EXPLORING THE SOUNDSCAPES

WE GO BEHIND THE SCENES OF SOUND & MOTION STUDIOS WITH SIMON RATCLIFFE TO EXPLORE THE DYNAMIC WORLD OF AUDIO PRODUCTION.

- SIPHOSETHU NDABEZIMBI

IN THE REALM OF AUDIO PRODUCTION, SIMON IRATCLIFFE BRINGS MORE than two decades of expertise to his role as the managing director and a producer at Sound & Motion Studios, which he founded in 2002.

Sound & Motion Studios has become a renowned hub for immersive sound experiences, servicing a diverse array of clients across the film, television, music, videogaming, and advertising industries.

Embracing a philosophy rooted in collaboration and excellence, Simon Ratcliffe shares with us his remarkable journey behind the scenes.

Could you share a bit about your audio-production journey and how you arrived at your current roles as the MD and a producer at Sound & Motion Studios?

I started as a musician in 1992, then ventured into live sound engineering by 1994, where I immersed myself in various bands and cover groups.

In 2000 I found myself at the London Connection specialising mainly in jazz music. Two years later I leaped and founded my studio in Harrington Street, Cape Town. However, it wasn't until 2016 that we moved to our current location, a converted church in Lakeside, Cape Town.

In this period, I also delved into lecturing and course development, expanding our reach to Tanzania, Lagos, and Johannesburg. The expansion didn't stop there; we ventured into the Netherlands, where I underwent additional training to further enhance our capabilities. Additionally, our partnership with The Refinery in Cape Town's CBD saw us diversify into post production, particularly in picture post.

Despite the challenges posed by the 2008-2009 financial crash, our Nigerian branch proved to be a resilient asset, helping sustain the company during trying times.