RSNO reveals revamped control room for Scotland’s Studio Posted Tue 2 July 2024
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) has revealed a brand-new control room for Scotland’s Studio; its state-of-the-art commercial recording studio based at the heart of Glasgow. The redevelopment brings the studio to world class standard and will allow the RSNO to tender a greater range of clients, expanding on its current client list which has included projects with Warner Bros, Netflix, Sony Pictures, Disney, Ubisoft and Apple TV.
Improvements to the new control room include an expansion of the space to accommodate large production teams, world-class acoustics, Dolby Atmos immersive audio via industry-leading ATC Loudspeakers and state-of-the-art Trinnov processing, extension of the SSL Duality mixing console from 72 to 96 channels, a redesigned audio wiring system and custom communications controller to accommodate seamless transitions between classical, film, game and livestream workflows and a massive 7.4m2 virtual window to the auditorium that can also be utilised for movie playback and several new displays to enable clients to join sessions virtually. With these upgrades, Scotland’s Studio aims to serve the needs of the screen industries outside London and raise Scotland’s international profile as a creative hub. Based in Glasgow, Scotland’s UNESCO City of Music, the RSNO and Scotland’s Studio are well placed to represent Scotland’s creative industries on a global stage.
Alistair Mackie, RSNO Chief Executive said: “The RSNO is proud to be the only UK orchestra with its own fully functioning recording studio which can record sound to picture. This development has enabled us to diversify our work to protect the future of our 133-year-old organisation whilst also providing a cutting-edge facility for Scotland. So far, we’ve recorded for films such as Horizon: An American Saga, The Woman King and Argylle; television such as Life on Our Planet and BAFTA winner Silo; and video games including Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Star Wars Outlaws. I’m very pleased with the control room redevelopment and look forward to adding to the mix of our client base.”
He continued, “We also plan to use the studio as a learning resource for the next generation of Scottish sound engineers and technicians. Our Film Composers Lab participants have been in recording and mixing for their latest project and we’ve also been joined by sound and screen production students from Fife College for hands-on experience in creative archive recordings of our Classical concerts.”
Ben Savage, Chief Operating Officer of Yellow Technology Ltd, who designed and installed the new control room, said: “It’s been a pleasure to design, build and commission this world-class facility for the RSNO. The control room combines state-of-the-art audio technology with fabulous acoustics, Dolby Atmos, ample accommodation for large teams and flexible visuals to suit an incredibly broad range of productions. The RSNO now has an unquestionably unique orchestral recording offering that can be of monumental benefit to the UK music, film and games industries.”
Scotland’s Studio first opened in 2021 and was built on the existing infrastructure of the RSNO and the New Auditorium: an acoustically adjustable and flexible space. The unique integration of the latest production technology with the highest quality musicians in an acoustically excellent space, positions the studio as a ‘one stop shop’ able to provide full end-to-end production for industry.
The new control room was built and installed by Yellow Technology Ltd, with support from Scottish Enterprise, the RSNO Foundation and the Iain and Pamela Sinclair Legacy.
Find out about booking Scotland’s Studio or hiring the RSNO here.
