Facilities

Venues

Adrian Boult Hall
The ‘ABH’ is a 520-seat auditorium with fine acoustics, which can accommodate a symphony orchestra and be adapted for use as an opera theatre or a conference venue. There is also a licensed bar and coffee area plus an exhibition space. The Conservatoire’s own varied concert programme integrates with series promoted by external organisations such as Birmingham Jazz, Ex Cathedra and the Birmingham Chamber Music Society, with its programme of internationally renowned ensembles. Together, these provide a rich and diverse programme.

Recital Hall
Our 150-seat Recital Hall is a flexible, modern performance space. Redesigned particularly to accommodate performance with live electronics, its recent major renovation included the installation of a highly sophisticated multi-channel sound system, which allows performers to exercise complete control over amplified sound within the entire performance space. It is believed that the Recital Hall is the first concert venue in the UK with a permanent system of this kind.

Arena Foyer
An interesting, modern area, the Arena Foyer backs on to the Adrian Boult Hall. With an audience capacity of 100, the Arena Foyer can be used for a variety of events, as its space is entirely flexible. There is a small gallery with steps up each side, which can be used inventively in performances.

New Lecture Theatre
Housed within the newest part of the Conservatoire, the New Lecture Theatre is a flexible space, suitable for informal concerts and large workshops, as well as rehearsals and teaching. Movable seating and tables allow the Theatre to accommodate up to 140 people. The Theatre is also equipped with an overhead projector and automatic screen.

Board Room
The Board Room is the Conservatoire‘s premier meeting room, holding up to 36 delegates seated around tables. Looking across Birmingham to Symphony Hall, the Board Room is ideal for high-profile meetings and those at which the right atmosphere is important. It can also be used for small drinks receptions.

Library

All students have full access to the Conservatoire Library, an integral part of the University’s Library Services, which links all its central and specialist libraries and enables students to borrow items from any of them. Alongside wide-ranging and substantial collections of books and journals, specialised print and computer-based sources are available to support various project and research needs. Other items can be obtained via the inter-library loan system as required.

During the summer of 2006, the Library underwent extensive building work funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the University. With the stock safely stored offsite, the space was completely gutted in order to create a mezzanine level, which now offers an additional quiet study area. Another new feature is a ground floor seminar / group study room, which can also be used by Library staff for meetings and information skills training for students.

The Library’s collections include over 8,000 books, 1,300 orchestral and band sets, 1,100 sets of vocal scores, about 100,000 individual scores and parts, and around 12,000 sound recordings. To deal with our ever-expanding stock, we installed moveable shelving and new storage racks for our collection of over 6,000 CDs. Our new Audio Room has an upgraded suite of listening and recording equipment, plus two separate cubicles for listening and viewing.

The Library has been re-equipped with new computers and on-line services include the British Humanities Index, RILM, New Grove Online and the Classical Music Library. You can also access our complete library catalogue via the internet. Our professionally trained staff will provide you with an introduction to the Library when you enrol, and more detailed guidance is offered to groups or individuals whenever appropriate.

The Conservatoire Library is open seven days a week during term time and weekdays during vacations.

Studios & Equipment

Studio 1 Control Room

Audio Hardware

Yamaha 02R/96 desk
Digidesign 192 I/O interface
Roland 8020 sound module
Marantz CDR
Tascam DA20 DAT
CME UF8 keyboard

Computer Hardware

Apple Intel Mac Pro
2 × 19″ Iiyama displays
ProTools HD3 system

Software

ProTools HD
Logic Pro
Wave Burner
Spark XL
Toast with Jam
Waves Platinum Bundle
Waves IR1 Convolution Reverb

Monitoring

ATC SCM50

Studio 1 Live Room

Microphones

3x AKG C1000
1x AKG C3000
1x AKG D112
4x SE 1A
2x Rode NT1A
1x Sennheiser 421
2x Shure SM58
2x Shure SM57
1x Shure SM81
2x Behringer HP Amp
1x Behringer DI
2x Behringer truth monitors
1x SE Reflection Filter

Studio 2

Audio Hardware

Mackie Big Knob
DACs Eightch Surround monitor
Digidesign 003 Rack
Casio CZ-1 Keyboard
Mini Korg 700 synth
2x Behringer BCF2000 Control surfaces
Tascam DA30 DAT
Tascam MD
Tascam 112 MKII Tape Machine

Computer Hardware

Apple Intel Mac Pro
2x Samsung Displays

Computer Software

Protools LE
Logic Pro
Wave Burner
Waves Gold bundle
Waves IR1 convolution reverb
Toast with Jam
DVD studio pro

Monitoring

M-Audio 5.1 monitoring
Mackie HR824

Studio 3 Control Room

Audio Hardware

Yamaha 02R/96 desk
ProTools HD3 system
Digidesign 192 I/O interface
Yamaha S90 keyboard
Tascam CDRW2000 CD Player
DVD Player

Computer Hardware

Apple Intel Mac Pro
Fastlane MIDI interface

Software

Protools HD
Logic Pro
Wave Burner
Spark XL
Waves Gold inc.IR1 360
Surround Zone
Toast and Jam
DVD Studio Pro

Monitoring

Genelec 5.1 Monitoring (1030/1029/7060)
ATC SCM50

Other

2x Hitachi TV Monitors
2x Sony TV monitors

Studio 3 Live Room

Microphones

3x AKG C1000
1x AKG C3000
1x AKG D112
2x SE 1A
2x Shure SM57

Hardware

Behringer Ultra DI Pro
Rane HP Amp
Yamaha DJX Keyboard

Studio 4

Mixing

Audient ASP8024 Console

Recording Hardware

Motu 2408 MKIII
Tascam CD-R
Tascam DA45 DAT
2x Tascam DA20 DAT
Studer B67 1/4" Machine
Focusrite Twintrak Pro

Monitoring

Genelec 8050A
Samson 170/Denon DR20

Outboard

Lexicon PCM80
Yamaha Rev 7
Behringer Multicom (x2)
Behringer Intelligate
Alesis 3630 Compressor

Computer Hardware

Apple Intel Mac Pro

Software

Logic Pro
Waveburner

PA Hardware

Behringer Eurorack UB1002
Behringer Eurorack UB2448FX-Pro Mixer
Audiocore DP224 Speaker management system
Servo reeler remote

Studio 5

Hardware

Intel Mac Pro
Digidesign 003 Control
DACS Eightch
Genelec Surround Monitoring

Software

Protools LE
Logic Pro
Final Cut Studio
Waves Gold + IR1

Studio 6

Hardware

Intel Mac Pro
Digidesign 96I/O
Digidesign Command 8
Genelec Surround Monitoring

Software

Protools HD3
Logic Pro
Final Cut Studio
Waves Gold + IR1360

iMac Suite

10 Workstations comprising:

iMac Intel
Digidesign MBox
M-Audio Oxygen 61 Keyboard

Software

Protools LE
Logic Pro
Audacity
Wave Burner
Soundhack
Pd
Audio Sculpt
Max MSP/Jitter
Burn
Sibelius

Additional Hardware

2 x Behringer Eurorack Pro line mixer
HHB Circle 5/Samson 170 monitor and amp
NEC Data Projector

Music for Media Lab

7 Workstations comprising:

Macintosh G5 Quad
20" Apple displays
M-Audio Project Mix i/o
M-Audio Oxygen 49 keyboard
iSight

Software

Final Cut Pro
DVD Studio Pro
Shake
Soundtrack
Logic Pro
Wave Burner
Protools M-Powered
Kontakt
MaxMSP-Jitter

Additional Hardware

Behringer line mixer
Genelec 8030A monitoring
NEC Data Projector

Recital Hall

Yamaha DM2000
Apple iMac
1x Profire Lightbridge
1x Kronde
D&B 10.2 Surround PA system
Hitachi CP X1200 Data Projector + Screen

Microphones and Cables

Concert XLR-XLR cables
6 x Mackie SR350 PA Speakers
1 x Audio Technica 4033
3 x C1000
3 x SM58

Adrian Boult Hall

4x DPA 4006
2x Neumann KM183
RCF Line array + Subs
Yamaha 02R Digital Mixer

Audio Visual

1 x Behringer Eurorack 602A
Video Cables inc. VGA, SVHS, HiFi.
2 x Behringer truth monitors
1 x M-Box
1 x M-Audio 410 Audio Interface
1 x Motu Fastlane MIDI Interface
1 x MT4 MIDI Interface
Mains Extension reels
CDR, DVD’R, DAT, ADAT, Minidisk
3 x Portable minidisk recorder
1 x Tascam Portable DAT
1 x Panasonic SVHS Camera
2 x Data projectors
1 x Slide projector

Concert cables

6 x Long M-XLR to Jck
Short F-XLR to Jck
Balanced Jck to Jck
Various MIDI cables
Mains IEC
4 x Cable guards

Software Installations

1 x Logic 6 Platinum
3 x Waves bundles
1 x IR1 converlution Reverb
1 x Toast with Jam
2 x Protools TDM 6.7
1 x NI FM7
Collection of EMU sample library

Practice Rooms

The Conservatoire’s purpose-built site includes over 50 dedicated practice rooms, with additional practice facilities available after 6pm. A separate Keyboard Studio contains nine linked Yamaha Clavinova CLP-155s, ideal both for private practice and for keyboard-skills seminars.

Students may access the building seven days a week all year round, from 8:00am to 9:45pm weekdays and from 8:00am to 7:00pm weekends (holidays excepted).

Instruments for Loan

The Conservatoire owns a fine collection of modern instruments that are available for loan. There is also an excellent growing collection of early instruments, both reproduction and original, available for student use. For further details, please contact our Instrument Custodian.

Other Facilities

Other accommodation includes lecture rooms, teaching rooms, recording studios, conference rooms, a refectory and coffee bar.

Coffee Bar & Licensed Bar
The Conservatoire’s Coffee Bar is generally open before and during the interval of concerts in the Adrian Boult Hall, Arena Foyer and Recital Hall. There is a Licensed Bar run by Birmingham City University’s Union of Students.