Back to

Back to Transmitter

News

The Ariel Recording Studio is now equipped with a Digi Design ProTools 32 channel hard disk recording system. The addition of the Ariel’s new Pro Tools system will compliment the already well specified analogue based recording facility. Pro Tools is the industry standard recording solution used in studios worldwide. The Ariel studio already comprises of a pair of Alesis ADATS, 24/48/8/2 mixing desk, various TL Audio valve pre amp processors, Lexicon stereofx processors, compressors, & a tc electronic multichannel mastering compressor. The New Pro Tools system has 32 channels which link optically to the ADATs 16 channels, giving a maximum of 48 channels if needed!  The optical link also makes transferral of ADA sessions to hard disk very quick & simple with zero signal degradation. We have a good selection of studio microphones, from manufacturers including Neuman, AKG & Sure, two live rooms for complete track separation, & the ability to master onto the media of your choice, including DAT, CD, Minidisk & Cassette. The Ariel Studio is predominantly set up to record live bands, although it is also more than capable of many other types of session, working in the past with various people including voice over artists, a classical guitarist from the English National Ballet & several choirs. The majority of local bands have recorded at the Ariel Studio including Aeroplane Blonde, Hollowpoint, Parcel Of Rogues, Snowfell, Sour Mash, The Liquidators, The Lost Girls, Triad, Underview & Zamba.

Snowfell recorded their track “Ever Wanted” for the Ariel’s compilation CD “Transmission” & then went onto record three more tracks at the Ariel Recording Studio for release as their first EP “Unexpected Place”. About the Studio Snowfell say “We have found the Ariel recording facilities to be up to date and more than adequate for the requirements of the modern band, Leigh Crossman is an extremely capable technician who takes the time to get the sound just right for the band. The atmosphere is relaxed and the sounds are good. It also has the added benefit of being able to duplicate your CDs in house. The Ariel should be the first choice for any band thinking about recording”. As well as local bands recording at the Ariel, we have also attracted bands and artists from as far a field as Guildford & Sheffield, who have come down to record because of our reasonable prices and quality service. The Studio is also available for work shops for people who wish to further their knowledge of recording techniques or just want to participate in playing and recording music. Recent projects include one group who had no previous knowledge or experience in making music, but after four one hour sessions they went away with a CD of their own track that they had performed and recorded. We have also just finished a project in conjunction with RJC Dance, for which a group of local school children spent a week at the Ariel producing various tracks which were used in a final performance at the Landmark Theatre.

Rehearsal Cancellation Fees @ The Ariel  Unfortunately cancellation fees are now in place, and are as follows: nothing for more than 48 hours notice, half your hire within 48 hours and full price within 24 hours of your rehearsal date.

This fee will be payable before your next rehearsal commences. This should hopefully help everyone, as there is now usually more bands wanting to rehearse in the evenings than we have space for and the more notice we have of a cancellation, the higher the chance is that someone else can make use of your cancelled rehearsal space.
Protect Your Ears!  As a musician one of your most valuable assets are of course your ears. There are lots of things that can damage your ears, but the most obvious of these for musicians is loud music at rehearsals and gigs. Do you find that after rehearsing or being at a gig you can hear a quite high pitched whine? Or that everything sounds a bit duller? This is because of damage caused by loud music on the tiny parts of your ear that vibrate, translating vibration of sound into information that your brain can understand.
They do repair themselves to begin with but the more you expose your ears to these types of extreme noise the more likely it is that you will be left with permanent high pitched whining/tinitus or hearing loss. Tinitus is extremely isolating and depressing, imagine never being able to hear complete silence. Therefore it is important to defend your ears against this. There are various ear plugs that you can purchase ranging from a few pounds in price, for foam plugs that take out the damaging high frequencies, to a few hundred pounds for professional plugs that are moulded to the musician’s ear and attenuate the sound flatly so that you don’t get the dull-bassy sound associated with cheap foam plugs. I would recommend Dr Pro-plugs if your main reservation from plugs is frequency loss, or foam plugs for their cost effectiveness. Although any protection is better than none, most people don’t think about the problems until they have one. Prevention is good, because there is no cure.
Strings & Sticks Available @ The Ariel  The Ariel can now offer you .009, .010 & .011 gauge Ernie Ball Slinky Electric Guitar Strings for £4.00 per set, or £1.00 for single Strings, .012 gauge Martin Acoustic Strings for £4.00 per set, or £1.00 for single Strings. We can also offer you 45 gauge Elite Bass Strings £12.50 and 7A Drum Sticks for £3.50 a pair. Foam earplugs are now also available for saving your hearing, £0.50 per pair.

Return to Top