Audient provides centrepiece in new West London studio

A major new recording studio has opened its doors in west London recently, one of the first to do so in quite some time. Located just off Ladbroke Grove W10, Arcadium Studios is the brainchild of producer/musician Samuel D Kennedy and its design centres around the Audient ASP8024 analogue mixing desk.

The sizeable live area, vocal booth and a control room accommodate both the production team and the band members in comfort, with the studio incorporating many of the values and conveniences that are often dispensed with in the name of economy.

“We wanted to design a state of the art studio where musicians can also be inspired and relax with their music,” explains Sam Kennedy. “Too many recording facilities are designed for engineers and producers without taking into account the needs of the artist, who is not necessarily interested in the technology.”

Having said that Kennedy didn't want to cut corners. The 48 channels of Audient console and a mouthwatering equipment list - all supplied by studio specialists StudioWizard and KMR Audio – are testament to that, and are enough to satisfy even the most ardent audiophile.

“We chose the Audient because it offered us the best features, for exactly what we wanted it for,” explains Kennedy. “The Audient has a very clean sound that we can colour with our outboard gear as appropriate. We prefer to mix hands-on rather than mouse-on.”

Analogue mixing provides the clarity and quality demanded of the best ears in the business for both tracking and mixing stages, and the ASP8024’s future-proof design ensures its continued compatibility and seamless integration with digital equipment.

Plans for the studio were drawn up by Howard Turner, of studio design consultants StudioWizard, who were given the challenge of creating a top class facility in the former dance studio in West London. StudioWizard worked collaboratively with their regular partners, specialist studio builders AVD, and used their collective expertise to help make Kennedy's dream a reality. “I worked extensively with Alan at AVD on the project,” says Kennedy, who had a distinctive vision for what was to be Arcadium Studios. “He played the crucial role in defining my ideas and turning them into the physical studio build that we work in today. Stefan Pope from KMR was brilliant, too. He arranged for us to try out anything we wanted. The result is really outstanding.

"We are working closely with a number of management agencies, developing new talent that is diverse across a number of genres. It’s the most comfortable, creative environment for us all here, and it’s been a blessing to have had so many brilliant individuals involved in it’s design and completion.”

Aside from the Audient desk, the equipment list includes includes the Audient ASP510 surround sound controller, three Lynx Aurora 16 AD/DA converters, two Universal Audio 6176 Microphone preamps, Distressors, Manley Massive Passive EQ and Neve 1081 Stereo Mic-Pre/EQs. The comprehensive microphone list includes a Brauner VM1, a Peluso P12, Coles 4038 ribbon mics and a Neumann U87 Stereo Set.

Keyboard requirements are more than adequately catered for with the superb Access Virus and Moog Voyager Synths which occupy pride of place in the control room. Recording is to the ubiquitous and highly specified Pro Tools HD3 System.

Kennedy concludes, “I consider many of those involved in the project good friends due to their hard work and ability to always achieve the best.”

“It was brilliant to be in at the very genesis of such an excellent facility, and to help Sam and co make the most of the space they had acquired,” said Howard Turner, consultant and studio designer at StudioWizard. “We pondered a number of very high end console options, but the 8024 was definitely the one for them,” he adds.

KMR Sales Manager Stefan Pope said: “This is just the sort of project that KMR love to be involved with. Ground up specification and consultation is something we specialise in, and it was certainly useful for Sam to be able to hear and test the main parts of the spec’d system here or in his facility. It’s also a pleasure to be working with someone so passionate and enthusiastic about client focused recording, not to mention such a nice guy!”