Gallery and control room

Adjacent to the Sennheiser Studio, the gallery and control room is equipped with vision mixer, consoles for remotely controlling lighting, cameras, playback, recording, communications, streaming and teleprompting. Monitoring is achieved using three 50” UHD screens. Largely equipped by Blackmagic Design, it is fully integrated, highly versatile and has extensive digital network capabilities able to provide routing options throughout our facilities.

Grading suite

This acoustically treated digital lab is a finishing space that enables highly accurate grading, final correction and monitoring to take place before films and visual media are exported. It runs DaVinci Resolve Studio with supporting Blackmagic hardware panels, on EIZO monitors that are 98% colour accurate alongside a large 65” UHD display for viewing and screening work. The grading suite is a highly controlled environment with adjustable ambient lighting - with a colour temperature of neutral daylight.

Live sound studio

Includes a Calrec Brio 36 channel desk that supports both live mixes from the studio or working with streamed or pre-recorded media from other parts of LIPA through dedicated fibre optic network, along with comms, radio MIC controls, audio playback facilities and Neumann monitoring speakers.

Surround sound studio and voiceover booth

Recording and mastering suite with 5:1 surround. The suite runs a variety of software including ProTools, Fairlight and Logic, with hardware consoles and Neumann monitoring speakers. Positioned alongside is a fully acoustically insulated voiceover booth for voice, ADR and Foley work.

Cameras and location kit

Loanable equipment for location shots includes, Sony A7s and FX30, Canon EOS-R, Blackmagic 4K, 6K and 6K Pro Pocket Cinema, Red Komodo 6K and Arri Alexa cameras; Sennheiser wired and wireless microphones; Tascam, Zoom and Røde audio recording equipment; VIVE, Oculus and Meta VR headsets; a range of camera stabilisers, and Zhiyun and DJI gimbals.

Motion Capture Suite

Our motion capture suite has an 18-camera array and support for virtual camera systems and VR headset preview. The Optitrak system is capable of full body capture of three performers at up to 120 fps.

Media Edit Suite

Our post-production ICT suite is equipped with Apple iMacs. These computers all run Adobe Creative Cloud as well as a range of other post-production and design software including DaVinci Resolve Studio, Logic, Unity, Unreal Engine. Our post-production facilities also include a grading suite which has high accuracy UHD monitoring for editing and colour grading.

George Harrison Workshop Studio

Seating up to 120 people, The George Harrison Workshop Studio is a fully equipped experimental performance space that offers creatives and performers a ‘blank canvas’ for productions. As well as immersive and promenade performances, it can also host more traditional theatrical productions with a variety of stage and audience configurations. The George Harrison Workshop Studio is also used as an exhibition, rehearsal, and teaching space.

The Paul McCartney Auditorium

The PMA is the largest of LIPA’s performance spaces and is a traditional proscenium arch theatre. It can seat an audience of around 350 people and has flexible seating arrangements and staging configurations.  

Each year over 30 performances take place in the PMA. These include shows that make up part of LIPA’s season of public performances, providing Sound Technology students with the opportunity of working on large-scale, fully realised drama, dance, and musical theatre productions as well as a two week-long music festival.

Technical Services

LIPA’s Technical Services team can help with general technical queries and booking out equipment for short-term loan. Loan equipment includes musical instruments, microphones, various recording and playback equipment, digital video and stills cameras and AV equipment. 

Term-time opening hours allow you access to Technical Services from 9am until 11pm every weekday and 9am until 5pm on Saturday and 11am until 5pm on Sunday. Outside of term-time it is open on weekdays from 9am - 5pm.

Learning Resources Centre

LIPA’s Learning Resources Centre (LRC) is a specialist creative and performing arts library with an extensive collection of books, e-books, scores, CDs, DVDs, e-resources, print and electronic journals. Whether you are looking for individual songs or scripts, background research or creative inspiration, the LRC Team will be able to help. The LRC offer support sessions in ICT and study skills through subject specific lectures, as well as one-to-one and drop-in sessions, ensuring you get the most out of your study. The LRC website provides the gateway to LIPA’s online catalogue and electronic resources and includes links to a wide selection of help sheets and video guides.

In addition, LIPA’s virtual learning provision which includes Moodle, holds a variety of subject-specific learning materials, such as lecture notes, useful web links and module information. The majority of these services are available off-campus. LIPA’s integrated learning environment has a variety of study spaces, including individual and group work areas, and an open-access computer suite. Facilities include printing, copying and scanning, plus binding and laminating equipment.

A range of stationery is available for purchase to support your studies. Opening hours during term time are Monday and Wednesday 9.00am to 6.00pm, Tuesday and Thursday 9.00am to 8.00pm, Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm​. The LRC may be closed for some weeks in June and is also closed during July and August.

ICT Services

LIPA's Information, Communications and Technology Department provides the infrastructure and services framework that enable students to exploit the latest information and communication developments. Industry-standard computer resources are running the latest productivity software on high specification workstations in dedicated computer suites. LIPA also has a colour A0 plotter, ideal for floor plans. All PCs are installed with Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office & Project as standard.

There is also access to a range of additional specialist software installed on selected workstations. These include AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Cloud applications, EarMaster, Sibelius, MindManager, Vectorworks and WYSIWYG. All workstations have access to the Internet, email and other electronic resources.

There is free Wi-Fi access throughout our buildings for students and staff members via the Eduroam network which provides a world-wide roaming access service developed for the international research and education community. Specialist ICT staff are available to answer questions, give assistance and advise on ICT issues.

LIPA Bar & Canteen

As well as serving food and drink, the bar and canteen are the hub of social activity within LIPA with both spaces licensed for performances. The canteen is the venue for LIPA’s weekly gig night, The 2ube. Most Fridays the 2ube features live performances, showcasing musicians from LIPA and Liverpool’s music scene. The event is a collaboration between Management, Music, Sound Technology and Theatre & Performance Technology students.

The canteen also hosts open mic and jukebox shuffle nights, and independent student organised performances and benefit nights. The bar hosts regular quiz nights and Student Event Board parties.

The bar is open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 3pm - 11pm, and Tuesday and Wednesday from 3pm - 10pm, with extended hours for special events.

The canteen is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am – 3pm, serving food and drink at student-friendly prices.

LIPA is also home to a 92 Degrees Coffee shop. The popular Liverpool independent has a number of coffee stores and roasteries across the north west. It serves up barista coffee and cakes in the Art School Atrium during term time.