It has been a busy year for The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance – 2016 has seen the ICMP attain the status of Learning Partner (ALP) with Avid, add world-class producer Jason O'Bryan to its workforce, and forge a partnership with the highly acclaimed Tileyard Studios in Kings Cross – working home to the likes of Mark Ronson, John Newman and The Prodigy.
But perhaps most exciting of all is the recent installation and launch of the ICMP’s newest state-of-the-art studio space located at their Dyne Road location in Kilburn, stunningly furnished with the very best in recording equipment including Focal and Avantone monitoring speakers.
The studio’s central mixing workstation features a pristine Heritage Edition Audient ASP8024 console, an S3 motorised control surface, and a variety of outboard from manufacturers such as Universal Audio and Lexicon.
Situated proudly just above the main workstation are the ICMP’s monitoring mains of choice: the Focal Trio 6BEs. In the words of Facilities Manager Mike Sinnott “I don't have enough superlatives for them! They really do sound properly brilliant.”
In conversation with Mike we learned that several sets of mid-field hopefuls had been considered for the space, but eventually the Trio 6BEs’ combination of pleasing aesthetics, accuracy in sound and sheer value-for-money gave them the edge against their competitors.
Atop the main console, each Focal Trio 6BE is flanked by an Avantone MixCube, a much-revered near-field monitor in place to serve humbly as B-speaker and provide even more clarity in comparative mixing. The entire room has also been fitted with optimum-grade acoustic treatment, ensuring an environment where both sets of speakers can perform at their very best.
The Institute Of Contemporary Music Performance has secured a well-earned reputation over the last 30 years as a prestigious institution of musical education offering full time, part time and professional production courses – if it’s to do with studio recording, they know it. And we can confirm they certainly know their monitor speakers.
To find out more about partnerships, courses and qualifications on offer at The Institute, visit ICMP.ac.uk.