Journal 2019

JOURNAL [2019]

Welcome to our journal archive. Scroll down to see our our past entries…

• Spotted at local cinemas - a collection of really great films we worked on this year all out in the cinemas now………but which one to see ??? !! [kw]

• Kirsty caught in the act of studio maintenance and upgrades!! Upgrading the Trinnov for Dolby Atmos and installing new ADA cards for our AoIP Horus converters. Also installing some ‘old’ tech - our vintage Meazzi tape echo…..[pc]

• The ultimate vocal mic test!
  We have just finished recording Taylor Swift using our hand spec’d Chandler Redd microphone.
  Producers Tom Hooper, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Greg Wells all love the sound of our stunning mic hand built by Wade Goeke. It was the easy winner in our shoot out with some other fabulous mics.
  Now back to Sweet Thunder to compile Taylor’s fabulous performances [kw]

• It was a lovely treat to catch up with the super talented Nathan Johnson and Katie Chastain at the premiere of “Knives Out”. [pc]

• A temporary install of some favourites while we build our Thunderwall. We put this together so we could do some quick mixes for the awesome Aussie band - The Basics for their new (and last….??) album.

• These arrived today from Steve at Audio Kitchen, our own Big Trees and Little Squirrel. We love the design - hand painted by Steve’s daughter
  What a great company! [pc]

August 2019

• We’ve just finished the final session for Maleficent 2 - Mistress of Evil. This has been an epic project with Pete recording at Abbey Rd, some mixing at Sweet Thunder and Kirsty finishing off recording the orchestr and choir pick ups at Air Studios. Geoff Zanelli wrote a beautiful score for this Disney blockbuster…. and it was a pleasure to work with him, with the lovely Nick Glennie Smith conducting, and Mitchell Leib checking we were all behaving !! [pc]

• A palette of new ceiling speakers has just arrived - exciting times ahead with the start of our Dolby Atmos rebuild [kw]

• Great to meet up with Richard Lush who was one of my “golden ear” mentors. I was fortunate enough to assist Richard as a tape-op back in the 80’s. I loved hearing stories back then about his own tape-op days at Abbey Road when he was working with the Beatles. Richard is still as sharp and astute as ever and what a delight to spend a little time with him in Native Sydney. [pc]

• We had a fun visit out today to see Steve Crow in his workshop in Acton - watch this space to see what we might have commissioned from this clever professor!! [kw]

• Our latest foray into the Marvel world is released this weekend - the fabulous Spider-Man Far from Home ! We recorded this in LA at Fox Studios and mixed at Sweet Thunder. The orchestra filled the studio with well over 90 players including full orchestra, 2 electric guitars, bass guitar, electric cello, Hammond organ, synths, piano, hand percussion and big drum kit made of buckets and trash cans, all playing at once! [kw]

• More recording of the fantastic songs for “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” film…..

…check out The Awesome 3 at Air studios - writers Dan Gillespie Sells, Tom MacRae and director Jonathan Butterell discuss the recording schedule and the fact that it’s almost 11am!! [kw]

• It’s great to be with director Scott Cooper again. We’re making great use of the old Roger mixing Javier Navarrete’s evocative score for Antlers. [pc]

• Director Rian Johnson and composer Nathan Johnson congratulating the orchestra after our final session for “Knives Out”. Now off to Sweet Thunder to mix! [kw]

• Pete is back to LA for final recording sessions for Spiderman - Far From Home. I’m staying at Sweet Thunder to start mixing before the sessions even finish…. [kw]

May 2019

• A new toy arrives to Sweet Thunder.. all 16 voices !!! [pc]

• 16 more voices! - Pete is recording the fabulous choristers from Trinity Boys choir at Abbey Road for Michael Giacchino ‘s score on the upcoming film called JoJo Rabbit. Ben Parry conducting.  [kw]

• This week we are Air Studios recording the songs for new film of the West End hit - Everyone’s “Talking About Jamie”…….[kw]

April 2019

• What an opportunity to have just finished our work on the most successful box office film ever! Avengers End game has been the fastest a movie has grossed a billion dollars ...but besides all that it was such a delight to work yet again with Alan Silvestri and the whole team at Marvel.
  We recorded the epic score at Abbey Road with great teamwork between ourselves in London and Dennis Sands and Steve Durkee in LA……..[pc]

• Back at Air with Gabriel Yared ! Recording some lovely original songs with singer Yasmina….. [pc]

March 2019

• It was the MPG awards a couple of evenings ago. Headliner magazine did a special edition for the occasion and feature Pete, myself and Sweet Thunder in a lovely article. Click here to read it ! Also a big congratulations to all the award winners……. [kw]

• Pete and I are thrilled to see the release on Sony Classical of Danny Elfman’s Violin concerto, performed by Sandy Cameron! We co-produced this album which is the culmination of a great deal of work from all involved. We recorded this at the RSNO hall in Glasgow, and edited and mixed at Sweet Thunder. Here’s a great film of the recording with insights into the work from Danny, Sandy and conductor John Mauceri….

  We thoroughly enjoyed our time spent with Danny and Sandy getting into the fine detail of this fantastic work. Congrats to Danny and Sandy!! [kw]

• We’ve had a lovely day recording in Studio 2 at Abbey Road for Dickon Hinchliffe’s beautiful score for “Frankie”. Simon Hale conducted the sessions and we will begin mixing at Sweet Thunder tomorrow! [pc]

• Wow what a fun day !!

  Pete and I took a trip up to Derbyshire to Soundgas to play with some amazing vintage toys - some of which we knew and some which were new discoveries. All beautifully restored and some with super cool mods. Thanks to Tony, Jo and the whole team there for giving us such an inspiring visit (and maybe a few nice additions to the studio……). [kw]

• Lovely to be working with an old friend and close collaborator Gabriel Yared. Gabriel has written a beautiful score for the film “Paradise War”. This stunning film is based on the true story of environmentalist Bruno Manser and his time with the Penan tribe in the jungles of Borneo, and his subsequent fight against logging and deforestation. We’ve been mixing at Sweet Thunder and have enjoyed have Gabriel’s right hand and super editor David Menke with us. [kw]

• Kirsty and I are thrilled to be nominated for an award at the TEC awards for their work on “The Shape of Water”. [pc]