Sound Recording
Both Brian and Al hold high and first class Honours degree levels in music and production, are qulaified to PGCE level and are currently pursuing postgraduate studies and research in these areas. In addition they both have an active history of music performance in various capacities over the past 25 years, are certified Digidesign ProTools operators and trainers, being involved in education as active lecturers in sound recording and music technologies.

Studio Recording
In certain cases it can be advantageous to record performances in a more controlled studio environment. Depending on the situation a professionally equipped studio with varying live and drum rooms/vocal booth and hall can be arranged for use.

Locational Recording
The natural arena and acoustics have a positive influence on the emotion and excitement of a performance, which is why Westbank & AMC offer locational recording services. Microphones are placed both in close proximity to the musicians and in conjunction with ambient stereo techniques to fully capture the natural acoustics of the sound stage. Where possible the engineer and producer will visit venues prior to recording sessions to offer objective advice to the customer.

We prefer to record to Protools® digital multitrack systems and balance the sound mix during the post-production stage AFTER the recording has taken place, unlike other companies who often commit the mix straight to stereo at the recording session. That resulting stereo balance cannot then be undone at a later stage. We feel that judgements on balance, localisation and imagery should take place LATER in post production, leaving you to concentrate on producing your best performance.

Time to Allow for Recording Sessions
It is preferable to run recording sessions over a weekend period as this often creates a better opportunity for full attendance by all the musicians. However other arrangements may be required and can be discussed during initial negotiations.
In order to achieve a final recording of approximately seventy minutes, you will require at least three, three-hour recording sessions. In addition, breaks will be required for some refreshments and rest between sessions.

As a guide, allow approximately one hour of recording to produce eight minutes of final performance that will be included on the CD.

The Recording Session
Before a session commences it is essential to allow sufficient time for all the recording equipment to be set up and the relevant balancing and calibration of signal levels.
Westbank & AMC prefer to implement multi-track recording techniques enabling ensemble balancing, localisation and imagery to be finalized during post-production. At least two full ‘takes’ will be recorded with possibly smaller ‘takes’ being recorded for use if necessary. The ensemble conductor and/or musical director will discuss and decide what performance is deemed satisfactory for their needs, although the recording producer will offer advice and constructive comments throughout the sessions. Duplicate music full-scores must be made available to the recording producer before the session commences, as these will be required to manage ‘takes’ and keep technical notes for any subsequent editing during post-production.

email or contact us for advice or further details.

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Mixing/Mastering
We carry out audio editing and all types of post production work. Mixing and mastering is carried out to blend and balance the sound using software and hardware systems. It can also be carried out on existing audio that may have been recorded elsewhere. We can transfer and 'digitize' sound recordings from most analogue formats such as ADAT, DAT and reel-to-reel tapes, enabling modern techniques to be implemented for archiving, restoration or enhancement. The resulting audio can then be transfered to CD-R as data for archiving or to audio CD for use.

We can work in a variety of industry standard digital audio and media formats such as Protools, Logic Audio, Cubase, Digital Performer, DVD Studio Pro, Adobe Premier and more. We can also mix your track to surround sound and encode to AC3 or DTS file formats suitable for DVD-A formats.

A final master disc will be produced as a professional audio CD-R that you may take away and duplicate yourself or we can have professionally duplicated for you. Alternatively should you require commercial production and manufacture in larger 'runs' of 500 and above then we can use our profesisonal duplication agent.

email or contact us for advice or further details.

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Duplication & Manufacture
We can take existing digital audio or media material and profesisonally duplicate to audio CD, CD-R, DVD, DVD-A and other digital formats. Check out our successful profesisonal duplication agent for other information.

Should your material be unmastered or requiring outputting to a suitable digital format we can master and PQ encode your disc layout ready for duplication using programmes such as Masterlist CD or Toast & Jam. We can work in a variety of industry standard digital audio and media formats such as Protools, Logic Audio, Cubase, Digital Performer, DVD Studio Pro, Adobe Premier and more.

If you intend to manufacture and distribute other people's work on a commercial basis you will require an MCPS licence that may incur a fee. It is advisable to apply for this licence BEFORE going ahead with any recording to establish an accurate cost of any commercial liability.

You may also require bar codes or ISRC codes to be embedded on your dsic. These are optional but identify and help with ownership and the collection and distribution of royalties if applicable. For more information on these issues try our links page or our agent's mastering or links page.

It may be small individual units or runs of promotional material or larger runs of manufactured units such as 10,000 audio CD's you require.

email or contact us for advice or further details.

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Video/DVD
We offer media productions for promotion, educational institutions and private functions. We offer video filming to braodcast quality standrads and formats. The resulting video footage is digitized using industry standrd packages and then editing and produced to a range of formats. These include DVD, Video CD and analogue video if required. We work in industry standard software packages including Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio Pro.

The finished footage can be outputted to a range of digital formats depending on the intended use or distribution required. It may be in compressed Quicktime format for website or streaming use or full DV quality for DVD or even analogue video production.

We can also digitize your old cinefilm tapes and output the results to video or DVD for digital viewing or archiving.

email or contact us for advice and further details.

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Graphic Artwork
We carry out graphic artwork for CD inlays and booklets, commercial advertisements for publication, corperate idents and logo designs as well as more general advertising posters, flyers and business cards.

We undertake website graphics and programming and offer the opportunity to create your website on a business card interactive CD-Rom if you wish.

All artwork and graphic designs can be produced according to the customer’s requirements to the required industry specifications.

We can offer advice or a service for CMYK print films to be produced that are used in the CD manufacturing process.

The details of artwork are discussed during initial negotiations and contained in written agreement before commencement of any work undertaken. Customer’s ideas and contributions are always welcome and print proofs are made available for comment and approval before being sent to the duplication agents.

email or contact us for advice or further details.

We are planning to make available here a selection of our past work for you to evaluate online. In the meantime a portfolio is available upon request.

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