hi-definition mobile recording rig

tollbooth's brand new hi-definition mobile recording rig is now up and running and available for booking!

the how's & why's

we'd been getting a number of enquiries over the past year from artists who for one reason or another either couldn't travel to doncaster, or who wanted to record in their own environments.  a number of bands had also enquired about the possibility of multi-track recording both rehearsals and live gigs and so the idea of the tollboothmobile rig was born!

though recording in situations out of the studio can be less than ideal, with careful acoustic treatment and choice of microphones etc, very good recordings can still be made.

we set about trying to format a recording rig that was compact; quick & easy to set-up; easy to transport and above all; still allowed us access to higher sample rates if required.  to keep consistency, we also needed it to completely integrate with the main studio back at base.

to meet the last criterion, we looked to the golden trinity of the Apple Mac platform, MOTU audio interfaces and MOTU Digital Performer software.  this system has served us exceptionally well over the years, and the new version 5 of DP has proved to be astonishingly versatile and robust out in the field.

the system is ideal for: band recording, 'live' demos, rehearsal logging, voice-overs & podcasts, recording drama/shows, singer/songwriters in remote areas, relaxed writing/demos, foley & location recording, school projects, artists in residence etc

the rig

rack: 

- MOTU traveler FW hi-definition audio/midi interface (upto192kHz)

- MOTU 8Pre interface (not shown - upto 96kHz)

total - 20 live inputs

- tfpro P2 dual channel pre-amp

- joemeek VC3v2 & VC3Q preamps

- focusrite compounder (comp/limiter)

- 4ch headphone amp

recording:

apple powerbook w 1.5Gb RAM

G-Drive ext FW HD (x2)

MOTU digital performer v5 software

MOTU cuemix monitor mix software

Focusrite LiquidMix FW dynamics module

contour shuttlepro control surface

microphones:

blue babybottle, groovetubes GT67 tube, rode nt1a, rode nt5 matched stereo pair, various shure sm range, full akg drum set

accessories:

auralex acoustic modification panels, custom-built frame panels, auralex xpander microphone kit, cabling, & stands

rates & terms

standard rate of £16 per hour

includes hire of equipment and engineer

(note: at present, the mobile rig is not available for rental without engineer/supervision)

extras:

-additional specific equipment may be hired at market rates, please contact for quote

- mileage to the recording venue charged at 20p/mile

- for a full day, an additional £10 per day will be charged for incidental expenses

- tollbooth are happy for clients to arrange overnight accommodation for them, but where not possible, £40p/n  may be charged to offset motel/lodge costs (though we know a fair few folk around the UK).

tollboothmobile is subject to tollbooth's standard terms & conditions and conditions of use.

all charges must be paid upfront on each day of recording in cleared funds

full day is nominally 8 hours (not including travel time)

for operation we require access to a safety tested UK mains power supply 240V/13A.  a strong table and a couple of chairs would also be handy

coffee - ideally lots of it!