Podcast Studio in Manchester

Two high-end, full-service podcast studios with space for numerous contributors including producers. All rooms soundproofed and acoustically treated for voice, connected by 12G-SDI and a 10-gigabit media network, recording with triple redundancy.

Podcast Studio Dimensions

Studio A — Length: 10 metres / 33ft | Width: 6 metres / 20ft | Height: 5 metres / 16ft
Studio B — Length: 6 metres / 20ft | Width: 6 metres / 20ft | Height: 2.5 metres / 8ft

Microphones

Schoeps: 4× CMC6 MK41 | Shure: 3× SM7B (with Cloudlifters) | Neumann: 4× U87

Cameras & Vision Mixing

8× Blackmagic Studio 6K Cameras
1× Blackmagic 6K Pocket Cinema Camera
10× Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Studio 4K Pro with SSD & network storage
2x Blackmagic Design ATEM 1 M/E Constellation 4K
2x Blackmagic Design ATEM Micro Panels
1× Blackmagic Design Cloud Pod
1× Blackmagic Design Video Assist
2× Blackmagic ATEM SDI & HDMI Pro ISO switcher with camera control
1× iFootage Shark Slider Nano II-660

Ultra HD H.265 10-bit ISOs per camera plus 1080p proxies; 6K BRAW optional; all striped with time-of-day timecode.

Lenses

8× Matched Samyang XEEN T1.5 Cine | 2× 35mm, 4× 85mm & 2× 50mm EF mount
4× Matched Rokinon Cine T1.5 | 24mm, 35mm, 50mm & 85mm EF mount (if needed)

Lighting (CRMX Control)

2× Aputure Sidus One
4× Aputure STORM 400x Bi-Colour with Lantern & other modifiers + soft boxes with grids
8× Aputure STORM 80x with Fresnels & barn doors
4× Aputure INFINIBAR PB12
2× Aputure INFINIBAR PB6
3× Aputure Accent B7c
1× Godox AT200B
3× Godox ML30Bi Bi-Colour with Fresnels & barn doors + soft boxes with grids
4× Amaran PT4c RGB Tube Lights
1× Amaran PT2c RGB Tube Lights
1× Godox TP4R RGB Tube
3× Godox UL150 Silent LED 5600K with Fresnel & barn doors
4× Godox C10R-K8 Knowled
6× E-Image 40″ C-STANDs | 1× Sekonic L858D Lightmeter | 1× X-Rite ColorChecker

Teleprompter

Datavideo TP-700 Universal Large Screen Prompter Kit

Broadcast Video Monitors

2× SWIT FM-215HDR 21.5 inch 1000nits 12G-SDI HDR (regularly calibrated)

Audio Preamps, EQ & Dynamics

2× Grace Designs M108 (8 channels each) with analogue, Dante & USB interfacing. 2× Pro Tools Ultimate. 4× DBX 160 XT compression and Neve EQ used on record. ATC and Amphion monitoring.

Remote Contributor Options

Face-to-face interaction with dial-in guests via Zoom, Teams, Riverside or ZenCast shown on a large HD TV screen. We patch the camera feeds into the software so contributors see you at your best. Source Connect Pro, CleanFeed, IpDTL, SessionLink Pro, Source Nexus and other options available at additional cost with prior arrangement.

Additional Facilities

Computer: Apple M4 Pro running AVID Pro Tools HDX | 4× 13″ iPads | Printer: 2x Brother Laser Printer (B&W) with AirPrint | TV: 4K 55″ LG Smart TV with AirPlay & ChromeCast | Internet: leased-line fibre with automatic failover — hardwired or Wi-Fi 6e

File Deliverables

Audio-only podcasts via secure online link. Video via client-supplied USB-C or Thunderbolt SSD (exFAT, 500 GB+ free). WAV 48kHz 24-bit · UHD H.265 10-bit 2160p 25fps ISOs for all cameras · 1080p proxies · DaVinci Resolve project. Time-of-day timecode throughout.

Catering

On-site café open 8 am to 2 pm weekdays serving breakfast, lunch and coffees. Deliveroo is available with many of Manchester’s city centre restaurants and cafés. We don’t provide catering options.

Location & Parking

80 HERTZ Studios, The Sharp Project, Thorp Road, Manchester, M40 5BJ. 10–15 minutes from the city centre by car, or a 10-minute walk from Central Park tram stop. Free secure 24/7 on-site parking covered by G4S CCTV. Internal CCTV covering exits. Full disability access and accessible toilets.

1. Definitions

“The Studio” refers to 80 HERTZ Studios Limited (registered in England & Wales), its employees, agents and subcontractors. “The Client” refers to any person, company or organisation booking the Studio’s facilities, including the person making the booking, who warrants they have authority to bind the organisation they represent. “Session” means the total booked time slot, including setup, recording and data transfer. “Client Data” means all audio, video and project files captured during a Session. The Booking Confirmation together with these Terms forms the agreement between us.

2. Services Provided & Rates

All Sessions include an engineer, 4× 6K studio cameras, cinema prime lenses, and a full lighting rig. All rates are exclusive of VAT.
Ultra HD (UHD 4K): hourly £255 + VAT (£306 inc. VAT) — minimum 2 hours.
Standard HD (1080p): hourly £195 + VAT (£234 inc. VAT) — minimum 2 hours.
Add-ons: 6K Blackmagic RAW (BRAW) £40 + VAT per camera, per session (UHD tier only); remote guests £15 + VAT per hour (Zoom/Teams/Riverside integration); make-up/changing facilities £20 + VAT per hour or £125 + VAT for a full day.
Quoted rates are valid for 30 days unless otherwise stated.

3. Technical Specifications & Redundancy

The Studio operates a high-availability recording workflow: three copies of audio to three separate devices, and each camera feed isolated in HD, UHD and BRAW (if selected). This is an operational measure during the Session only and does not constitute a backup, archival or storage service (see clause 7). All technical setup (lighting, mic placement, camera alignment) occurs within the booked Session time, typically 30–45 minutes. We may substitute equipment of equivalent or superior specification where necessary. Producers and team members are welcome up to 30 minutes before the session start, subject to availability.

4. Bookings, Deposits & Payment

A 50% deposit is required to secure a date; a booking is confirmed once the deposit is received and we issue a Booking Confirmation. The final 50% balance must be settled in cleared funds before any Client Data is released — the Studio operates a strict no-release-before-payment policy. We may charge interest and recovery costs on overdue invoices under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. Overruns are charged at the applicable hourly rate, rounded up to the next 30 minutes, subject to availability.

5. Cancellation & Rescheduling

Calculated from the Session date: 5+ business days — 50% of the deposit refundable, or one free reschedule; 2–5 business days — deposit non-refundable, £49 + VAT rescheduling fee; under 48 hours — deposit non-refundable, no rescheduling. All requests must be in writing. Reschedules are subject to availability and must be taken within 3 months of the original date.

6. Data Transfer & Client Responsibility

The Client must provide a USB-C SSD formatted in exFAT with a minimum of 500 GB free space. The Studio is not responsible for the suitability or performance of any drive supplied by the Client. Data transfer forms part of the booked Session time; typical rates for four cameras are approx. 100 GB/hour (UHD) or 50 GB/hour (HD). It is the Client’s sole responsibility to verify the integrity, completeness and playability of all Client Data on their own drive before leaving the premises — any concern must be raised with the engineer before departure.

7. Data Retention — No Backup or Archival Service

The Studio is a recording facility, not a data storage, backup or archival provider. Once Client Data has been transferred to the Client’s drive (or uploaded at the Client’s request), the Studio’s responsibility for retaining or reproducing it ends in full. As a courtesy only, we will endeavour to retain a working copy for as long as reasonably practicable — this is a goodwill measure, not a contractual obligation. The Studio reserves the right to permanently delete any Client Data at any time after handover without notice or liability. Clients should assume no copy is retained.

8. Data Protection & Consents

Recordings may contain personal data (the images and voices of guests). The Client is the data controller for the content and use of the Recordings; the Studio acts only as the facility capturing them on the Client’s instruction. The Client warrants it has obtained all necessary consents, talent releases and permissions from every identifiable individual, in compliance with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and indemnifies the Studio against any claim arising from failure to do so. The Studio processes booking and contact details in accordance with its Privacy Policy.

9. Intellectual Property

Subject to full payment, all intellectual property rights in the Recordings vest in the Client — the Studio claims no ownership of your content. The Studio retains ownership of its own equipment, workflows and pre-existing materials, and may, with the Client’s prior written consent, reference the engagement in its portfolio and marketing.

10. Equipment & Premises

The Client assumes full financial liability for damage to Studio equipment caused by the Client, their guests or crew through negligence, misuse or accident; reasonable repair or replacement costs will be invoiced. The Studio is not responsible for loss of or damage to items brought onto the premises, which are brought at the owner’s risk and should be insured by the Client. Clients and guests must comply with Studio rules, fire procedures and the reasonable directions of staff.

11. Talent, Guests & Safety

The Client is responsible for the conduct, supervision and safety of its guests, for briefing them on Studio rules, and for ensuring no guest attends while unwell in a way that risks others, or under the influence of alcohol or unlawful substances. The Studio maintains a current risk assessment and reasonable health-and-safety controls, available on request. Nothing in these Terms limits the Studio’s liability for death or personal injury caused by its negligence. Where any guest is under 18 or a vulnerable adult, the Client is responsible for supervision, consents and safeguarding checks.

12. Content & Legal Liability

The Client is solely responsible for the content of its Recordings and indemnifies the Studio against any claim, defamation, IP infringement, regulatory action or proceeding arising from content recorded, published or distributed by or for the Client.

13. Insurance

The Studio holds Public & Products Liability insurance (Hiscox) with cover of £2,000,000 per claim, covering third-party injury and property damage arising from our activities, including visiting talent, crew and guests. Employers’ Liability cover of £10,000,000 per claim is held as required by law. If your production, broadcaster or talent requirements stipulate a higher minimum level of Public Liability cover, you must tell us before booking so we can consider whether additional cover can be arranged. The Client is responsible for its own insurance for its production, equipment, personnel and talent.

14. Limitation of Liability

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, or anything that cannot lawfully be excluded; consumers’ statutory rights are unaffected. Subject to that, the Studio is not liable for loss of profit, revenue, business or anticipated savings; loss, corruption or non-availability of data or Recordings; loss of goodwill; wasted expenditure; or any indirect or consequential loss. Our total aggregate liability in connection with a Session is limited to the total fees actually paid for that Session. Claims must be notified in writing within 30 days of the Client becoming aware of the circumstances.

15.Force Majeure

The Studio is not liable for failure or delay caused by events beyond its reasonable control (power or network failure, equipment failure not attributable to our negligence, fire, flood, illness of key personnel, industrial action, or actions of third parties). Where such an event prevents a Session, we will offer a reschedule or, at our discretion, a refund for the affected Session — the Client’s sole remedy.

16. Right to Refuse or Terminate

The Studio may refuse, suspend or terminate a Session (without refund) where the Client or a guest behaves unlawfully, dangerously or abusively, damages or risks equipment or premises, breaches these Terms, or where continuing would expose the Studio to legal or reputational risk.

17. General

The Booking Confirmation and these Terms form the entire agreement. Variations must be agreed in writing. If any provision is unenforceable, the remainder continues in force. The Client may not assign its rights without written consent. No term is enforceable by third parties under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. Where the Client books as a consumer, these Terms do not affect non-excludable statutory rights.

18. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales, and disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of its courts.

By paying a deposit and/or attending a Session, the Client confirms acceptance of these Terms & Conditions