1. CONSTRUCTION
Red Tape Studios comprises of 4 Rehearsal rooms, they operate on a 3 session per day basis - Morning, Afternoon and Evening. They are used by bands, musicians and various workshop groups. One studio is equipped with 4-Track recording facilities. Room 4 operates on a "lock out" basis, it is available on a daily, weekly or monthly basis for complete periods, fitted to suit a bands requirements.
Fully equipped 8 track programming room and 16 track digital recording studio, 3 MIDI workstations, Protools 4 track digital hard disc recording and editing facility to support a variety of technical training courses and generates audio production services and income through hire.
There is a library for public use containing trade magazines, journals, reference books in music, recording, business, film and associated media activity, along with a variety of video manuals.
There is a conference room equipped with audio visual equipment which can seat up to 30 - boardroom style or 70 - auditoria style.
Red Tape was constructed in three phases.
Phase 1: 2 rehearsal rooms with £70,000 from SCC capital funds.
Phase 2: 1 rehearsal room and 16 track control room with Urban Programme money.
Phase 3: 1 rehearsal room, 8 track control room, library, reception and office
accommodation with Urban Programme money.
2. OPERATION
Red Tape has three main areas of work:
a) Red Tape Studios
- Maximum use of rehearsal and hire facilities
- Provision of professional business advise to those seeking a career in the music business.
- Equal Opportunities development work
- New technology education
- Liaison with the London based music industry
- Schools and community group visits
- Educational workshops
- Consultancy
Including provision of training programme for Sound Engineering at Sheffield Arena, retraining programme for British Telecom workers facing redundancy, studio design and fit out for Doncaster Afro Caribbean Centre and Haringey Arts Council.
- Community development/outreach work contributing to other events in the city through its network with Bob Marley Recording Studios, Darnall Music Factory, Kelvin Music Project, professional studios in the city, venues such as the Leadmill, Sheffield University, Sheffield Hallam University, the Hallamshire etc.
b) Training
Sound Engineering Course - 52 week course for 14 students at 14 hours per week, the course offers professional vocational training for Sound Engineers. Graduates of the course go onto work in recording studios, radio, television.
Sound Engineering Course - 21 hours per week leading to City and Guilds 1831 Audio Engineering. Aimed at those seeking standard training as a studio engineer.
Short Course Programme - a series of short courses for the public in areas such as music computer software use - cubase and notator, the mixing desk, sampling, DJ skills, music business, etc. Aimed at the keen amateur.
Foundation Electronic & Sound Engineering Module for students of Rotherham College of Art & Technology attending this course.
BTEC OND Engineering (Sound & Audio Visual) - Sound Recording Module for students of Rotherham College of Art & Technology attending this course.#
Sound Recording and Music Industry Course - 14 hours per week for 36 weeks leading to equivalent qualification BTEC National Diploma. Aimed at those seeking first level access training in recording and the music industry.
Northern Media School - provision of sound module for students on Post Graduate (MA) Film and Video Production (Fiction) Course and Post Graduate (MA) Bi-Media Journalism Course.
Sheffield University Music Department - provision of MIDI and Sound Technology modules for undergraduate music students.
Division of Adult Continuing Education - provision of 2 x 12 week night classes in Sound Recording and the Music Industry.
c) AVEC
i) Red Tape is the Landlord's representative of the Audio Visual Enterprise Centre which is home to companies involved in Cultural Industries and the City Library Archive. AVEC is on two sites - Brown Street & Sidney Street.
ii) Negotiations on lease, rent and tenancy.
iii) Maintenance of fabric of the building.
iv) Business development of start up and SMES.
v) Promoting AVEC as a music/media production centre nationally, in Europe and internationally.
vi) Advice and assistance to tenants.
vii) Daily liaison with tenants.
viii) Provision of Services - water, electricity, cleaning, insurance etc.
ix) Provision of central reception area.
x) Provision and management of car park.
Red Tape Studios is open Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 9.00pm with staff working shift patterns.
3. SERVICE DELIVERY
Each year Red Tape has 2880 rehearsal sessions available for public use. Take-up runs at 95%, though with cancellations, real usage is 85%. These sessions are used by bands, community groups, education workshops, education training programmes, students on the Sound Engineering Course, visiting groups, VIPs, tenants etc.
Each year Red Tape receives in excess of 14,000 visitors and 1994/95 provided 17,985 training hours.
The two buildings which comprise AVEC, hold Red Tape Studios, Sheffield City Archive and over 22 other media related cultural industries companies, employ in excess of 100 full-time posts and 100 freelance or part-time jobs. Half of the companies have achieved a growth rate in excess of 40% in 3 years.
Web Space provided by the NEO Project as part of the Cultural Industries Quarter World Wide Web site.