About Classical Media
Established in 1989, The Classical Recording Company was founded by former BBC audio engineer Simon Weir and set out to provide high quality digital recording and post-production services for the classical music industry. At the beginning of 2015 the company rebranded as Classical Media, reflecting the wider rage of services now offered – audio, video and photography. Starting from a small compliment of carefully chosen equipment, the company now has a multi-channel location recording rig, a 4K multi-camera filming and live streaming rig and a state of the art audio and video post-production suite just 25 minutes from central London.
From the outset, the company has tried to achieve a balance between the purist recording techniques, much loved by many in classical music, and the realities of making high quality live and session recordings on location around the world.
Although many of the basic stereo recording techniques have changed little in the last 50 years, the technology has moved on a pace and we now routinely make high bit-rate stereo and surround recordings suitable for production not only as audio CDs but also for download and streaming. Our audio post-production tools include SADiE, Reaper, iZotope RX7 and Cedar ReTouch and we are a certified ‘Mastered for iTunes’ facility.
Our video equipment includes 4K and HD cameras, tripods, lighting, track, gimbal, a jib and even a cable cam – everything required to film and live stream classical music. Video post-production is performed on Adobe Premiere and AfterEffects and we are experienced in handling 2D and 3D motion graphics.
Our clients range from individual performers to major international record labels and we offer a comprehensive rage of services covering all aspects of filming, recording, audio and video post-production and concert photography – if you are unable to find what you are looking for on this website then do give us a ring – if we can’t help then we will almost certainly know someone who can!
The Team
Simon Weir studied physics, electronics and music at Exeter University, before joining BBC Radio in London. There he worked in network radio and the Maida Vale studios, before joining Radio Outside Broadcasts, where he was the department’s only specialist digital recording engineer, working principally for Radio 3. On becoming a freelance producer/engineer in 1989, he established The Classical Recording Company – now Classical Media – to provide digital location recording and post-production facilities throughout the classical music industry.
From the start, the company’s aim was to provide the highest possible quality with total reliability, at a realistic cost, and this was instrumental in 1990 when the company was a UK finalist in the Shell-Livewire Awards, and was heralded as “one of the most promising companies in the UK”. Now working principally as a producer/editor and film-maker, he oversees the day to day running of the company and travels throughout the world directing films and producing recordings. Simon is also an experienced photographer, workshop leader and lecturer, working with corporate, fine-art and infra-red images and specialises in the photography of classical concerts and events.
Freelance engineer, Morgan Roberts graduated from the ‘Tonmeister’ course at the University of Surrey and was awarded the AMS Neve Discretionary Prize for “Most Natural Sounding Classical Recording”. After a spell at the now defunct Euphonia, he joined CRC in 2001 and enjoys a variety of rôles from balance engineer to music editor. Morgan also has a good deal of experience of mixing and mastering radio programmes for the BBC, including CD Masters (R3), Random Edition (R4), In The Works (R3), Workaday World (R4), Icons (R3), Lance Corporal Baronowski’s Vietnam (R4) and What sweeter music (R4). He joined the Institute for Broadcast Sound in 2003. Having been in choirs since childhood, Morgan now sings with the London Concert Choir.
Freelance engineer, Morgan Roberts graduated from the ‘Tonmeister’ course at the University of Surrey and was awarded the AMS Neve Discretionary Prize for “Most Natural Sounding Classical Recording”. After a spell at the now defunct Euphonia, he joined CRC in 2001 and enjoys a variety of rôles from balance engineer to music editor. Morgan also has a good deal of experience of mixing and mastering radio programmes for the BBC, including CD Masters (R3), Random Edition (R4), In The Works (R3), Workaday World (R4), Icons (R3), Lance Corporal Baronowski’s Vietnam (R4) and What sweeter music (R4). He joined the Institute for Broadcast Sound in 2003. Having been in choirs since childhood, Morgan now sings with the London Concert Choir.
Tristan Hackney, freelance audio engineer and video producer started his career at The Way Studio, a contemporary recording studio in London. Here he worked with artists including: Noel Gallagher, Mark Ronson, Ben Hudson and Paul Weller to name a few. In 2012 Tristan was nominated ‘Rising Star’ by Audio Pro International and since turning freelance has continued to record with many orchestras and artists including: Classic FM, LSO, ABRSM. Tristan is a regular freelancer with Classical Media on both audio and video projects.
Tristan’s work in video has as particular synergy with sound which has seen 4 recent award nominations. His Filming and Post clients include: Coca-Cola, Nyetimber, Royal Opera House, Department for Transport and Panasonic as well as many independent film makers.
Rhys Davies studied Music Technology at the University of South Wales before working as a radio producer with Real Radio for two years and then as a media officer at the University of South Wales for six years. He became a freelance in 2012 and since then has travelled the world working on video features across many genres including music, fashion, corporate and sport. His diverse client list includes Warner Records, Nike, Carlsberg, Arsenal FC and Dior.
Rhys is a regular freelancer for Classical Media as a camera operator on larger scale music events and has become an invaluable member of the team.
Rhys Davies studied Music Technology at the University of South Wales before working as a radio producer with Real Radio for two years and then as a media officer at the University of South Wales for six years. He became a freelance in 2012 and since then has travelled the world working on video features across many genres including music, fashion, corporate and sport. His diverse client list includes Warner Records, Nike, Carlsberg, Arsenal FC and Dior.
Rhys is a regular freelancer for Classical Media as a camera operator on larger scale music events and has become an invaluable member of the team.
Bertram Kornacher, director of our sister company Cable Musical, trained as a “Tonmeister” on the prestigious University course in Berlin, where as well as doing many practical recordings as both music balancer and producer, a wide knowledge of both musical and technical subjects are taught. After several years working in Germany as producer and music balancer in Berlin (Schalloran Studio) and Cologne (Radio WDR) he moved to Spain and established the recording company Cable Musical.
Among its clients are major record companies, orchestras and chamber groups throughout Europe and the company also produces recordings and independent editions of CDs for private clients and public institutions.
Technical Facilities
The equipment at Classical Media has been chosen for two main reasons – audio quality and reliability – and all our equipment is regularly checked and maintained to ensure it is in pristine condition. We also have a selection of vintage analogue and digital equipment allowing us to replay many archival formats that are now obsolete.
Microphones
- Neuman: KM130 Omni (4), KM140 Cardioid (8)
- Neuman: KM100 goosenecks (5)
- B&K: 4006 Omni (2)
- Beyer: MC740 multipattern (3)
- AKG: C414-EB (5), C3000 (4),
- AKG: SE300 (5 bodies, 7 CK series capsules)
- Royer: R121 ribbon (2)
- Shure: SM58
- Beyer: M201 (2)
- Sony: ECM 959A Stereo
- Coles: 4104 lip ribbon announcers microphone
- K&M 24 standard mic stands
- K&M 2 low stands
- K&M 3 tall orchestral boom stands
- Manfrotto 5 extended light weight orchestral stands
- Clark Teksam: 15m hydraulic pump-up Organ stand
- 4 x 500 Watt lighting rig for sessions
Microphone Pre-amps & Convertors
- Merging Technology HAPI networked audio convertor
- 16 channels of state-of-the-art 192kHz 24bit A-D
- Ravenna protocol over CAT5 to control room
- RME Fireface UFX 30 input / 30 output interface up to 192kHz
Consoles & Monitoring
- Yamaha 01V96i and 02R96V2 digital mixing desks
- Genelec 1030A active monitors (5)
- Genelec 8020 active monitors (2)
- Presonus Central Station monitoring & output unit for talkback/cue/red-light etc
- TC Electronic M2000 reverb unit
Recorders
- Merging Technology HAPI networked audio convertor recording with Reaper 64
- SADiE LRX2 48 track 24/96 hard disc recorder with AES & MADI inputs
- RME Fireface UFX 30 input / 30 output interface up to 192kHz
- Yamaha O1V96i 16tk 24/96 console recording with Reaper 64
- Zoom F8 8Tk 24/192 Flash Recorder
- Tascam CDRW2000 CD recorder
Video Recording & Live Streaming
- Panasonic HC-X1 4k video camera (x2)
- Panasonic AG-CX350 4k video camera
- Panasonic AG-CX10 4k video camera (x3)
- Panasonic HDC-SD900 HD video cameras (x3)
- Fujifilm X-T4 4k video enabled mirrorless camera
- Atomos Ninja Flame 4K solid state recorder/monitor
- Atomos Ninja 2 HD hard disk recorder / monitor
- BlackMagic ATEM HD Pro video switcher
- Teradek ViduGo Streaming encoder
- Fujinon prime and zoom lenses from 10mm to 400mm
- Video tripods with fluid heads by Manfrotto and E-Image
- Manfrotto super-clamps, magic arms and ball heads
- 10m camera track by Hague
- Camera Jib by E-Image
- Wiral Lite cable cam and remote control
- Mozza Air gimbal
- LED interview lights (x2)
- 3 head video lighting kit for interviews
- 4 head LED flood lighting kit for concerts
Post-production Studio
- Neumann KH310 active stereo monitors
- Genelec 1030A Surround Monitoring
- Genelec Subwoofer
- SADiE LRX2 Workstation with Cedar Re-touch
- Reaper 4 Workstation with iZotope RX
- Adobe Premiere Pro CC and After Effects
- Sonoris DDP Creator
- Plextor DVD/CD-Rewriter Sony Dual Layer DVD+/-RW
- Sony Blu-Ray writer
- Mackie MCU Pro hardware control surface
- Tascam MD-301MkII Mini-disc recorder
- Tascam DA45HR 24bit DAT
- Denon DCD-715 CD player
- Rega Planar 3 turntable with RB300 tonearm
- Goldring Leco Transcription 78rpm turntable
- Teac ¼” reel to reel tape machine
- Acoustic treatment by Offecct of Sweden
Miscellaneous
- M-Tech High speed CD/DVD Duplicator
- Robotic On-Body CD/DVD printer
- 300Mb fibre broadband
- Nespresso coffee machine
- 100 acres of deciduous woodland on our doorstep for when you just cant bear to edit any longer…!