COVID-19 Information
Updated 22 Feb 2022
Following UK Government Guidance and our own Risk Assessments, AIR Studios has drawn up a detailed Health & Safety Policy to protect the staff, clients and you from COVID-19.
This overview highlights the key points to help you understand the changes.
It is prepared according to the DCMS approved guidelines set out by our trade body the MPG (Music Producers Guild)
We also recommend you read the Musician Union guidance on what to expect when Attending Recording Sessions.
Further Documentation
Our full risk assessments and policies are available here
AIR-Studios-COVID-19-RA-Studio-Operations-V12 updated 22/02/22
AIR Studios COVID-19 Health & Safety Policy v8 updated 23/03/22
AIR Studios COVID-19 Health & Safety Overview
Updated 22 Feb 2022
Travel
To protect personnel at AIR and help reduce transmission in the wider community:
- We ask everybody to follow GOV.UK and TfL guidance, particularly on public transport, when travelling to AIR Studios
- Extra cycle parking will be provided
Health Checks
To reduce the chance that COVID-19 is brought on-site:
- Personnel should not attend if they are currently required to self-isolate or quarantine according to NHS guidance.
- Possible health screening, e.g. temp check, by medical personnel on arrival
Training & Communication
To keep all personnel informed and ensure safe practice:
- Risk Assessments and Health & Safety Policies are available online
Arriving at the Studios
To ensure all personnel gain access safely when arriving you should:
- Allow for extra time to access the studio for queuing, registration, health checks & tests.
- Bring the access permission email – on a phone or printed to speed up sign-in
- Use the sanitising stations situated at the entrances
Social Distancing
Social Distancing may be implemented in the live area on specific sessions.
We will retain the following policies:
- Contact free sign in for all personnel
- Live Areas may have designated seating
- Controlled movement between control room and live area
Personal Hygiene
To reduce the possibility of transmission on-site we are providing:
- Sanitising stations at external entry and studio entry points
- Pedal operated waste bins
- Single use paper towels in all toilet facilities
PPE & Face Masks
We advise that:
- Musicians use face coverings or masks except when playing an instrument
- Clients, crew and visitors use face coverings or masks
Provision of PPE and face coverings.
- AIR staff will be supplied with, situation appropriate, PPE
- Client, crew, visitors & musicians should supply their own face coverings or PPE
COVID-19 Specific Cleaning
To remove possible contamination of surfaces and equipment AIR will:
- Disinfect common touch areas.
- Specific cleaning of musician equipment: chairs, headphones, music stands
- Specific cleaning protocols for personnel responsible for studio equipment
- Use UV-C disinfection systems as appropriate
Catering
To keep all personnel safe during breaks:
- Musicians are asked to take all their waste/rubbish home with them or use pedal bins provided
Operating Procedures
Musician Guidance
Musicians must not plug their own equipment/chargers into mains sockets
Client, Crew & Visitor Guidance
Ventilation
All our air conditioning runs with maximum fresh air. Each studio & live space has a separate system. The Hall's extract system is automatically enabled whenever the session is not in record - 60-70% of a session.
Studio Capacities
Live Room – 70 musicians - includes musicians in booths when "open"
Please note: if social distancing is required then the live area capacity reduces to 50.
Large Booths (x2) – 4 people in each when "closed"
Small Booths (x2) – 1 person in each
Ante Room – 2 people
Green Room – 2 people (if available)
Live Room – 30 musicians
Please note: if social distancing is required for a session the live area capacity reduces to 20.
Ante Room – 1 person
Office Room - 1 person
Control Room – 4 people (Engineer, Assistant, 2 Clients)
Ante Room – 1 person
Office Room - 1 person
Control Room – 4 people (Engineer, Assistant, 2 Clients)
Ante Room – 1 person
Office Room - 1 person
Prep – 1 person (Engineer)
Restrictions on Movement
Remote Monitoring
To complement our policy of keeping as many of the productions personnel off-site as possible AIR has updated it's range of remote monitoring options:
Updated 22 Feb 2022
Protocol
Whilst on-site musicians are adviseded to:- Wear a face covering or mask except when playing an instrument
- Chair
- music stand
- sheet music
- headphones
- instrument and personal belongings
Musicians must not plug their own equipment/chargers into mains sockets
Breaks
The canteen is now open for musicians where client policy permits. Food and drink may be consumed in communal areas unless directed otherwise.Headphones
- Will undergo anti-viral cleaning before and after use
- Can be cleaned by the user with their own cleaning products
- Musicians can bring their own headphones
- Musicians must minimise contact with our headphone stage boxes
Specific Instruments
We request that players of the following instruments should also:- Brass – capture spit valve content with a container, towel or cloth and take this off-site
- Wind - no extra mitigation required
- Vocals/Choir - no extra mitigation required
Updated 22 Feb 2022
Protocol
Whilst on site clients, crew & visitors are advised to:- Wear a face covering or mask
- Stay within their designated Team Area during sessions unless permitted otherwise
Sound Engineer, Recordist, Assistant
Control Room Team. Controlled access to the Live Area once the musicians are in the Live Area. There is a dedicated toilet facility for this Team.Producers & Directors
Control Room Team. No access to the Live Area.Music Editors
Control Room Team. No access to the Live Area.Composers
Control Room Team. Controlled access to the Live Area may be possible.Conductors
Live Area Team. Controlled access to the control room for playback.Orchestral Supervisors/Contractors/Managers/Fixers
Live Area Team or Control Room Team. Assigned depending on which location would benefit the role best.Stage Assistant
Stage Team. Access to the Live Area - time limited once the musicians are in session. Access to Heath & Safety Area. No access to Control Room once musicians Control Room Team are present. The stage assistant, or designated staff member, is responsible for opening the Live Area doors.Copyists
Stage Team. Access to Live Area but limited to when no musicians are present or there is limited occupancy - e.g. breaks. Distribute the scores to the stands before the musicians enter the Live Area. Provide boxes for the musicians to deposit the scores at the end of the session.Technical Support
Technical Team. Access all areas but time limited in the Live Area when musicians are present. Technical Support may provide longer assistance in the control room.Technical Director (H&S)
Health & Safety Team. As per Stage Team but Access All Areas to for any supervision or enforcement issues.Medic
Health & Safety Team. As per Stage Team but Access All Areas if medical attendance is required.Session End
Once all musicians have left the building after a session then the Control Room Team and Stage Team may move more freely to facilitate break-down and setup. Social distancing must be observed at all times. Care should be taken when handling equipment that has yet to be cleaned; it is advised to wear gloves if practical for the job.Updated 22 Feb 2022
All our air conditioning runs with maximum fresh air. Each studio & live space has a separate system. The Hall's extract system is automatically enabled whenever the session is not in record - 60-70% of a session.
AIR Conditioning Specification
The ac/hr (air circulation per hour) for each space is:- Hall Control Room 13.5 ac/hr
- Hall Live Area 3.32 ac/hr
- Studio 1 Control Room 28.5 ac/hr
- Studio 1 Live Area 7.75 ac/hr
- Studio 2 Control Room 18.75 ac/hr
- Studio 3 Control Room 13.25 ac/hr
Updated 22 Feb 2022
The Hall
Control Room – 7 people (Engineer, Recordist, Assistant, 4 Clients)Live Room – 70 musicians - includes musicians in booths when "open"
Please note: if social distancing is required then the live area capacity reduces to 50.
Large Booths (x2) – 4 people in each when "closed"
Small Booths (x2) – 1 person in each
Ante Room – 2 people
Green Room – 2 people (if available)
Studio 1
Control Room – 5 people (Engineer, Recordist, Assistant, 2 Clients)Live Room – 30 musicians
Please note: if social distancing is required for a session the live area capacity reduces to 20.
Ante Room – 1 person
Office Room - 1 person
Studio 2
Control Room – 4 people (Engineer, Assistant, 2 Clients)
Ante Room – 1 person
Office Room - 1 person
Studio 3
Control Room – 4 people (Engineer, Assistant, 2 Clients)
Ante Room – 1 person
Office Room - 1 person
Mastering
Suite – 2 persons (Engineer & Client)Prep – 1 person (Engineer)
Restrictions on Movement
- Only specified control room personnel will be allowed into the live area whilst there are musicians on the floor
- Technical support personnel will make every effort to resolve issues remotely but may be required to attend these spaces on occasion
- A sanitising station is positioned at the control room door and must be used on each whenever moving between the two Areas
Updated 22 Feb 2022
To complement our policy of keeping as many of the productions personnel off-site as possible AIR has updated it's range of remote monitoring options:
Zoom
Talkback and video. Application or webAudiomovers
HQ audio feed. Web-based, no app required.ClearView Flex Pro
HQ, low-latency audio and video. Web-based, very secure.Source-Live
HQ audio & video. Web-based, no app required.SourceConnect Pro-X
HQ audio, talkback and pic sync. Complex setup.SourceConnect Now
Talkback. Web-based.Contact
For further details or answers to specific questions you may have please contact us:
AIR Studios Coronavirus Team – coronavirus@airstudios.com