SPHERE MAKES SPACE FOR TOP R&B PRODUCER

Producer Tony Briscoe, the man responsible for the cool sounds of Def Jam/ Mercury signing Aaron Soul, has set up a production base in one of the brand new production rooms at Sphere Studios, Battersea.

Briscoe, who is renowned for his work with artists such as Craig David, Beverley Knight and Lifford, is using his facility for writing and recording. The suite is equipped with a Mackie digital 8-bus console and a Pro Tools system running Studio Vision software.

He says: "Apart from a very convenient location, Sphere's production rooms are spacious, comfortable and offer an excellent acoustic environment, which was a primary reason for chosing to work there. I'm also delighted that Sphere is incorporating the technology to link my room to the main studios, which means I'll be able to transfer work across to the studios and complete entire projects without having to leave the building."

Currently under construction in Battersea, South London, Sphere is set to rival London's finest recording studios when it officially opens as a fully commercial facility later this year. The complex, designed by Munro Associates and built by Form & Funktion, will incorporate three main control rooms dedicated to track-laying, stereo mixing and 5.1 surround mixing. Each control room will be equipped with the latest state of the art technology and will also feature 'future-proof' wiring and extensive ISDN facilities.

Alongside the main rooms, Sphere is also offering six production rooms that are available for hire by artists and independent producers. Tony Briscoe and producer Chris Kimsey have already moved in, while a third room is being rented out as a fully functioning mix room and overdub booth. This room is equipped with a Euphonix CS3000 console, a Pro Tools 24 MixPlus hard disk system and Munro Associates MA1 monitors, all of which will eventually be moved into one of the three main control rooms.

The main partners behind Sphere are Francesco Cameli and Malcolm Atkin. "Our production rooms were officially opened in December and are already generating plenty of interest," says Atkin. "We are delighted that Tony has chosen Sphere as his base and we consider it an honour to have him on board. The production rooms are going like proverbial hot cakes and we anticipate that all six will be taken by the time the main studios open in late May."