The Synchromesh Portable Recording Studio Design Contest

The Synchromesh Portable Recording Studio Design Contest now is over!

The Synchromesh Portable Recording Studio Design Contest: The Synchromesh EU – International Arts and Communications are running an international competition for the best portable recording studio design (and prototype) inviting anyone worldwide to enter, individuals, groups and companies.

➜ Short description

The Synchromesh EU – International Arts and Communications, a creative cultural company focusing on live and recorded artistic performance and events, are running an international competition for the best portable recording studio design (and prototype).

International Arts and Communications (IAC) in Dublin is running a two year project for young professionals to create and record audio dramas across Europe. The project introduces a range of creatives and technicians to the joys and potential of audio drama.

Audio drama is a highly accessible art form which can now be made using low cost but high quality technical equipment, free editing software and can be widely distributed online.

The Covid-19 lockdown provided new opportunities to record audio remotely from actors’ homes – a development from the time honoured tradition of voiceover artists sticking a duvet over their head.. The potential with a broadcast quality portable studio that can be sent and opened anywhere tardis-like is tremendous.

The design challenge is that the features needed for this studio appear to be contradictory. This studio needs some exceptionally clever thinking.

The organizers are looking for a low cost portable recording studio “in a box”. The box – ideally no bigger than a couple of suitcases – would contain everything required for an effective recording studio – microphones, insulation etc. It would be available to order as a home assembly kit which could easily be assembled by the most technically challenged in their own home.

Key Features are:

1. Portability: we need to be able to send this out to someone in the back of a taxi

2. Quality: the studio should to be able to deliver broadcast quality results

3. Insulation: as part of quality about we need a studio that offers a good measure of sound proofing

4. Acoustics: the studio is for spoken word. We need a “dead” space that soaks up sound.

5. Budget: we are looking for something that can be produced by pros and enthusiasts and most of all young people. So it needs to cost hundreds not thousands.

6. Accessibility: ideally this should be something that an enthusiast could order in parts or follow instructions and make from a kit themselves.

7. Idiot proofing: the studio needs to be user friendly – really user friendly for people who can not handle Ikea instructions for construction and can only do “press and record” for the electronics.

➜ Who may enter?

Entries are accepted from individuals, ad hoc groups of entrants, constituted organisations including – but not restricted to – registered companies, schools, universities, arts organisations or community organisations. There are no geographical restrictions on eligibility.

➜ Prize:

There is a “cash-prize” of €5,000 for what the Synchromesh partnership considers to be the best solution.