Orbital has always been active in audio training and offers a range of solutions for students, industry professionals, educational establishments and amateurs.

Orbital has a purpose-built 225m² seminar space that is large enough to hold a full class, together with any technical equipment required. In some of our courses the space is utilised to stage a full theatrical production deploying the skills learned during the course, alternatively it can be divided into two separate large classroom spaces.

Orbital's training facility is available to manufacturers who wish to stage product demonstrations or in-depth courses and comes complete with data projector, whiteboard and easy load-in access without steps.

Training programmes are organised by Simon Whitehorn and Jeremy Ellis who can be contacted at

A range of courses are available; some are held annually and others can be arranged according to our clients' requirements - places are usually highly sought-after so we urge you to book early!

Courses include:

Sound Training Course for Technical Students at UK Drama Schools

• Hosted in conjunction with The Royal National Theatre
• Run annually since April 2001, this course is a top-up course in theatre sound techniques for students studying on technical courses at UK drama schools. We have had students from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Central School of Speech & Drama, Guildford Conservatoire, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, LAMDA, Mountview Academy, Queen Margaret's College Edinburgh, RADA, Rose Bruford College, Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
• A 5-day course held at Easter every year (please apply for exact dates and costs)

Sound Training For Drama Schools

• A top-up course in theatre sound techniques for students at drama schools
• A more condensed version of the course above
• A 2-day course usually held in October (please apply to discuss dates and costs)

Sound Training For Education Establishments

• Various courses aimed at enhancing an educational establishment's audio teaching
• Training can take place at our base in London or at your school or college and can be aimed at Secondary, Higher or Further Education level.
• As well as being practising industry professionals, our experienced tutors have taught on a range of courses at every level from key stage 3 to post-graduate, and are CRB certified
• Courses are structured around your requirements (please apply to discuss dates and costs)

Sound Essentials

• This 1 day course is hosted in conjunction with the ABTT
• The course deals with understanding the fundamentals of sound and acoustics. Using and choosing sound equipment, playback devices, microphones, radio mics, mixing desks, processing, amplifiers, loudspeakers, cables and connectors. Topics include selecting sound effects, and sound reinforcement styles and techniques
• This course is part of the ABTT's Silver award for Sound Technicians, although it can be taken as an individual course. The course is particularly suited to venue staff who find that they have to operate sound without receiving training. It combines well with the Sound Communications course which is usually held on the following day (please apply to discuss dates and costs)

Sound Communications

• This 1 day course is hosted in conjunction with the ABTT
• The course looks at the different types of communications systems used to in theatre to keep the show running reliably. Wired headsets, show relay and paging, cue lights, CCTV and radio talkback systems
• Part of the ABTT's Silver Award for Sound Technicians, although it can be taken as an individual course. It is particularly suited to venue staff who find themselves responsible for communications systems in their venue. It combines well with the Sound Essentials course which is held on the previous day (please apply to discuss dates and costs)

Sound Fundamentals

• This two day course (only bookable via BECTU) deals with sound systems for theatre and the live entertainment industries
• After an introduction to sound theory, there will be hands-on sessions dealing with the component parts of a sound system and how to interconnect them
• Day 2 features more advanced topics such as the use of radio microphones, foldback and in-ear monitor systems. Each topic will initially be dealt with from a basic level and no prior knowledge is assumed (please apply to discuss dates and costs)

Electroacoustics and Sound System Design

• Hosted in conjunction with d&b audiotechnik
• The focus of the day is on achieving intelligibility - if you're passionate about sound, then you want to get good quality, intelligible sound to every seat in the house. Most sound engineers have a good knowledge of the electronic signal path, but are less sure of the acoustic signal path between the loudspeaker and the listener's ears. It is this part of the signal chain that is primarily looked at
• A 1-day course (please apply for dates)

Soft Playback, Show Control and Digital Samplers

• CSC and SFX software are rapidly becoming standards for audio playback and show control on international musicals and West End plays alike and are finding great favour at repertory and installation sites
• Coupled to specific software training, Orbital can also teach the fundamentals of good sound FX creation utilizing Pro Tools and Cool Edit Pro software, Yamaha digital production sound desks and the intricacies of WAV File manipulation
• Sessions normally take place in the company's sound studio where students will program their own show of music and sound effects, but can also be hosted at your venue if required
• Courses are tailored according to your needs (please apply to discuss dates and costs)
• Training for digital samplers, MIDI and the computer sequencing packages that are used to trigger samplers are also offered (please apply to discuss dates and costs)

Digital Sound Desks - Yamaha and Digidesign

• Over recent years digital sound desks have revolutionised the control of sound for shows in the West End and on tour
• Learn how to program and operate these desks from experts that have used them in a wide range of real-life situations
• Courses available to suit your needs either for one-on-one training or for groups (please apply to discuss dates and costs)

Orbital are always interested in developing new training modules in appropriate subjects; so if you think you have a requirement not covered in the selection above, please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss a tailor-made package. Training can be provided at our base in London or at your venue or educational establishment.

Orbital Training Courses:

» Sound Training Course for Technical Students at UK Drama Schools

» Sound Training For Drama Schools

» Sound Training For Education Establishments

» Sound Essentials

» Sound Communications

» Sound Fundamentals

» Electroacoustics and Sound System Design

» Soft Playback, Show Control and Digital Samplers

» Digital Sound Desks - Yamaha and Digidesign