Studio Manager Jasper Cremers reckons that ‘anything is possible’ at Red Bull Studios in Amsterdam. Part of his belief is based on the studio’s 36-channelAudient ASP8024 console, but it also reflects the Red Bull Studios Network philosophy.
‘The idea behind Red Bull Studios is creating a place for musicians and artists where they can create whatever they want,’ he says. ‘The artists who come here are free from any obligations – and that’s when the creativity starts flowing. Our motto is “giving wings to artists”, and with our studios we aim to do just that.’
One of the biggest draws is the free use of the studios – and, unsurprisingly, the studios are booked up betond the end of 2015 by an assortment of artists.
‘The best thing about the Red Bull Studios in Amsterdam is that we really encounter a diverse array of musical genres,’ Cremers continues. ‘Amsterdam is known for the Amsterdam Dance Event, so there’s a very strong electronic music scene in this country, but there’s also a huge band culture here. And let’s not forget the big hip-hop scene in all its forms. The list of artists goes from Mayer Hawthorne and Dennis Ferrer to Diplo with Ghostface Killah in between.’
It was this variety of musicians coming through the doors of the Amsterdam studios that led Cremers to Audient: ‘Due to the diversity in genres we have in our studio, we wanted a neutral-sounding desk that could go in any direction,’ he explains.
The large-format ASP8024 console, complete with with Dual Layer Control and integrated patchbay, is actually the second console to grace the Amsterdam complex – ‘The first console was a vintage one. Looked great but the maintenance was high on that baby.
‘The best thing about the Audient is reliability. You don’t want to get into situations where you need to stop recording because the console isn’t working properly. That’s a killer for every studio and engineer. Our Audient took away that concern.’
Red Bull Studios Amsterdam also boasts a live room large enough to host showcases and intimate one-off gigs, and there are regular workshops and lectures on offer to help inspire young artists.
‘They have the opportunity to enhance themselves,’ Cremers says. ‘All we can do is offer them the tools to grow, the rest is up to them. Come prepared and use your imagination…’
More: www.audient.com