University Music Hub

The recently opened University Music Hub provides innovative facilities for rehearsal, individual and group practice, and recording at the very heart of campus.

Musicians being recorded in the University Music Hub recording studio.As a completely new development hosted within the listed Frankland Building, the University Music Hub (UMH) provides high-quality spaces for musical activities, and a home for the University Music team. Alongside our spaces in the nearby Bramall Building, it allows us to offer outstanding support to musical practice and research across our facilities offerings.

Rehearsal and Practice Facilities

pianist-in-umh

The UMH offers a number of high-quality, acoustically isolated and enhanced spaces for rehearsal and practice. These include a large rehearsal room, three large rooms, two medium rooms, a drum kit room, and 11 smaller practice rooms. Nearly all rooms have pianos, many of them small grands, and one room has an organ. All spaces are climate controlled, and linked by network connections to the recording facilities.

Recording Studio

Students working in the University Music Hub recording studioThe core of the UMH recording facilities is a paired control booth and semi-live recording room, both with bespoke acoustic design by leading consultants Hoare Lea. Using the Hub's extensive audio and video networking infrastructure, other rooms within the UMH can be used as additional recording spaces with alternative acoustic characteristics.

Studio equipment includes: 

  • Milennia Preamps
  • SSL X-desk Mixer
  • SAM calibrated Genelec 8351B 'The Ones' loudspeakers with Genelec subwoofer
  • Apogee Symphony Audio Interface
  • M1 Mac Mini with Reaper, Arturia Plugins, UAD Full Suite, Lexicon Reverb Bundle and other software
  • Bricasti M7 Reverb Unit
  • Multiple Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera setup for video capture and streaming
  • An extensive range of Microphones including Coles 4038 Ribbon Microphones, Stereo Sennheiser MKH20, DPA 4066, Stereo Neumann U89i, etc.

The controlroom setup in the University Music HubAll music students are invited to be trained by our dedicated studio technician in using the recording equipment and facilities to support projects from our student groups and guest artists. From this they will gain skills and experience of using industry standard equipment to make content for themselves and their colleagues.

Additional Facilities

The UMH also includes an instrument store for students, offices for the University music team and some academic staff, and a kitchenette.Musicians being recorded in the University Music Hub recording studio.