New Album of World Music

In April-May of 2007, I'm back in the IMERSD studios with Huib Schippers, recording and producing a new album of world music, featuring extraordinary performances of the sitar, tabalas and tambura. We aim to have the album completed by mid year, with around four CDs worth of music to be whittled down to one (!) for a release on Tall Poppies records.

One exciting aspect of the project is that it will be the first to utilise the recent refit of the studios, funded by a recent research grant win and industry partnership. The album is being recorded at 176.4kHz sample rate, utilising SSL, Amek and Manley pre-amps,

Wagner, Neumann and Coles ribbon microphones, and will be mastered through Dolby SR and Revox tape (Huib has been disappointed with CD releases for the sitar, citing the work of earlier vinyl productions as being the best available. So, looking forward to seeing if this production can't meet his exacting standards). The album is is also the first to utilise IMERSD's new Digitising ICON, 32 fader console.

Catering for Creatives

The inaugural AUC-Griffith Digital Arts conference 'CreateWorld06' was featured in the Autumn 2007 edition of 'Wheels for the Mind'. Entitled 'Catering for the Creatives', the article features the work of around 100 creatives from around Australia. The PDF edition can be accessed here. 

More about CreateWorld 2006, including audio recordings and Blogs can be found at the CreateWorld2006 Wiki.

AT Professional Partnership

I'm pleased that we are developing such a good professional, teaching and research relationship with this wholly Australian owned and Queensland based sound technology manufacturer, AT Professional. They design and produce a stunning array of products, including the newly released Sierra Studio monitoring range and the state-of-the-art Blackbird Line Array sound reinforcement system.

We've just installed the Blackbird  system in one of our premier performance theatres, the Ian Hanger Recital Hall. This is a difficult space because it has to respond to a wide range of sound reinforcement demands - from large university lectures, music theatre, jazz and rock, to classical music and external corporate hire. The Blackbird system is just outstanding in all settings and we are thrilled to have such high quality sound in the venue.

Likewise, staff and students enjoy having access to the quality and performance of Sierra Studio 5.1 monitoring in the music technology area's recording studio A.

QCGU music technology Recording Studio A

Harry Lloyd-Williams (CEO AT Professional) & Paul Draper

Collusion Record Release

Hybrid arts ensemble Collusion has signed their debut album In Depth to Australia's Move Records. In late 2005, I produced and recorded these stunning musicians in the IMERSD studios. The project features first-release works by renowned international composers Paul Stanhope, David Schiff, Gerard Brophy and others. Look out for In Depth (MD3310) in the record stores and forthcoming national tours by Collusion.

Collusion also performed recently at the Creative Commons Australia live showcase, ccSalon as part of the Creative Commons Industry Forum held on 29 November 2006 at QUT's Creative Industries precinct in Kelvin Grove, Brisbane:

Collusion performing with a backdrop of audio/visuals by Andrew Garton

from Toysatellite live as part of the ccSalon. Photo by Ray Allen