"Netflix's 'Building The Band' Gets a Fresh Studio Constructed by Spiritland"
Netflix's 'Building the Band' Gets a Boost from SSL System T S400 Console
The unscripted series Building the Band, produced in Manchester, UK, has found a reliable partner in the SSL System T S400 console. This high-end digital mixing console has been instrumental in handling the music elements of the show, including a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 mix.
Spiritland Productions, a company specializing in live and recorded music broadcasting, installed the System T S400 console at Versa Manchester Studios for the show’s production. The console, introduced at the 2024 NAB Show, offers a compact yet premium control surface, maintaining the sound quality and workflow of larger SSL consoles like the S500, but in a smaller form factor.
Oliver Waton, head of department for audio and lead sound supervisor on Building the Band, requested the SSL System T S400-48. On the opening day of production, Waton used the console for the first time and found it to sound fantastic with minimal processing changes required.
The digital summing buses of the System T S400 contribute to the cohesive, "glued" sound quality heard in the mix. Dedicated Signal Switchers on the console allow rapid switching between multiple sets of inputs, helping manage the complex audio routing needs of the reality music competition format.
Spiritland built a massive Dante network for Building the Band on Versa’s fiber infrastructure. This network handled vocal, dialogue, band inputs, and front-of-house monitoring. The S400 console was integrated into this network to ensure seamless communication and control across various studios on the campus of Versa Manchester Studios.
Building the Band used multiple studios across the campus for its production. The initial house band rehearsal was canceled, but the show went on to feature AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys as its host, joined by mentor and judge Nicole Scherzinger, along with guest judges Kelly Rowland (Destiny's Child) and the late Liam Payne (One Direction).
The series, which debuted on July 9, has been well-received by audiences, thanks in part to the immersive audio experience provided by the SSL System T S400 console. Spiritland, a company that also owns a System T S500 in its Spiritland One OB truck, has proven once again its commitment to delivering high-quality audio for live and recorded music broadcasts.
[1] Solid State Logic. (2024). SSL System T S400 Console Used on Netflix's 'Building the Band'. Retrieved from https://www.solidstatelogic.com/news/ssl-system-t-s400-console-used-on-netflixs-building-the-band
[2] Versa Manchester Studios. (2024). Building the Band at Versa Manchester Studios. Retrieved from https://www.versamanchestudios.com/news/building-the-band-at-versa-manchester-studios
- The SSL System T S400 console, a high-end digital mixing console, has provided excellent sound quality and facilitated complex audio routing in the unscripted series Building the Band, produced at Versa Manchester Studios.
- Audio and lead sound supervisor Oliver Waton, head of department for audio on Building the Band, was impressed by the SSL System T S400-48 console's fantastic sound quality on the first day of production.
- Featuring multiple digital summing buses, the SSL System T S400 console contributes to the cohesive and glued sound quality heard in the mix, with dedicated Signal Switchers helping manage complex audio routing needs.
- Spiritland Productions, a company specializing in live and recorded music broadcasting, installed the SSL System T S400 console at Versa Manchester Studios, integrating it into a massive Dante network for handling vocal, dialogue, band inputs, and monitoring.
- The immersive audio experience provided by the SSL System T S400 console played a significant role in Building the Band's successful debut on July 9, further reinforcing Spiritland's reputation for delivering high-quality audio in entertainment, music, and broadcast technology.
