Shepperton, January 2005 – Music DVD label Classic Pictures have announced the signing of a deal with Greg Lake and provided the recently opened Classic T Stage as a base for rehearsals for the recently completed UK tour, where Audient’s ACS8024 mixing desk was used on the production.
Lake’s debut solo DVD 'Greg Lake – Live' is scheduled for release early 2006 and is set to include a full length concert performance recorded during the UK leg of the tour PLUS an exclusive live session recorded in 5.1 at Classic T Stage.
Classic T Stage is a 2500 sq foot, fully-equipped recording studio within a film sound stage, incorporating the brand new Audient ACS8024 48-channel mixing desk with a Mackie control section used in conjunction with 64-track Pro-Tools, and Audient’s ASP510 Surround Sound Controller enabling stereo, Dolby 5.1 and DTS mixing. In addition, there are three edit suites for general editing, DVD authoring and graphics, and a fully equipped film studio including a lighting rig with 35ft gantry, 32 channel stage monitoring, 20ft 16:9 big screen projection with 5.1/DTS monitoring and a green screen/cyclorama.
Managing Director Robert Garofalo says of the desk, 'We wanted to purchase an analogue desk as the sound is so much warmer and most of the bands we work with prefer to work in an analogue environment. During the planning stages we saw an Audient advert in the trade press, and called Stirling. The Audient desk turned out to be the best in our price range.' He is quick to praise the ACS8024. 'Now it is installed and up and running, it is perfect for the job.'
Founded in 1987, Classic Pictures Entertainment quickly became one of the UK’s busiest production companies, producing over 320 documentaries and live comedy programmes for TV and home video and since 1999 has ranked amongst the UK’s top ten independent music DVD labels. It was following on from this movement into the DVD market that owner Robert Garofalo had the idea of the creation of Classic T Stage.
Ben Williams, Marketing Manager at Classic Pictures explains, 'As a label, we are unique in that we own and operate our own production facilities, which enables us to create a title from initial concept through to completion. We always work very closely with the artist ensuring that nothing is released without their express permission. As a result of this diligence, many performers have remained with us to release several titles, much the same as they would with a record deal.'
Williams continues, 'Music DVD has become one of the prime formats for releasing an artist’s material - second only to CD, which is in a steady decline. Everyone is releasing DVDs and as a label we are always striving to stay one step ahead of our competitors by offering something unique.
Greg Lake, formerly of King Crimson and ELP, joins a growing list of artists at Classic T Stage including Bill Wyman, Dionne Warwick, Rick Wakeman, Elkie Brooks, The Drifters, Steve Howe, Jon Anderson, and Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody (founder members of Whitesnake).
Nestled in amongst the model makers, special effects, workshops and film sets in labyrinthine Shepperton Film Studios, Classic Pictures currently occupies two units, the most recently acquired housing the new Classic T Stage. Prior to Classic taking over T Stage, it was one of Shepperton Film Studios’ 18 sound stages.
For further information please visit www.classicpictures.co.uk.
