As I rounded the end of Brewer Street in the south area of Soho, I began to regret not having taken another look at the A-Z before leaving for the meeting. Goldcrest is one of those locations where the postal address and main entrance differ for historical reasons. Worry was unjustified as a glance above street level reveals the wall mounted Goldcrest 'bird' guiding visitors from both directions, at least to the right block.
Eighteen AMPS members accepted Goldcrest Post Production Facilities invitation to visit the newly rebuilt studios; indeed so newly finished that the builders departure could be measured in hours although a visitor would not have guessed.
Following drinks and a welcome, we were divided into small groups each with a Goldcrest guide for the tour. All the facility staff were on hand, each in their specialist area, briefed and well prepared for those difficult questions that, certainly with our group, were answered candidly.
Off the basement reception area, the dubbing theatre is dominated by an SSL5000 with Ultimation moving fader automation. After dubbing mixer Paul Carr revealed the Foley pits and ADR facilities, an interesting discussion took off on the relative merits of the console, the value of ADR-to-video, and the choice between particle or evaporated tape for the Tascam DA88. Leaving via the projection room with its lines of MagnaTech and Sondor dubbers, Paul commented that he didn't expect to see a single one left in five years time.
Crossing the corridor to Studio 2 or as it is commonly called, the Synclavier Room, Mike Smith gave a swift demo of SFX spotting and editing using the Synclavier with PostPro software and pulling up dog barks from the on line sound effects library. Tie lines link all the facility and the benefits of the Synclavier are available remotely when needed. The mixing console is a large Trident Vector and the room comes with two video projection systems - in front of the console and in the newly added separate studio area.
On the same floor we then passed through the new Telecine room (discussions on timecode); the Transfer Bay and the central Machine Room (find the format they haven't got) and then to the upper floors. Goldcrest have over 40 cutting rooms split between two floors in this building and another Soho premises. The top floor contains flats for clients to stay while working.
Acknowledging a demand for disk based editing systems, two edit rooms have been redesigned and refitted. One contains an AMS AudioFile Spectra intended to be used for track laying but was so new that it hadn't completed a session. Next door, a spacious Avid suite was running and we were treated to a swift demonstration of the virtues of Avid digital video editing.
The evening culminated in a buffet back in reception where were able to follow up specific topics with the Goldcrest staff.
The evening provided a chance to take an indepth look at a facility that few members seemed to know a great deal about before the visit. Goldcrest had planned the visit carefully and I think we all left knowing far more about them, and dare I say, quite impressed?