Your technological playground
In the creative media metropolis of Berlin, eight minutes on a tram from Ostkreuz past an industrial landscape of concrete factories and power stations, the iconic and historic Funkhaus complex looms into view.
Our riverside campus at Funkhaus is part of the historic building that was once home to the GDR’s broadcasting station and was one of the world’s largest multi-studio complexes during the Soviet era.
Our cutting-edge facilities are built with one thing in mind: maximising ‘hands-on’ access to doing what you love. Think of it as your very own technological playground.
Here’s a quick summary of the highlights:
- 35 recording and production studios for music, sound, film and visual media
- Five computer labs, each one with 16 Mac workstations
- Electronic music performance space with stage and spatial sound
- 14 visual effects PC workstations
- Film studio with green screen
- Cinema
- Theatre
- A radio broadcast space, home to our student-run radio station Etikett Radio
- Over 3,000 bookable items of tech equipment for music, sound, film and visual media production
- Kitchen with free coffee and tea
- Riverside location
That said… Although our spaces are fully equipped with the latest technology, we believe that creativity is king. The latest technology is just another tool. What matters is how you build and develop your creative muscle as you learn to use those tools.
Music & Sound facilities
Studios & production spaces
29 studios and production spaces for music and sound, including:
- 3 full recording studios with control room & production suites
- a mastering studio
- a large electronic music mixing studio
- a Dolby Atmos suite
- a multi-channel suite
- 8 large production suites
- 12 compact production suites
- an electronic music performance space with stage and spatial sound
- a radio broadcast space for our student-run radio station Etikett Radio
Scroll through some of our favourite studios below:
Mixing consoles
We have two large format mixing consoles; a SSL Origin and a Trident 88 as well as many small and portable mixers from Soundcraft and Midas.
DAW & controllers
The DAWs we have available are Pro Tools, Logic, Reaper and Ableton Live. We also have a variety of controllers from Ableton (Push 3), Novation and Native Instruments.
Instruments
Choose from acoustic and electric guitars, electric basses, amplifiers, drum kits and various percussion instruments. We have four upright pianos (Steinway and Yamaha) as well as a Disklavier! We also have lots of other left-field instruments to make unique sounds and get you thinking creatively.
Synthesisers
We have a huge selection of hardware synthesisers covering both east and west coast synthesis. These include keyboards, euro-rack systems, mono synths, poly synths and a Serge modular systems.
Drum machines & sequencers
Our music tech shop hosts a wide range of drum machines and sequencers from brands such as Elektron, Korg, Doepfer, Arturia, Novation and Roland – offering you limitless possibilities for performance and recording.
Effects pedals
Aside from the hardware signal processing in our studios, we have a vast array of effects units, guitar pedals, and signal processors so you can find the delay, reverb, flanger, ring modulator or overdrive that you are searching for.
Microphones
More than 100 microphones from brands such as AKG, Audio Technica, Audix, Vangaurd Audio, Beyerdynamic, Coles, Electro-Voice, Heil, Mojave, Neumann, Oktava, Peluso, Rode, Sennheiser and Shure. As well as some weird and wonderful effect mics and contact mics.
Audio software and plug-ins
Our software, effects and audio manipulation tools include Max MSP, Sonnox, Izotope, Native Instruments Reaktor, VCV Rack, Pure Data and Fab Filter.
Film, Visual Media & Acting facilities
Film studio
Black box film studio with two-sided infinity wall green screen and overhead lighting rigging, used by our film and visual effects students.
Cinema
Our cinema uses JVC 8k projector and has a region-free Blu-ray player. Used for masterclasses from visiting lecturers, cosy cinema nights and, of course, watching student projects on the silver screen.
Theatre
Theatre with tiered seating, spotlights, dmx board and sound cueing system. On show nights, our theatre seats all our guests – during rehearsals it helps our actors understand the nuance of stagecraft.
Acting studio
Although you’ll find our actors filming all over Funkhaus and across Berlin, this is the space they call home. It's used for movement work, acting and camera workshops and rehearsing.
Post-production suites
Six bookable post-production suites for all your editing needs.
Visual effects workstations
14 visual effects PCs, drawing tablets and a suite of industry-standard software, with dedicated editing, sound, and visual effects post-production suites.
Film & Visual Media tech shop
Borrow everything you need to shoot films, including camera, lights, stands, grip and accessories. For all your visual effects needs, we have graphic tablets, motion capture equipment, high definition projectors and VR headsets.
Vocal studios
Mix suites for voiceover and dubbing work.
Tons of bookable items
Aside from the tech shop goodies listed above, we have fog machines, gimbals, dollies, gels, flags, stands, grip gear, cabling and expendables, props and costumes, an extensive DVD library and free access to streaming platforms.
Location, location, location
Shoot and rehearse at our huge range of atmospheric, industrial and historic locations in and around Funkhaus, from original mid-20th-century to minimalist concrete.
Community spaces
When you're not busy working hard on your latest production, you are going to need somewhere to take a breather. We've got you covered with both indoor and outdoor solutions, depending on the weather.
Funkhaus facilities
The Funkhaus complex also houses a range of creative industry spaces and practitioners including two world-class recording halls, large-scale live venues, clubs, recording studios, visual artists, immersive music experience MONOM, regular TV and film location shooting, music festivals and our own internationally unique learning institute.
Recent acts to perform at Funkhaus include Nils Frahm, Aphex Twin, alt-J, Depeche Mode, Kendrick Lamar, Bon Iver, LCD Soundsystem and the fabulous People Festival.