RECORDING STUDIO OPENS THIS MONTH

The studio at Switched On Records, Victoria Street, Douglas, will be opened in the next few weeks, by Lieutenant Governor Ian Macfadyen and aims to provide DJs with a place to harness their talent.

Taking a year to build, the 10 feet by 12 feet studio has cost 12,000 with financial help offered by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Princes Trust.

Switched On's Allan Fair said: 'The initial concept of the studio was first conceived about a year and a half ago and has taken that long to come about after extensive market research, valuable networking and studio equipment research.

'Since completing the small business start-up scheme I then began the difficult process of starting my first business, Switched On Studio, which took approximately three months.

'During this period I have been trialing the studio's training techniques, this has been working to great effect as we have more than 10 full-time course students.'

The money has been spent on kitting-out the studio with Technics turntables, CD turntables, an array of mixers and monitor speakers as well as a Clarion Music computer.

With this level of equipment the studio can offer facilities for learning how to DJ, mixing tracks and even recording sessions onto CD.

He said: 'There is a definite need for a studio in the Island as there is a dire lack of facilities for the young and the old.

'We are aiming to work with government departments by offering the studio as a workshop where disadvantaged children will have opportunity to learn something new, express themselves musically rather than the more destructive ways that so many children have been accustomed to.

'Hopefully something like Switched On Studios can give people a bit of focus and show them that there is a larger world out there and it is accessible to them with a little dedication, effort and most importantly of all, training.'

Allan said: 'The studios' ambition long term is to look at the possibility of providing an internet radio station that covers all genres of dance music such as drum and bass, techno, hard house, funk, jazz and soul.

'We are open to talks or suggestion from any other interested companies who feel that this could be beneficial to the Island.

'Within three years we hope to have full live recording facilities that can accommodate any track that needs to be made.

'Overall we hope to be able to build a solid platform for other people and myself to work on.'