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Welcome to ICON Collective’s New Campus!

After 15 years of offering the best music production education available, ICON Collective is proud to welcome you to our brand new campus!

This 32,000 sqft. building launches the next era in the evolution of ICON. We can provide an even more in-depth learning experience for producers, vocalists, business entrepreneurs, and all creatives alike!

With professional equipment and space for 800 students to learn, connect, and create, this building is a hub for the future of the music industry.

Check out some the building’s coolest features and amenities below:

Creative Studios

This campus houses over 25 studios where students can create freely and openly. This includes individual rooms, vocal studios, live tracking rooms, and more.

Analog Mastering Studio

Students of our new Advanced Music Production Program will learn to master their own full-length studio albums, and with this new space, they can give their albums that special post-production flair right here on site.

The following is the top-notch equipment available for use in this studio:

  • Barefoot Monitors
  • SSL Fusion
  • 1973 Drawmer
  • 1974 Drawmer EQ
  • Two SSL EQ’s
  • Two Rupert Neve Mic Pre’s
  • SPL Qure Tube Equalizer
  • Tascam DA-3000 DSD
  • Bettermaker Mastering Limiter
  • Access to all UAD Plugins
  • Wavelab Mastering DAW

Fully Equipped Recording Studios

At ICON students have the opportunity to create without impediment. Whatever they hear in their mind they can express in our two fully-equipped recording studios! Whether they want to work with a rock band, a string quartet, an acapella group, this is a space for flow.

Both rooms include a fully loaded SSL XL Desk with 24 channels along with a wide variety of microphones and synthesizers available to check out in our equipment room.

Individual Studios

There over 20 individual studios available in our new building. Each fully equipped with an Apollo Twin interface and every UAD plugin available. In these spaces, students are free to work at their own pace, expressing their vision with full autonomy.

Teaching Theaters

Our six new teaching theaters are the foundation of ICON. Within these spaces creatives share knowledge of synthesis, music theory, philosophy and more topics that contribute to ICON’s renowned curriculum.

Every theater accommodates a 20-to-1 student teacher ratio to ensure every student get the attention they need to succeed.

Performance Theater

One of the most exciting additions found in ICON’s new campus is our 50-seat performance theater. With professional lighting, sound, and staging, we will host all manner of performances, guest speakers, and other presentations.

The students in our new Vocal Artist Program will perform weekly as well as regularly invited guest artists. The stage will host interviews and industry Q & A’s all for the consumption and inspiration of the Collective.

Common Areas

The most valuable part of coming to ICON is the connections made between the Collective. Your fellow creatives become your network, your collaborators, your friends.

In our new building we have immense space for everyone from students to staff to instructors to gather and share their ideas. This includes a full size kitchen and cafeteria style table perfect for pizza Fridays!

Downtown Burbank

ICON has called Burbank home for many years now, but with this new campus, we are moving to the heart of Downtown. In a city known around the world for its contributions to entertainment and popular culture, Downtown is where the people working in those industries come to connect and socialize.

An up and coming neighborhood, Downtown Burbank is home to food and fun for all ages and budgets. Watch the latest movies at one of the three local theaters. Play a round of pool at the famous Fantasia pool hall. Enjoy healthy cuisine at spots like Sweetgreen and The Asian Project or gather with friends for some drinks and a game at Yard House.

Conclusion

ICON’s new campus is a testament to our commitment to providing young creatives the best education possible. As we grow, so does our reach and influence, and we are using both to support the Collective in any way we can. The possibilities of what will result from the creative synergy happening her are endless, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds in our new home.

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MORE ARTICLES FROM THE ICON BLOG

Mastering Like an Icon: A Comprehensive Guide

By Florian Radke • 06 Dec, 2023
Mastering is the final stage of the music production process, and it can make all the difference between an amateur sounding mix and a professional, radio-ready track. As the last creative step before distribution, mastering polishes a mix and prepares it for the listener's experience across various playback systems. While mixing involves balancing and processing individual tracks, mastering takes a holistic approach. Mastering engineers use specialized tools and global adjustments to enhance the overall sound quality, consistency, and perceived loudness of a song. Their expertise and fresh ears provide an objective perspective on giving mixes the final touches they need. This guide breaks down the art of mastering into "4 C's" - clarity, consistency, color, and clipping/loudness. Understanding these concepts is key to elevating mixes and achieving professional masters. Whether you're a producer looking to DIY master your own tracks or better communicate with mastering engineers, the 4 C's provide a framework for success. I. Clarity Clarity refers to how clearly the listener can hear all the individual elements and details in a mix. It enables the message and emotion of the music to shine through. Mastering should enhance clarity by ensuring nothing obscures the core instruments and vocals. Equalization (EQ) is essential for boosting clarity during mastering. Strategic EQ can attenuate problem frequencies that clutter or mask other elements. For example, a dip at 400-600Hz could tame muddy bass buildup, while a boost at 2-4kHz could increase vocal presence. Subtle EQ moves of 1-2dB can make a notable difference. Multiband compression also helps increase clarity on specific frequency ranges. Compressing the low mids around 300-500Hz can tighten and control muddy resonances, cleaning up the low end. Gentle compression on highs above 10kHz can add sizzle and detail. The key is to compress transparently, avoiding pumping artifacts. Modern mastering tools like iZotope’s Ozone provide dedicated modules for honing clarity. The “Spectral Shaper” applies smoothing EQ to suppress resonances and masking. The “Vintage Tape” module smooths out peaks and enhances punch. Used subtly, these processing tools can work wonders for opening up a dense mix.  A case study in exemplary clarity is the mastering on Daft Punk’s 2013 album “Random Access Memories.” Despite the record’s density of instruments and arrangements, every element shines through in a clean, polished way. The mastering perfectly complements the pristine production quality.

Rick Rubin: Harnessing the Essence of Sound

By Florian Radke • 01 Dec, 2023
Explore Rick Rubin's minimalist music production ethos, highlighting his work with Johnny Cash and Adele, and how his "less is more" approach revolutionizes music’s emotional impact.
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Hip Hop History: From the Streets to the Mainstream

By Rory PQ • 18 May, 2023
Hip hop is one of the world's most prominent musical genres and cultural influences. Explore significant events in hip hop history and its explosive evolution.

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