The steering group that saw this project through to completion consisted of representatives of Lews Castle College, Western Isles Enterprise, LEADER II, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Western Isles Careers Service, Sgoil Lionacleit, MOD, Barra Learning Centre, and the community groups Cothrom, Ùrachadh Uibhist, and Uist 2000.

The first full-time FE course to be offered in Uist was the GSVQ II in Care, starting in September 1997 using temporary premises associated with Sgoil Lionacleit. The Diploma in Art and Design was added in September 1998 in association with the Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Art Centre in Lochmaddy.

In tandem with these curricular developments a funding package was put together for the Benbecula Campus with contributions from Western Isles Enterprise, European Regional Development Fund, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, and the Scottish Office. Building work started on the site adjacent to Sgoil Lionacleit in September 1998, and was completed in time for the opening the following year.

Music Facilities

Studio 1

Studio 1 - is a professional-standard 18 I/O project studio centred around the Pro Tools recording system. There are two rooms—a control room and a live room—which are acoustically separated from each other and the rest of the building. The studio features a wide variety of professional dynamic and condenser microphones (e.g. Neumann, AKG, DPA) with class A pre-amps (Apogee and Audient) and an excellent near-field monitoring system (Dynaudio BM-6a). A large, motorised control surface (Digidesign Control-24) provides a ready hands-on interface for the software environment, with instant recall and automation. CD and DVD burning is possible on-site, and the studio caters for a number of formats including MP3, ADAT, minidisk, DAT and analogue cassettes.

Studio 2

Studio 2 - is a smaller control room based around a multi-purpose live room and two medium-sized isolation booths (Studiobox). The main interface is a Digi 002, which features eight touch-sensitive motorised faders. With a Proteus 2500 sound module, a variety of synthesis and sampling plug-ins and a large master keyboard, Studio 2 is a fully-functioning recording and composing environment.

The main teaching classroom for the music courses features eight Pro Tools workstations (Mbox) with MIDI keyboard, and an additional instructor’s workstation with an 002r interface and 16/8/2 Soundcraft analogue desk. A projector system allows students to follows the instructor’s moves in real time.

Outside Bookings

Clients booking the studio must be qualified to operate the equipment or have a qualified engineer who will be present during sessions. Evidence of qualifications may be in the form of certification, accredited course work or prior experience. Individuals who are interested in booking the studio but who do not possess the necessary qualifications are encouraged to consider enrolling on one of the audio engineering short courses currently on offer at the College. The courses give students the best possible introduction to Pro Tools and music recording in a concise three-day format.

Clients who wish to hire a qualified engineer may contact the college for further information and a contact list.

Rental Fees and Procedure

Studio bookings are taken and managed by the college secretary.