The Music Studios

Search our library of tutorials and how-to guides. You can request new guides and updates by emailing music.technicians@ncl.ac.uk

• Outdoor Recording
  by nrb72
  10/10/2025

  As a music student at Newcastle University, you have access to a wide range high-quality microphones and recording equipment. While these are mostly intended for use in the recording studio or live performance, we also have a range of battery-powered recording devices which enable you to record outdoors. These range from handheld devices with built-in microphones like the Zoom H1n, right up to the Zoom F8, which has 8 XLR inputs for recording with whichever mics you choose.

  These devices are largely intended for applications such as field recording, film audio, documenting interviews etc., but in this post we will look at a setup that can be used to make a high quality recording of instruments and vocals, without needing to be near any plug sockets!

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBD9HYExUUo

  The video above is a live recording of an EP by three of our alumni: Ben Fitzgerald (AKA Memphis Gerald) accompanied by Anna Hughes and Sam Baxter. We were able to capture a nice high-quality recording using a setup consisting entirely of equipment that is available to you during your time in the department. The mixing and processing of the audio was fairly minimal thanks to the choice and placement of microphones.

  I used a Zoom F8 powered by a Tracer battery pack. The F8 gave me 8 inputs to play with and the Tracer was still close to fully charged after a couple of hours of recording. If you book out 2 Tracers you should have more than enough power for most recording sessions!

  

  

  I used a pair of Earthworks QTC40s as a stereo pair in the first two channels of the F8. These are extremely good quality omnidirectional reference microphones with a very flat, ‘uncoloured’ frequency response (meaning they should sound pretty much the same as what you are hearing with your ears). These acted as an ambient stereo pair, fulfilling a similar purpose to a pair of drum overheads or room mics. I placed these quite far from the musicians (about 15 feet away, pointing towards them) in order to capture a decent amount of ambient sound as well as a nice stereo image of the group as a whole (skip to 9.38 for nice bit of birdsong!). I could/should have used a proper windshield like the Rode Blimp, but to keep everything compact and easy to transport I just used small foam windshields, held in place with elastic bands.

  

  For the vocals, I used 3 Neumann KMS105s. These are hand-held condenser mics, similar in size and shape to a Shure SM58 but with a higher quality sound overall, particularly in the high-end detail. An SM58 might be better outdoors, as they have a more focused polar pattern and so pick up less background noise, but I found KMS105 worked well on this occasion since it wasn’t too windy. I also added basic foam windshields to help minimise unwanted noise (these are not bookable but just ask at the loans hatch if you need any).

  

  

  For guitar and violin, I used DPA 4099s. These are also condenser microphones, but in a very small form which allows them to be placed very close to the source without being intrusive to the player. This proximity helps with the relative levels of background noise that can be an issue with condenser microphones. These microphones come in a set of four, along with various different clips that allow them to be easily attached to most instruments.

  For the harmonium, I used the old faithful Shure SM57, again with a basic foam windshield just to help with any wind noise. Ideally, I would have used a stereo pair of microphones to capture the richness of the instrument’s sound, but this was a reasonable compromise I only had 8 channels to work with.

  

  

  If you have any questions about how to use the equipment in this post, or need help or advice with microphone choices for different applications, please get in touch with me at rob.blazey@ncl.ac.uk or Fred at fred.hollingsworth@ncl.ac.uk

• Newcastle University Music become SSL Certified Training Partner
  by Fred
  16/09/2025

  The Music Department at Newcastle University has become the first Russell Group University in the country to become an SSL Certified Training Partner, showing its commitment to professional training and accreditation for students at all levels.

  Solid State Logic, manufacturers of a variety of audio products, including mixers, interfaces and plugins have created a training platform in conjunction with industry professionals to deliver students the skills they’ll need to create professional, commercial music. Our computing spaces and studios have been refreshed with new SSL software, available for our students and staff to use in their productions. Students at Newcastle University also unlock significant student discounts on SSL products, in addition to their usual educational discount.

  The Music Department will partnet with SSL for the next three years as a training partner. Details on how to access the SSL training platform can be found on the Music department Canvas pages.

  

• David de la Haye Nominated for Ivor Award
  by Fred
  07/11/2022

  

  Music Technician David de la Haye’s work Plant Based Patterns has been nominated in the Jazz Ensemble category at the prestigious Ivor Awards.

  David’s work explores underwater worlds and his recordings of these unique spaces were used as a stimulus for musical improvisation, which intertwines with the recordings of aquatic life and sonic environments. We wish David the best of luck at the award ceremony.

  You can read the full university article or check out David’s work.

• Music Technicians Celebrated by University After Folk Degree 21st Success
  by Fred
  28/06/2022

  Four of the School of Arts and Cultures Technicians were celebrated today after a wildly successful 21st birthday party for Newcastle University’s BA Folk and Traditional Music degree. The degree, which offered the first traditional music course in the UK, was set up 21 years ago by some of the shining lights of the traditional music scene, including Alistair Anderson, Catriona Macdonald, Sandra Kerr and Vic Gammon. Current staff teaching on the degree includes Nancy Kerr, Simon McKerrell, Imogen Gunner and Kathryn Tickell, all of whom performed in the concert with Catriona, who led the event organisation.

  

  The technical team for the event was:

  • Anna Heslop (Loans Assistant): Projectionist and Stage Assistant
  • Tom Waterworth (School Technician): Videography and Stage Assistant
  • Rob Blazey (Music Technician): Sound Recordist and Stage Lead
  • Fred Hollingsworth (Lead Music Technician and Associate Lecturer): Lead Technician, Sound and Lighting Engineer. Videographer for VT content.

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  The team pulled out all of the stops for this event, one of the first fully public fixtures post-COVID and one of the biggest shows the department has ever put on. The rig included the department’s new RCF HDL-26A Line Array, paired with two RCF 9006 Subs, which the team are delighted to be able to use on a weekly basis for the student concert series. Lead Technician, Fred Hollingsworth said:

  It’s great to have the HDL-26 as our main PA – we can rely on it to deliver even sound coverage across the King’s Hall – a notoriously lively room – it really takes our events to the next level and highlights the quality and professionalism of our team’s work.

  There were some incredible performances by staff and students past and present (watch this space – the whole show was filmed and multi-tracked!) and the whole team were proud to be a part of the production and of the recognition _{(and wine)} received at June’s Celebrating Success event.

  

  

  

  

• AMS Neve Add Newcastle University To Featured Clients
  by Fred
  28/06/2022

  

  Legendary audio equipment manufacturer AMS Neve has featured Newcastle University’s Music Studios and technician/associate lecturer Fred Hollingsworth on their featured client’s list, following Fred’s speedy installation of the motorised fader pack for Newcastle University’s Neve 8424 analogue mixing console. Check out the article below for more information:

  https://www.ams-neve.com/newcastle-university-adds-motorised-faders-to-its-neve-8424-console/

  You can see the timelapse of the installation by following this Instagram link:

  https://www.instagram.com/tv/CYrT3khIjXo/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

• Newcastle University Music Studios featured on SXPro
  by Fred
  28/06/2022

  

  Studio retailer SXPro, who aided with the recent studio upgrades at Newcastle University, have featured The Music Studios and technician/associate lecturer Fred Hollingsworth on the featured client’s section of their website.

  Check out the article using the link below:

  https://sxpro.co.uk/featured-story-newcastle-university-adds-neve-8484/