown the sonic differences between monitoring
the main speakers and the near field speakers and answered several
interesting questions pertaining to the recording & mixing process of the
song.
| The
group then moved into the recording area, which was designed by Japanese
master acoustician Sam M. Toyoshima, whose credits include
designing the Abbey Road studios. Through an ingenious design of folding
wall panels, different room characteristics can be easily achieved;
there is enough space for a symphonic orchestra but it can be adjusted
to give a more intimate recording experience for the performers. The
Audioplex engineers set up microphones to demonstrate normally practiced
placement and |
Members &
guests in one of the recording area at The Audioplex -
photograph by Mr. Michael Teh. |
techniques for recording various
instruments, from string sections to electric guitars and showed the
interested group members the suggested arrangement for MS miking. The drum
room and voice booth were also highlighted.
|
Mr. Leonard
Fong (left) receiving a speaker plaque from the Section Chairman, Mr.
Robert Soo - photograph by Mr. Michael Teh. |
Mr. Geoffrey
Low (left) receiving a speaker plaque from Mr. Robert Soo -
photograph by Mr. Michael Teh. |
The group then moved into Studio A
and a another song mix down had been prepared for the group to listen to and
watch the famous Neve Flying Faders at work: for many in the group, this was
their first time seeing such full fader automation. Geoffrey spoke
about the differences between the SSL and Neve desk, comparing the contrast
of these two desks to the difference between PCs and Macs: in his view, Neve
desks are the preferred choice for rock music and SSL is the preferred desk
for pop, although The Audioplex caters to a far wider range of clientele.
After a few more questions, the group returned to the lobby area.
|
13 members and
43 guests during the group photo shoot after the tour at The Audioplex -
photograph by Mr. Michael Teh. |
AES Singapore Section Chairman
Robert Soo addressed the group again and thanked both Leonard and
Geoffrey for taking the time to show the group their facility on a
Friday evening and present them each with an AES plaque of appreciation The
group posed for a photograph before heading off to enjoy the rest of their
evening. |
