Birmingham Ormiston Academy – a new state-funded Creative, Digital and Performing Arts educational facility in the UK – has called on HHB Communications to add a recording studio to support its media courses.
The mission of the BOA is to provide ‘a unique educational experience through a specialist curriculum’ – with its recording studio to teach students the skills and technical abilities necessary to compete in the evolving world of digital media and communication.
HHB served an integral role in the technical specification of the studio and provided a turnkey service that included consultation, installation, commissioning and training. The new recording studio’s system is based around a 40-fader Avid Pro Tools D-Command desk and custom AKA Design technical furniture. HHB also provided a comprehensive set of accessories including a range of high-end microphones, Genelec monitors, cabling, plug-in bundles from Waves, Native Instruments and Melodyne, a complement of instruments and Aviom’s Pro16 headphone distribution system.
BRIT Trust Chairman, John Craig OBE, formally opened the recording studio recently. Joining him on the day was former BRIT School student and multiple MOBO Award-winning pop star Jessie J, who performed for the students in its 200-seat theatre.
The D-Command console features Pro Tools control and a dedicated centre section for editing EQ and dynamics plug-ins, as well as per-channel control over many processing functions, routing, and automation modes. It will provide students in the Broadcast Media and Music courses with the tools to create original compositions, as well as write and edit music for TV, film and record live bands.
‘We are extremely grateful to the BRIT Trust for this sizable donation which has helped us realise the dream of providing our students with a first-class recording studio,’ says Gaynor Cheshire, BOA Principal. ‘HHB provided BOA with a complete professional service throughout the development of the recording studio, which has resulted in a fantastic facility for our students.’
‘The design of the rooms with the large D-Command console is particular suitable for the diverse requirements of the Academy,’ adds HHB Sales Manager, Andrew Hingley. ‘It provides an accessible teaching resource as well as all of the features required for complex recording projects.’
The Academy is based in a new landmark building, geographically placed at the hub of Birmingham’s digital and creative industries, Millennia Point. The new studio was funded by the BRIT Trust and specified by staff from The BRIT School. In addition to the recording studio, BOA boasts four dance studios, six rehearsal studios, an open-air amphitheatre, a TV studio and a radio station.
More: www.boa-academy.co.uk
More: www.hhb.co.uk
