Trackdown Digital

Trackdown (Trackdown Digital Pty Ltd) is an independent Australian audio post and music services facility, for the film, television, music and multimedia industries. Founded in 1984 by Simon Leadley and Geoff Watson.[1] it provides dedicated music editing services for feature films.[2] The facilities include a purpose-built orchestral scoring stage, 5.1 control room, ADR and foley recording studios, 5.1 film pre-mix rooms, 5.1 mix rooms and five Pro Tools edit suites.[3][4] Trackdown is located in The Entertainment Quarter Moore Park.[5]

Trackdown
IndustryAudio post, Music production
Founded1984
FounderSimon Leadley and Geoff Watson
Headquarters
Sydney
,
Australia
Number of locations
Camperdown, Moore Park, Sth Melbourne
Servicesaudio post, recording and music services
Websitewww.trackdown.com.au

History – The Studio

Trackdown began as a rehearsal and 4-track recording business called, "The Studio." in Oxford Street, Sydney. It was one of Sydney's first rehearsal/demo studios and clients included INXS, Midnight Oil, Divinyls, Do Re Mi,[6] The Church and Dragon.[2][7]

Trackdown

In the late 1980s The studio moved to Bondi Junction,[8] to a couple of small rooms in the basement of Hutching's Keyboards[9] where Simon created Sydney's first half inch 16-track recording studio using the Fostex B16 then E16. The business was renamed Trackdown and was the first studio to use Sony's PCM701 digital 2-track system for final master. Clients included indie bands The Saints, Mental As Anything,[7] Allniters, The Castanet Club, Robyne Dunn[10] and Electric Pandas.

Camperdown Studio

In 1990 Trackdown built a new studio complex in Camperdown, within the Yoram Gross Studio building. At this time, Digidesign's SoundTools software was emerging (later to evolve into Pro Tools). With a traditional Otari 24-track analogue and Dolby SR, and mixing to 2-track SoundTools, Trackdown recorded bands including Icehouse,[11] The Angels, Midnight Oil and The Saints.

It was here that Simon also introduced digital technology to animation production company, Yoram Gross Films, and Trackdown became the first studio in Australia to use Pro Tools for TV picture post. Their first project was Blinky Bill animated TV Series One.[2][8]

Trackdown Music Services

In 1998 Trackdown was invited to set up a music for film division at Australia's leading feature film audio production house, Soundfirm, at Sydney's Fox Studios. They named it Trackdown Music Services - Australia's first dedicated music editing service for feature films. Music editing credits include Alex Proyas' Dark City, Master & Commander, Happy Feet,[12] The Bank Job and Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge,[13] Australia and The Great Gatsby,[14] for which Trackdown's Supervising Music Editor Tim Ryan and Music Editor Craig Beckett were awarded the 2014 MPSE Golden Reel for "BEST SOUND EDITING IN FEATURE FILM – MUSIC"[15]

Simon Leadley Scoring Stage
Trackdown Scoring Stage

The purpose built orchestral recording studio, Trackdown Scoring Stage was officially opened on 9 September 2003 by Federal Minister for the Arts Senator Rod Kemp.[16] Trackdown engineered and built the stage in what was formerly The Simpsons Studio in Fox Studios backlot entertainment area – now The Entertainment Quarter. Described as "the missing link in Australia’s film production"[17] the room "has become recognized as one of the five best orchestral recording rooms in the World".[2] The main hall can house a 100 piece orchestra and comprises a 5.1 Monitoring Control/Mix Room, two separation booths for singers & choirs, drums or non-orchestral elements and a green room for musicians. Before its official opening the scoring stage was "test driven by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO)"[17] to record music for the Rugby World Cup.[16]

In addition to film scores, it is also used for video game scores,[18] events, recording MusicMAX video sessions,[19] live performances,[20] film screenings, and as a rehearsal space. In 2005 Trackdown recorded both the full score for Happy Feet and also remote sessions for ADR using "Source Connect” technology.[2] Most recently, Mentoring Sessions for The Voice Australia, were recorded in the scoring stage.[21] In October 2010 Trackdown scoring stage was renamed The Simon Leadley Scoring Stage in honour of its co-founder.[1]

2006 to the present

Trackdown's Moore Park Studio, Building 125 (adjacent to Fox Studios), houses The Simon Leadley Scoring Stage, Mix one - Trackdown's 5.1 audio edit and music mixing suites – a Theatre, and production suites and offices for hire. Trackdown's recent feature film credits include Happy Feet Two[22] and Australia. Clients and artists who have used the facilities to perform and record include Coldplay, who performed a secret intimate gig in the Scoring Stage,[23][24] The Saints,[25] Justin Bieber[26][27] who performed a secret gig in Trackdown in July 2012, Will.I.Am, and One Direction[28] In 2013 the services were expanded with the opening of Theatre One, in partnership with Definition Films, "a 20 seat theatrette with grading, audio post, mixing and 3D screening capabilities".[29] In December 2015 global publisher peermusic announced a strategic partnership with Trackdown, in which Trackdown is to oversee in-house A&R, sync activities and business-related opportunities in Australian and New Zealand.[30]

People
  • Geoff Watson - Managing Director
  • Elaine Beckett - General Manager
  • Simon Leadley - Trackdown Director and Leading Australian Music & Sound Craftsman – In memory of
  • Tim Ryan - Supervising Music Editor
  • Craig Beckett - Music Editor and Engineer

References
  1. "If Magazine". If Magazine. Retrieved 1 November 2010.
  2. "Official Website". Trackdown. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  3. "Encore Directory".
  4. "Music & Sound Post-Production-Trackdown". Ausfilm. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  5. "on the lot - Fox Studios". Fox Studios Australia. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  6. "Discogs Music Database". discogs. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  7. "Soundclick inc. Music Community website". soundclick.
  8. "Pioneering Australian Music Editor and Trackdown Digital Founder Simon Leadley Dies at 53". Film Music Magazine. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  9. "Artist- Anthony Lee history". Soundclick. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  10. "Trackdown Album recordings". Discogs Music Community. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  11. "Iva Davies & Icehouse - Discography".
  12. "Happy Feet - Music To Our Ears". Urban Cinefile. Urban Cinefile. 25 January 2007.
  13. "'Moulin Rouge' Soundtrack Backed Up on VXA-1 Tape Drives". PR newswire. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  14. "The Great Gatsby". AudioTechnology Magazine. AudioTechnology Magazine. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  15. "Motion Picture Sound Editor Golden Reel Awards Winners Announced". Motion Picture Sound Editor Golden Reel Awards. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  16. Maddox, Garry. "Wanna score? Films get orchestral manoeuvres in the park". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 September 2003.
  17. Urban, Andrew L. "TRACKDOWN SCORING STAGE". Urban Cinefile. Retrieved 11 September 2003.
  18. "Sumthing Else Music Works Releases Resident Evil 6 Original Soundtrack". sumthing. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  19. "The Max Sessions presents Chicago atTrackdown Studios". Spotlight Report. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  20. Rossi, Hector B. (5 September 2013), Mak Shau @ Trackdown Digital, retrieved 25 May 2017
  21. "Daniel Brown profile". JMC academy.
  22. "Daniel Brown - House Engineer - Profile". JMC academy.
  23. "Watch: Coldplay thrill fans at intimate show - [V] Music". [V] Music. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  24. "coldplay wiki". wikicoldplay. wikicoldplay. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  25. McMillen, Andrew. "Chris Bailey: 'I Really Enjoy Being An Old Slut'". Mess + Noise. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  26. "Justin Bieber Live + Intimate For Channel [V]". SocialDiary. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  27. Russell, Billie. "WHEN BILLY RUSSELL MET JUSTIN BIEBER". pagesdigial. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  28. "One Direction Take Over Trackdown Studios for 2DayFM". Hollywood Treatment. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  29. "Jands - Trackdown Mixes It Up With JBL And Crown".
  30. Writer, Staff. "Global Music Publisher Peermusic Signs Deal With Premier Aussie Post-Production House". the music. Street Press Australia Pty Ltd. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
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