Broadcast News
10/12/2021
Rich Aitken Selects NUGEN's Audio Tools For Mixing Projects
Bassist turned Scoring Mixer Rich Aitken has been one of the industry's most respected sound production professionals for nearly 25 years.
Having spent time as a bass player in a drum and bass crossover/electro-rock band in the mid-1990s, Aitken turned his love of music and audio into a world-class business, Nimrod Sound, which he initially started as a mix-house for video games. Today, whether at home or on the road at studios like Abbey Road and The Empire, Aitken manages a wide array of recordings, works with composers and provides sonically engaging mixes to bring out the best in a musical piece for TV, film or gaming. No matter the project, or studio, Aitken relies on NUGEN Audio to deliver the ultimate sound experience, with elegant, astounding mixes, every time.
With more than 600 projects from clients that span the world, Aitken's credits include dramatic films and TV series for Netflix and the BBC, as well as for soap operas and commercials. Some of his most recent notable work includes I Care a Lot, a Netflix original J. Blakeson film; Queen Sono, a Netflix crime drama; and the BBC’s Casualty and Silent Witness TV series. Earlier work includes the BAFTA-nominated Reservoir Dogs and 24: The Game, based on the popular television series, 24.
For Aitken, NUGEN's audio tools are the top choice for mixing projects. He first stumbled upon the brand after a frustrating search for proper loudness tools to utilize on his Discovery Network projects. This hunt proved especially beneficial for his work on the SingStar video game.
"At the time, I was remixing commercial recordings for the game to ensure they worked a certain way, and there was a particular loudness target I had to meet," he said. "I needed some accurate tools and standard loudness solutions weren’t working, so I decided to try NUGEN's VisLM meter in that application. I was very happy with the results."
Today, Aitken said he uses NUGEN's VisLM everywhere and relies on it to ensure consistency. "I use it while mastering commercial film soundtracks, to keep an eye on where I am," he said. "I tend not to master to a specific standard, I just go for what sounds right, but it's nice to know where I am. If I suddenly see something like an orchestral piece is persistently up at minus nine, I know that I’m probably doing something wrong."
Aitken generally prefers to deliver his music projects at the right level for the film, TV or gaming project he is working on to ensure consistency when the music is combined with dialogue and sound effects. "Once I've gotten a piece to where I feel it’s best creatively, I don’t want clients to push the sound up and down a lot to meet their dialogue and SFX marks," he said. "I don't mind the mood of the sound ducking a little bit, because sometimes there’s a bit of dialogue that needs to be heard, but I hold myself responsible for having the music at the level I think it should be in the film. I want to please the composers and make sure that my directors get what they need as well."
Now a longtime fan of the brand, Aitken most recently jumped at the opportunity to try NUGEN’s new 3D convolution reverb plug-in, Paragon. The plug-in has proven to be a welcome addition to Aitken’s audio arsenal, and he uses it for musical scores as well as for dubbing over TV and film projects.
"Dubs have a specific kind of neutral and natural sounding need that isn’t necessarily very overt and splashy," he explained. "In those cases, we're often just trying to simulate a room or put someone in a space. By contrast, if you're using a reverb for music, most of the time you're looking to make a huge statement. I've always wanted to make surrounds from what are predominantly mono and stereo renders that composers give me. Not many people record in surround, but I’m expected to deliver music for films that way. NUGEN Paragon gives me the ability to create an amazing surround production from mono or stereo sources."
nugenaudio.com
Having spent time as a bass player in a drum and bass crossover/electro-rock band in the mid-1990s, Aitken turned his love of music and audio into a world-class business, Nimrod Sound, which he initially started as a mix-house for video games. Today, whether at home or on the road at studios like Abbey Road and The Empire, Aitken manages a wide array of recordings, works with composers and provides sonically engaging mixes to bring out the best in a musical piece for TV, film or gaming. No matter the project, or studio, Aitken relies on NUGEN Audio to deliver the ultimate sound experience, with elegant, astounding mixes, every time.
With more than 600 projects from clients that span the world, Aitken's credits include dramatic films and TV series for Netflix and the BBC, as well as for soap operas and commercials. Some of his most recent notable work includes I Care a Lot, a Netflix original J. Blakeson film; Queen Sono, a Netflix crime drama; and the BBC’s Casualty and Silent Witness TV series. Earlier work includes the BAFTA-nominated Reservoir Dogs and 24: The Game, based on the popular television series, 24.
For Aitken, NUGEN's audio tools are the top choice for mixing projects. He first stumbled upon the brand after a frustrating search for proper loudness tools to utilize on his Discovery Network projects. This hunt proved especially beneficial for his work on the SingStar video game.
"At the time, I was remixing commercial recordings for the game to ensure they worked a certain way, and there was a particular loudness target I had to meet," he said. "I needed some accurate tools and standard loudness solutions weren’t working, so I decided to try NUGEN's VisLM meter in that application. I was very happy with the results."
Today, Aitken said he uses NUGEN's VisLM everywhere and relies on it to ensure consistency. "I use it while mastering commercial film soundtracks, to keep an eye on where I am," he said. "I tend not to master to a specific standard, I just go for what sounds right, but it's nice to know where I am. If I suddenly see something like an orchestral piece is persistently up at minus nine, I know that I’m probably doing something wrong."
Aitken generally prefers to deliver his music projects at the right level for the film, TV or gaming project he is working on to ensure consistency when the music is combined with dialogue and sound effects. "Once I've gotten a piece to where I feel it’s best creatively, I don’t want clients to push the sound up and down a lot to meet their dialogue and SFX marks," he said. "I don't mind the mood of the sound ducking a little bit, because sometimes there’s a bit of dialogue that needs to be heard, but I hold myself responsible for having the music at the level I think it should be in the film. I want to please the composers and make sure that my directors get what they need as well."
Now a longtime fan of the brand, Aitken most recently jumped at the opportunity to try NUGEN’s new 3D convolution reverb plug-in, Paragon. The plug-in has proven to be a welcome addition to Aitken’s audio arsenal, and he uses it for musical scores as well as for dubbing over TV and film projects.
"Dubs have a specific kind of neutral and natural sounding need that isn’t necessarily very overt and splashy," he explained. "In those cases, we're often just trying to simulate a room or put someone in a space. By contrast, if you're using a reverb for music, most of the time you're looking to make a huge statement. I've always wanted to make surrounds from what are predominantly mono and stereo renders that composers give me. Not many people record in surround, but I’m expected to deliver music for films that way. NUGEN Paragon gives me the ability to create an amazing surround production from mono or stereo sources."
nugenaudio.com
Top Related Stories
Click here for the latest broadcast news stories.
10/10/2024
Lawo Virtual Sound Card For macOS 14 Sanoma Now Available
Lawo has announced the availability of the Lawo Virtual Sound Card (VSC) for macOS 14 (Sonoma) and later. This versatile virtual audio device enables
Lawo Virtual Sound Card For macOS 14 Sanoma Now Available
Lawo has announced the availability of the Lawo Virtual Sound Card (VSC) for macOS 14 (Sonoma) and later. This versatile virtual audio device enables
28/08/2024
Dolby Atmos Upgrade For KoKo Sound Studios
KoKo Sound Studios, one of the most sought-after mixing facilities in South Korea, has invested in a Prism Sound Dream ADA-128 multichannel converter
Dolby Atmos Upgrade For KoKo Sound Studios
KoKo Sound Studios, one of the most sought-after mixing facilities in South Korea, has invested in a Prism Sound Dream ADA-128 multichannel converter
05/08/2024
Airshow Mastering Installs Prism Sound Dream ADA-128 Multichannel Converter
Colorado-based Airshow Mastering has installed a Prism Sound Dream ADA-128 multichannel converter in its mastering studio where it is being used acros
Airshow Mastering Installs Prism Sound Dream ADA-128 Multichannel Converter
Colorado-based Airshow Mastering has installed a Prism Sound Dream ADA-128 multichannel converter in its mastering studio where it is being used acros
31/07/2024
Stage Sound Services Integrates Clear-Com® Advanced Communication Systems
This year, Stage Sound Services integrated Clear-Com® advanced communication systems supplied by Amber Sound into two of the West End's most high-prof
Stage Sound Services Integrates Clear-Com® Advanced Communication Systems
This year, Stage Sound Services integrated Clear-Com® advanced communication systems supplied by Amber Sound into two of the West End's most high-prof
22/07/2024
Prism Sound Appoints Planeta Analogico
Prism Sound has appointed Planeta Analogico as its partner in Argentina, with responsibility for its range of audio interfaces including the powerful
Prism Sound Appoints Planeta Analogico
Prism Sound has appointed Planeta Analogico as its partner in Argentina, with responsibility for its range of audio interfaces including the powerful
28/07/2006
Short film production hot-house calls for new British film projects
Tomorrow’s award-winning British filmmakers are being called to submit their short film projects for funding through the highly successful Cinema Extr
Short film production hot-house calls for new British film projects
Tomorrow’s award-winning British filmmakers are being called to submit their short film projects for funding through the highly successful Cinema Extr
28/07/2004
Film London’s digital film fund announces slate of new projects
Eight talented directors have been awarded a share of £68,000 of production funding and skills development with the London’s leading digital short fil
Film London’s digital film fund announces slate of new projects
Eight talented directors have been awarded a share of £68,000 of production funding and skills development with the London’s leading digital short fil
16/11/2001
FILM COUNCIL INVEST £202,636 IN FILM PROJECTS
THE Film Council's Development Fund have announced their second raft of single film projects with a total investment of £202,636. The fund's investmen
FILM COUNCIL INVEST £202,636 IN FILM PROJECTS
THE Film Council's Development Fund have announced their second raft of single film projects with a total investment of £202,636. The fund's investmen
15/10/2024
DPA Brings Sound Engineer Robert Czyżewicz Vision To Life
Renowned Sound Engineer Robert Czyżewicz, celebrated for his innovative approach to sound in cinema, has once again delivered an auditory masterp
DPA Brings Sound Engineer Robert Czyżewicz Vision To Life
Renowned Sound Engineer Robert Czyżewicz, celebrated for his innovative approach to sound in cinema, has once again delivered an auditory masterp
22/09/2016
Mark Aitken To Present Keynote Session Of 2016 IEEE Broadcast Symposium
Mark Aitken, vice president of advanced technology for Sinclair Broadcast Group (SBG), will present during a luncheon keynote session of the 2016 IEEE
Mark Aitken To Present Keynote Session Of 2016 IEEE Broadcast Symposium
Mark Aitken, vice president of advanced technology for Sinclair Broadcast Group (SBG), will present during a luncheon keynote session of the 2016 IEEE
28/06/2024
NXTGENbps Teams Up With Sustainable Film
NXTGENbps has partnered with Sustainable Film, a leading consultancy in film and TV production sustainability. This collaboration marks a significant
NXTGENbps Teams Up With Sustainable Film
NXTGENbps has partnered with Sustainable Film, a leading consultancy in film and TV production sustainability. This collaboration marks a significant
07/02/2013
Sound Devices Equips Watson Wu Studios
Specializing in providing professional audio content for film, television, commercials and video games, Watson Wu Studios has come to rely on Sound De
Sound Devices Equips Watson Wu Studios
Specializing in providing professional audio content for film, television, commercials and video games, Watson Wu Studios has come to rely on Sound De
02/11/2006
Film Festivals To Benefit From Film London's Audience Development Fund
A new range of film festivals and cinema projects is set to benefit from the latest round of Film London's Audience Development Fund. In all 14 projec
Film Festivals To Benefit From Film London's Audience Development Fund
A new range of film festivals and cinema projects is set to benefit from the latest round of Film London's Audience Development Fund. In all 14 projec
23/05/2024
Metropolis Studios Upgrades To Prism Sound Dream ADA-128 Audio Conversion
With 25 Prism Sound ADA-8XR multichannel converters already in use across its five studios, the internationally acclaimed Metropolis Studios in London
Metropolis Studios Upgrades To Prism Sound Dream ADA-128 Audio Conversion
With 25 Prism Sound ADA-8XR multichannel converters already in use across its five studios, the internationally acclaimed Metropolis Studios in London
22/05/2024
Joshua Blair To Share Industry Knowledge At Prism Sound's 8 Hours At Rockfield
Producer and engineer Joshua Blair and mastering engineer Nick Watson will be sharing their music industry knowledge and expertise at Prism Sound's 8
Joshua Blair To Share Industry Knowledge At Prism Sound's 8 Hours At Rockfield
Producer and engineer Joshua Blair and mastering engineer Nick Watson will be sharing their music industry knowledge and expertise at Prism Sound's 8