First opened in 1998 and now in its purpose built new premises opened October 2005 Manor Park Studio has been designed to allow clients to work in absolute comfort with all the facilities they need to produce excellent results. It creates a stimulating atmosphere for creativity and provides the equipment and environment to capture this.

Situated in the relaxing rural surroundings of Moneyglass, Northern Ireland, Manor Park is the main base for Producer/Owner Neal Calderwood but is also used by other engineers and producers. His studio has been meticulously designed and built to meet the exacting need of musicians and producers such as himself whose main objective is to get the best results possible.

With over 2000 square feet fully residential recording studio, a large main live room, 5.5 m x 8m large control room 5m x 8m, vocal booth, 7 live rooms in total most with visual communication through large windows and not to mention a very modern decor, Manor Park is considered to be one of Northern Ireland’s most prestigious recording studios.

Equipment

Recording
Digital Audio Workstation
RME Hammerfall 44 channel recording
Universal Audio UAD-1 cards (3 of) running 1176, LA2A, Pultec etc
Nuendo recording, sequencing and mixing
Most available software Plugins and VST instruments
Midisport 4×4 Midinterface
HHb Circle5 Monitors
40 Channel 8 Bus Desk
Yamaha Keyboard

Preamps

Valve and solid state by Focusrite
TLAudio
Behringer

Mics

Dynamic and condenser
Valve and solid state by Groove Tubes
Beyerdynamic
Rode
Se Electronics
ADK
Sontronics
Shure
AudioTechnica
Octava
Tandy
Behringer

Guitar Preamps

Line 6 Pod XT
Johnson J-Station
Marshall JMP-1 preamp
Behringer Bass V-Amp

Effects

Outboard effects by Lexicon, Yamaha and Rocktron

Backline

Various Marshall Valve Heads (60′s 70′s and 80′s)
Mesa Dual Rectifier Solo Head
Hiwatt 4×12
Marshall 4×12
Peavey 4×12
Bass Cab 4×10
Bass Cab 1×15
Gallien Kruger Backline 600 Bass Head
PRS Custom 24 guitar
Line 6 Variax Guitar
Line 6 Variax Bass
Musicman Stingray Bass
Fender Strat
Musicman Stingray II guitar
Washburn Guitar
Ibanez Artist
Pearl Reference Series drum kit
Zilidjian A Custom Projection Crash 19″
Zilidjian K Crash/Ride 20″
Sabian AAX Ride 20″

Guitar Pedals

ElectroHamonix Small Stone Phaser
Electric Mistress Flanger
Roger Mayer Voodoo Vibe
Ibanez Tube Sreamer
Pro Co Rat
Boss Turbo Distortion, EQ, Delay
Jim Dunlop Wah
Morley Wah
Digitec Whammy II
Digitec Bad Monkey Tube Overdrive
Award SessionMaster

Statistics

Studio Dimensions

Control room 7.5m x 5m
Main Live Room 7.5m x 5.5m
Vocal Booth 3m x 2.5m
Live Room ‘C’
Live Room ‘D’
Live Room ‘E’
Live Room ‘F’
Live Room ‘G’
A two-story complex with over 2000 square feet fully residential recording studio. Large main live room, 5.5 m x 8m Large Control room 5m x 8m, Vocal booth,7 live roomsin total most with visual communication through large windows.

“A highly developed patching system allows any live room to be linked to any other by speaker, microphone, headphone or guitar lead. This allows the performers to be located in any of the 7 live rooms and be linked to any other room or to the control room. In practice this would mean that a guitarist, for example, could be in the main live room with the drummer while tracking drums but their amp could be in any of the other rooms being totally isolated. Both drum and guitar sounds would not be in any way compromised by sound leakage from one to the other. The guitarist could even have his amplifier head in the room with him and only the speaker isolated in the other room since all rooms have speaker connection also. This could be the case for any other members of the band. In this case monitoring would be done using headphones. Another possible scenario would be the guitarist in the control room with his amplifier head connected to several speaker cabinets located in any of the 7 live areas allowing for the different tonal variation of each room to be captured simultaneously.”

Neal Calderwood

Accommodation

Living Room
Pool Table
Sky Digital Television
Playstation 2 (with over 30 games)
DVD player
VHS player
CD/Hi-Fi

Kitchen

Microwave Oven/Oven/Grill
Fridge Freezer
Dishwasher
General Cooking Facilities

Misc

Bedroom suitable for up to 6 people
Shower Room & WC

Mastering takes a project to a whole new level. It adds that final unmistakable edge that brings out the best in the material. It allows the impact and life in the music to be enhanced.

It ensures the volume level and spectral balance (bass, mids, treble) on the CD will compare well with (other) major label product, especially on radio. The sound will be consistent on different playback systems and will translate well to online formats such as MP3.

Manor Park has the creative insight to help you deliver the most from your recordings.

A

A Little Bitter, A Plastic Rose, AlterEgo, Amaranth, Ana Mae, Angel Fall, The Answer, Asylum, Aqua Spaniels, The Audiables

B

The Beat Poets, Bete Noires, Black Ball Fighter, Black Bear Saloon, Black Freeway, Black Jacks, Black Swan Fallacy, Boathouse, Boy Turns Hero

C

Andy Cairns of Therapy?, Catch 23, Cava, The Citizens, Civilian, Colly Strings, Colour System Failure, Crooked Little Town, Cuckoo Rass

D

The Dangerfields, Dawn, Dead FM, The Deaf Club, Deal Again, Desert Hearts, Different Senses, Dirty Stevie, The Dreggs, Driving By Night, Dutch Schultz

E

East Island City, Ed Zealous, Eddie’s Funeral, Ego, El Hombre Jokes, Emily, Emily Cuprate, Endorphin, Exit

F

Fallout, Farago, The Fast Emperors, Fighting With Wire, The Fire Bobbies, Fisto, Fixation, Forgetting June, Fractured, Future Chaser

G

General Fiasco, The Good Fight

H

The Hellfire Club, Hexxed, Heyday, High Output, Hijacked Empire, Hoax, HotStop, Hovercraft Pirates, Home Star Runner, The Humbleweeds, Hunger’s Mother

I

I Made This, Illicit, Immunise, Inch High, Indigo Fury, Indy Artworx Interrogate, Involution, Invinyl

J

Jackalfeud, The John Ford, Jody Has A Hitlist, Johnny Vans, Juliets Rescue

K

The Key of Atlas, Kid Dynamo, Killin’ Theory, Knievel Genius, Kyle

L

Last Orders, Little Nightmare, Left Side Brain, The Le Scenes, Librium, Liddsville, The Lingus, Little Nightmare, Lotion

M

Mantic, The Mascara Story, The Maximals, Million Dollar Reload, Mr Lightweight, Mojo Fury

N

Nice N Sleezy, Niyah Sky, No Grace Given

O

On/Off, Organised Confusion

P

P45, Pando Kopanda, Parhelia, Patio Sounds, Pay*ola, PetroChemical Accelerator, Play The Thief, Pocket Promise

R

Rams Pocket Radio, Rescue The Astronauts, Jamie Lenman of Reuben, RedEye, The Red Admirals, Red Sirus, The Replays, Revile, The Rivals

S

Scuba Dice, 7SW, Short Lived Joy, The Shower Scene, Silent Front, Silhouette, Silo, Sister Marko, Slave Zero, Soundstone, Steer Clear, Storyboard, Struck, Supercast, Superfreaks, Superskin, Swanee River, Sweet Taste, Swurve

T

Theta, Throat, The Tides, Traffic, Tracer AMC, Twisted Rose

U

Underline, The Upgrades

W

Window Seats, The Wonderful Toys

Y

Yakuza

Z

Zombie Cops, The Zoo, Zulu

InTheory “Bloodloss EP”

Metal Hammer Demo Of the Month 2006
Now here’s something interesting: power metal without Pro Tools. Instead of plumbing really great raw galloping power metal through miles of sound cleaning software and rendering it soulless and gutless, Killin’ Theory have stuck to garage production – and it sounds sexy as fuck. Musically the band blends Funeral for a Friend vocal harmonies with Edguy galloping Slayer-like guitar hammering. This could well be the future; combining the best modern aspects of contemporary, new heavy metal. Killin’ Theory scratch so many itches, great roaring, lush and heart-felt clean vocals, powerful instrumental middle sections and some prodigious axe svengali in the band, tearing solos off his guitar like a bastard. And, the rare treat, the tunes are as catchy as fleas in Battersea Dogs’ Home and as hummable as a Fall Out Boy ringtone.
9/10

Involution “Truth Be Told EP”

Metal Hammer 2005
This distinctive sounding Belfast band produce convincing sounding metalcore that comes with a big side helping of Pearl Jam. As the demo wears on, the heaviosity is amped up and there are touches of A Perfect Circle here and Stone Temple Pilots there. This marrying of up to date metalcorisms with grungier vocals should stand them in good stead and even if ‘Truth Be Told’ isn’t the record that does it for them, it would be unwise to ignore this band.
7/10

Left Side Brain “Equal and Opposite”

Kerrang! no.1030 November 2004:
ANGLO-WELSH PUNKS OFFER STINGING FULL-LENGTH DEBUT
The kind of band that gives you a bit of hope for the UK underground scene, Left Side Brain play a low slung and deliciously metallic brand of post-punk that sounds like Ash on a Soundgarden bender. For much of this debut, the Bristol-based band get the combination of accessibility and off kilter menace just about right. The likes of ‘Clout’, ‘Uncomfortable’ and ‘Low Tide’ jut with angled melodies, simple but refreshingly heavy riffs, and enough emotional cadences to keep the overloaded emo boat from sinking. A band who have set out with no greater intent than to make riotous noise with tunes attached, Left Side Brain can consider this mission accomplished.
KKKK (4/5)

Metal Hammer no.134 Xmas 2004:
MORE TASTY WELSH SCREAMO
What is it with the Welsh and epic, tuneful emo? Whatever it is, we’re not complaining. This album builds skilfully on the foundations this four piece laid with their Surface Tension EP earlier this year. Now living in Bristol, Cymru boys G (guitars/vocals) and Ryan (drums) along with slightly newer Anglo members Oli (guitars/vocals) and Rich (bass/vocals) have turned in an assured and memorable debut which starts sounding like a contender for emo album of the year even after a few listens. Opener and EP track ‘Figures’ has the lush and intense feeling of Troublegum-era Therapy? But excellent production courtesy of Neal Calderwood (who coincidentally has worked with Andy Cairns too) boosts this to even more stratospheric levels. LSB’s signature sound is the judicious and sparing use of tight three part harmonies which, when unleashed, are full of plaintive yearning. Newer material like ‘Clout’ employs guitar riffs that are more angular than a cupboard full of set squares. Strangely enough the band are at their weakest when they are sounding closest to Funeral For A Friend and Lostprophets wearing their hearts on their sleeves on tracks like ‘Fallout’ (and they could do with losing the guitar solo). But to be honest, if this is the only criticism we can lay at their door (and it is), then this band could be the ones to burst through the cockpit door of the top twenty next year brandishing Stanley Knives. Mainly they are stamping down on the pedal and the more they do, the less they sound like their Pontypridd neighbours. ‘Uncomfortable’ comes on like The Wildhearts, Husker Du and Helmet all rammed into a blender and formed into a diabolically tasty but unhealthy rawk smoothie. And there’s a secret track which Led Zeps all the way to fuck and back. Superb.
8/10

Big Cheese November 2004:
You might have seen this band’s video for the excellent Fallout on Scuzz recently. It had samples from the old protect and survive films at the beginning? One of them was wearing a really bad shirt? Anyhoo, that’s irrelevant (although it was a bad shirt!), but if you caught the video you may well have found the song sticking in your head, I certainly did and I was glad when this arrived for me to review. All eleven songs by the Anglo/Welsh foursome sound instantly familiar without ever really ripping off anyone in particular. The storming intro ‘Figures’ is a beautifully structured smack in the face that forces you to listen, introducing you the tightly structured three vocal harmonies that haunt the rest of the record. The searing triple vocal attack backed by some ripping riffs, strike an almost perfect balance between vocals and the music. Just on the right side of commercial, these lads make some pretty darn good emotive anthems that will stick in your head for days. These are definitely ones to watch.
4/5

Left Side Brain “Action Potential”

Kerrang! no.1100 (March 25 2006):
BRISTOL QUARTET SHINE ON ALBUM TWO.
The functions of the human brain’s left hemisphere include logic, rationality and objectivity. One major factor scientists have clearly overlooked in this Bristol-based foursome’s case is the ability to harness the power of the riff. With a capital R. Fusing Helmet’s bludgeoning power to Kerbdog’s sense of driving melody, Left Side Brain deliver an impressively strong, no-nonsense follow-up to their 2004 debut ‘Equal And Opposite’.
From the one-two attack of ‘At Your Own Risk’ and ‘Exit Route’, to the controlled aggression of ‘Save Yourself’ – featuring guest vocals from Reuben’s Jamie Lenman – ‘Action Potential’ has hook-filled anthems in abundance. Left Side Brain prove themselves to be one of the brightest lights in British rock. Go to the light.
KKKK (4/5)

Rock Sound no.83 (April 2006):
While the Americans have always utilised cameo appearances by friends in high places to boost their appeal, our ever-modest Brit bands have preferred to make it on their own steam. Maybe it’s a sign of growing confidence in the significance of UK bands, but nonetheless LSB made a wise move in employing Reuben’s Jamie Lenman on ‘Save Yourself’, as he’s helped create an undisputed hard rock highlight on this, their second album. The Bristol-based band haven’t enjoyed the same success as Reuben so far, but it’s surely only a matter of time. Combining driving rock of the Helmet variety with the melodic sensibilities that made early Foo Fighters so great, their songs are a very worth addition to the Brit-rock arsenal.
8/10

From Classic Rock no.91 (April 2006):
A THINKING MAN’S MODERN ROCK BAND…
As the side of the brain concerned with organisation, thought and logic, it’s appropriate that Left Side Brain’s music resembles some kind of winning mathematical formula. Combining the taut, muscular riffs of Therapy?, the melodic suss of Foo Fighters, the brute force of Helmet and the emo edginess of Funeral For A Friend, these Bristol-based boys have fashioned an album that sounds both familiar and fresh. Building on the promise of their 2004 debut, Equal And Opposite, Action Potential reveals Left Side Brain to have not only a patent grasp of basic rock dynamics but also the ability to stretch out and flex their technical muscles – particularly on the closing nine-minute instrumental Gas Giant.
8/10

Underline “Is This Yours?”

Metal Hammer 2006
Damn, there are a lot of good bands from Northern Ireland. And Underline are no different. With this well recorded demo, the Belfast three-piece demonstrate that the power trio line-up can deliver as hard hitting an assault as any heavy rock band could hope to deliver. With distorted driving riffs a la Queens of the Stone Age , pitch-perfect vocals and some sweet wahed guitar work it’s not wonder these guys are praised local darlings. We haven’t seen them play, but you can just feel that these guys would be great live.
8/10

Contact neal@manorparkstudio.com or use the form below :-