Facilities/Technology

The fully equipped 24 track digital MIDI/recording studio is the heart of Douglas College's technology offerings. The studio has visual and audio links to a large live room, the Performing Arts Theatre, and several isolation booths, allowing for a wide variety of recording activities.

The ability to record in an acoustically superb 350 seat concert hall or a large studio room makes the Douglas College recording studio unique in the Lower Mainland. The College jazz bands have a long-established tradition of releasing high-quality recordings, and all future Douglas College CDs will now be recorded and mixed in this studio. For some examples of DC recording projects, please see the Recordings page.

Other Facilities

In addition to the main studio complex, students have access to a small MIDI-based project studio and a Class Piano lab which features Roland digital pianos linked to a mix of Mac and PC computers, including new iMac and Pentium machines. Courses in music technology are currently available through the Community Music School, and include several levels of MIDI and Audio Engineering. Those interested in Audio Engineering courses can visit the Community Music School's Audio Engineering page.

Studio Rental

When not in use for classes or student projects, the DC Studio is available for rental by outside users. Although any kind of project is welcome, the studio is especially well suited to acoustic projects, from chamber groups to big bands and orchestras. The large, acoustically treated rooms are fully equipped with enough music stands, chairs, headphones and equipment to make these sessions go smoothly. In addition, our engineers have wide ranging experience performing and recording jazz and classical music.

Past clients have included Earthbound, The Canadian Hot Jazz Orchestra, The Arokis Big Bands, Green Eyed Jelousy, The Walter Bresch Ensemble, Lord Tweedsmuir Jazz Ensemble, the June Clement Trio and others. Please call 604-527-5272 for more information, or email fisherb@douglas.bc.ca.

Studio Equipment

• Console

24 channel Peavey AMR Production Series mixing console with full patch bay and routing.

• Recording

24 track digital multi-track recording (Tascam DA-88)
Mackie Ultramix automated mix down system
Tascam DA-30 DAT recorder
Sony Cassette recorder
Yamaha Rewritable CD recorder

• Computer

Macintosh Power PC computer with Digidesign Audiomedia III card
Digital recording/editing software includes Logic Audio 4, Studio Vision Pro, ProTools, and D-fx.

• Monitoring

Control room: Tannoy PBM-8 monitors, Bryston 3B amplifier and powered sub-woofer.
Studio: EV monitors and Bryston 2B amplifier.
Headphones: four separate cue sends available, AKG 240 DF headphones (18 sets).

• Microphones

Microphones available include: Neumann U47fet (1), AKG: 414 (2), 460B(4), 451(2) and D112, Audio Technica 4033 (4), Shure SM 57, SM58, SM 93, Sennheiser 441 (4) and 421 (4), Crown PZM and others.

• Effects gear

Reverbs by Lexicon, Boss and Alesis
Compressors by Urei, RNC, Aphex and Alesis
Gates by Valley People
EQ by Urei, Alesis and IRP.

• MIDI

Korg T1 master controller (88 weighted keys, 8 track sequencer)
Roland Sound Canvas General MIDI Module
Roland S550 sampler
E-Mu Emulator IV

• Instruments

Available instruments include a 6'1" Yamaha MIDI Grand piano and a full complement of drums and amplifiers. In addition, Classical recording sessions can make use of an extensive collection of orchestral percussion instruments, including Ludwig Dresden Model timpani, and a Yamaha concert marimba.