Noise Headquarters (NHQ) at Panampilly Nagar in Kochi dons the role of a sound engineering college and a recording studio together. The academy is affiliated to Pulse College of Ireland and certified by Windmill Lane Recording Studio in Dublin. This venture is a dream-come true of Jim Jacob, Managing Director of the institute who wished to open a recording a studio in Kochi, after returning from Ireland on completing his sound engineering course. What they had before was a city that already had many studios all over hinting feeble chance to make business. Four like-minded friends Vivek Rahul, Sreejith Shanmughan and Kittson Varghese and Jim brainstormed, took all necessary feasibility studies before putting their words into action in September last year.
The objective of the academy is to provide the audio industry with passionate and competitive professionals who can work wonders in sound engineering. “Business always comes secondary as everyone in the team only cares about providing every facility for a quality music production, which is our key to success,” says Jacob.
Courses
NHQ has its platter serving both short-time and long term courses. The minimum qualification to join is Class XII. Two short-term courses, ‘Introduction to Sound Engineering’ and ‘Music Production’ are of 10 weeks in duration. These courses aim at imparting practical know-how and provide on-the-job training. It has on offer a one-year full-time Diploma in Sound Engineering and Music Technology and a two-year full-time Advanced Diploma in Sound Engineering and Music Technology. The 23 years plus expertise of Pulse College in music industry gives NHQ an advantage of preparing a well-structured syllabus and to provide practical classes every week.
Facilities
High-quality labs, studios, equipment and an ambience required for music production at NHQ provide students with everything an audio engineer must be familiar with. The classrooms are fully air-conditioned and equipped with projectors and instruments they require. The lab is set with Mac systems and is fully equipped with the modern technology to meet any production standards. ‘The Engine room’, the main studio is set in brilliant acoustic. It houses one dedicated live recording room, big enough to accommodate a 12-piece orchestra. Engine Room has most modern equipment installed and powered with Protools HDX system for uninterrupted processing power. The Second studio ‘The Area 51’ has a recording room, suitable for vocals and other solo instruments. Third studio ‘The Mystique’ is in the making.
“I’ve come across many recording studios, but NHQ has great facilities compared to its counterparts in Kerala. The academy had just opened when I joined and I was a tad apprehensive, but the ambience and facilities are wonderful,” says Sanal Pillai, a Sound Engineering and Music Technology student.
Faculty
The academy is headed by Principal Prof Joseph Sebastian, retired professor from St Xavier’s College in Thiruvananthapuram. Faculties from both Windmill Lane and Pulse College teach at NHQ. The academy has skilled hands specialised in teaching and production. Students are provided internships at Windmill Lane Recording Studio for two weeks on completion of the two-year course so that industry exposure is guaranteed.
Noted works
In both movie and advertisement fields, NHQ has proved its dexterity. Recent Malayalam movies Vikramadityan, Njan Steve Lopez, Angry Babies, Beware of Dogs, Alice the True Story, Konthayum Poonoolum, Low Point and Vegam had their songs and trailers done here. In addition, the jingles they created for television commercials are also making waves. NHQ wants to create a campus for the academy to function and keep the studio separately by adding more features. Details at www.nhq.co.in.
Meera.manu@newindianexpress.com