Scotland’s Studio is a brand new, state-of-the-art recording facility specially designed for the world-renowned Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Located in the heart of Glasgow, a UNESCO city of music in Scotland, the studio builds on an existing infrastructure like the RSNO Center which opened in 2015, and not only has state-of-the-art mixing technology, but also of the new RSNO auditorium: an acoustically adjustable and flexible space, ideal for the specialized production of film and television soundtrack recordings as well as for hosting educational projects.

This unique integration of the latest production technologies with the highest quality musicians in an acoustically excellent space, positions the studio as a “one-stop-shop” capable of providing complete end-to-end production for the industry.

One of the Studio’s main ambitions is to become the studio of choice for recording film and gaming industry soundtracks outside of London, with the RSNO being the only UK orchestra to have a fully functional recording facility capable of recording sound over image. The studio will also be open to other Scotland-based orchestras and musicians, giving them access not only to a world-class recording studio, but also allowing them to advance in the creative industries.

Scotland is increasingly becoming a popular destination for film, television and video game productions and Scotland’s Studio is in a privileged position to contribute to this development. The RSNO has an established reputation and strong brand recognition for its recording work, particularly in films and video games, with the orchestra credited with re-recordings of classical sheet music such as Vertigo and conducted by music icons from film such as Jerry Goldsmith. The studio will allow the RSNO to embark on larger and more ambitious projects within these industries and this new revenue stream will prove invaluable in supporting the charitable mission of the RSNO as businesses such as touring and performing at larger scale continue to be affected by the ongoing pandemic.

The Studio will also become the home for RSNO’s digital educational projects, such as children’s music apps. Cutting-edge space technology has the potential to become a pioneering learning space for audio and sound design students at Scottish universities and colleges, supporting the next generation of the Scottish film industry by providing them with a first-class experience. class in music production and audio engineering.

The studio would not have been possible without the legacy of regular viewers Iain and Pamela Sinclair, whose main control room is named after, as well as the many people who have donated to the New Home Appeal, our partners in Glasgow Life, Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government. Scotland’s Studio is partially supported by the DigitalBoost Development Grant.

Alistair Mackie, Managing Director of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, said: “At Scotland’s Studio we have created a state-of-the-art installation that will give RSNO another string to its bow in the post-pandemic landscape as the only orchestra in the UK with its own recording studio, while providing the developing Scottish film industry with a new facility to support its offering nationally and internationally.

“Many thanks to those who have supported this investment, including the Scottish Government through the DigitalBoost Development Grant, and to Iain and Pamela Sinclair whose legacy has enabled us to create such a highly specialized control room. Iain attended them regularly and we later discovered secretly recorded the RSNO for replay at home.The creation of a world-class recording studio for the orchestra sounds like a fitting tribute through their generous legacy.

“The orchestra already has a great reputation for its film music recordings and we look forward to adding to this legacy in the years to come.”

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “The Scottish Government is committed to expanding our screen infrastructure and this new world-class facility for recording music for films, television and games will make the even more attractive country for international production companies. The new studio will also help grow a sustainable economy for the creative industries.

“The RSNO plays a major role in the performing arts and the new studio will give the orchestra the opportunity to build on its already highly acclaimed international reputation for recording and expand its educational activities.

The first major collaboration with a film composer and studio production recently took place, testing and verifying the quality of Scotland’s Studio facilities.

Scottish-born composer and conductor Blair Mowat, who works almost exclusively in film and television music, led the RSNO by recording his soundtrack to Sky TV’s new Christmas special, “The Amazing Mr Blunden “, aired in December of this year.

Blair Mowat said: “This whole project has been a pure delight. I saw the composer Elmer Bernstein lead the RSNO in 1997 on a school trip. He composed the original 1972 score for The Amazing Mr Blunden – so when I got the job I immediately called the RSNO to see if they could record the score for this exciting new remake. Luckily the stars aligned and it was a dream come true to compose and conduct for an orchestra that meant so much to me growing up in Scotland.

“Scotland’s Studio is a world class facility and it is a game changer not only for Scotland but also for anyone wishing to record in the UK. We desperately need more recording studios of this size to meet pent-up demand, and RSNO players compete with the best in the world. We were delighted both with the experience we had with them and the sound we got on the final recording. It was an honor to be the first film music to be recorded here, of which I’m sure there will be countless more. There are exciting times to come, and we can’t wait to come back! “

Richard Kaufman, conductor and former vice president of music at MGM Studios, said: “Composers, production companies and, ultimately, film music audiences will find the artistry of music. RSNO and their recording of original film music a truly extraordinary experience. “