Frequently Asked Questions

• What is The Audio Workshop's optional one touch punch-in record system?
• Can I start a recording in one studio and finish it in another?
• Do you record music?
• Do you have sound effects and music libraries?
• Does The Audio Workshop offer all inclusive rates?
• What is your system for archiving studio work?

What is The Audio Workshop's optional one touch punch-in record system?

• It's optional - you don't have to use it.
• It automates a complicated recording procedure, leaving the studio engineer free to concentrate on the quality of the sound.
• It reduces the cost of editing without compromising on quality, which is often improved.
• If you like using the recording method sometimes referred to as "rock and roll" or "dropping in" you will find the one touch system indispensable.
• If you don't know about "rock and roll" or if you've come across it before and didn't like it, this is how it's done at The Audio Workshop:
  
  
  1. Actor is recorded until he makes a mistake.
  2. Studio engineer immediately identifies start of sentence before mistake.
  3. Computer replays sentence to actor through speaker or headphones, as preferred.
  4. Engineer activates one touch system just before mistake.
  5. One touch system automatically mutes speaker playback to actor (or switches headphones to "live") illuminates red light and punches Pro Tools into record...... instantly, every time, no fuss!
  6. Actor picks up as though nothing had happened.
  7. The edit is already made, with a good pick up from the reader because he had just heard the end of the previous take. Not only can the edit be checked later, but the computer retains all of the out takes. This is because ProTools only appears to have recorded over the original material. It never actually erases, so anything recorded at any time can be reinstated as desired.
  8. After recording, all drop ins are checked and changes are made as required, but editing time (and the cost of editing) is dramatically reduced.

List of Frequently Asked Questions

Can I start a recording in one studio and finish it in another?

• Yes. The Audio Workshop's studios all have very similar acoustic properties.
• It is not unusual for alterations to language courses to be recorded in a smaller studio than the one the course was originated in.

List of Frequently Asked Questions

Do you record music?

• A lot of music is used in productions undertaken at the studio, where there are good facilities for overdubbing vocals (up to 8 singers) or individual instruments onto mixed backing tracks originated elsewhere.
• We do not normally record backing tracks at the studio because it is designed and set up for recording speech.
• If you are interested in commissioning music which would be produced and recorded at a separate but fully compatible facility, please follow the link to our music page.

List of Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have sound effects and music libraries?

• We have two copies of a digital effects library containing over 10,000 sound effects including, but not limited to, the Digiffects CDs.
• The sound effects library is fully computer catalogued - studio engineers can find individual items very quickly by entering keywords in a search window on the Pro Tools computer. There are also hard copies of the catalogue, sorted both alphabetically and by CD.
• We have the complete deWolfe music CD library and a variety of other production music CDs.
• Free research facilities are usually available.
• There is no charge for the use of sound effects.
• For music, the client is responsible for obtaining consents and permissions, as well as settling copyright fees, royalties and any other payments due to composers, authors and publishers. For information about contracts and rates, please follow this link to the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society.

List of Frequently Asked Questions

Does The Audio Workshop offer inclusive rates, for example to cover the full cost of recording, editing and mastering a production for a fixed price?

• Yes, particularly in relation to audio books. To discuss your requirements, please call Sarah Russell on 020 8742 9242 (+44 20 8742 9242 from outside U.K.)

List of Frequently Asked Questions

What is your system for archiving studio work?

• Work in progress is both retained on the computer and backed up to a dedicated archiving drive.
• Finished, mastered productions are archived as Pro Tools sessions to CD-ROM, which means that all the components of a multi tracked production can be restored and re-mixed as required, using the Pro Tools system.
• Unless other arrangements are requested, CD-ROMs are normally stored at the studio for three years, before being returned to the client.

List of Frequently Asked Questions

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The Audio Workshop
217 Askew Road, London W12 9AZ
+44 20 8742 9242

info@theaudioworkshop.co.uk