Fresh Air Studios and Voiceovers Ltd choose Van Damme cables… because infrastructure has to be right first time

In late 2025, Voiceovers Ltd – owner of Voiceovers.co.uk, the world’s first internet voiceover directory (est 1998) – and sister company Fresh Air Studios completed their seven-space studio facility in Plymouth. Van Damme products were used throughout to create infrastructure for today’s and tomorrow’s production technology.

Recent projects include ADR for BBC1’s Amandaland and Alien: Earth, live television for GOD TV, French & Saunders Titting About for Audible, BBC radio drama, and audiobooks with Miranda Hart, Monty Halls, and Dawn French.

Opened in May 2026 by French & Saunders, the complex includes broadcast gallery-style control rooms, TV/video podcast and voiceover studios, and configurations for ADR, radio drama, and live broadcast. It is one of the South West’s largest voice-first production facilities.

Audio, video, lighting control, networking, remote contribution, and future expansion all had to be built in. With cabling hidden behind walls, under floors, and inside racks, choosing correctly first time was essential. Budget and value were also key. Van Damme’s range allowed the team to select the right cable for each application. More than 3.5 kilometres of cable was embedded into the building, much of it from Van Damme.

Infrastructure matters more than most people realise

The voice-first facility produces voiceovers, podcasts, audiobooks, ADR, and broadcast interviews. Microphones from Neumann, Sanken, and Sennheiser required reliable connectivity.

Multi-core balanced audio

Van Damme Blue Series Studio Grade pre-jacketed multicore was used for dialogue routing between studios, booths, and control rooms. Its numbered and colour-coded pairs reduced installation errors and simplified fault-finding.

SDI video backbone

Van Damme Enhanced Performance UHD Vision 12GHz coax was installed across live-production areas. Although NDI is increasingly popular, SDI offers a simple ‘patch and go’ method. The RG6/U-based cable supports 4K single-link 12 Gb/s UHDTV, SDI, and analogue video, providing capacity for future feeds.

DMX for lighting and signalling

The main TV studio required lighting control for video podcasts and live broadcasts. Robust, tour-grade Van Damme Smart Control DMX 1 pair cable was selected for its resistance to interference.

Cat6 for networking and future control

Cat6 was installed for AV networking and general-purpose connections. If the analogue and digital lines are occupied, it can support other signals or a bespoke remote-control system, giving the team capacity for future solutions.

The right-first-time mindset

The team treated cabling as infrastructure, not an accessory. It must support voice to picture, radio drama, remote contribution, live switching, monitoring, and clients’ own equipment.

Paul Philpott, CEO of Fresh Air Studios, put it like this:

“This studio build was a huge investment for a business of our size, so we had to be smart about every decision. Reliability was key. We handled all the installation in-house, so our engineers were given access to what we consider the best audio and video cabling choice on the market. We were strategic about where our money went. Van Damme offered real choice across their range, which meant we weren’t stuck using the same cable for every job - we had proper solutions for every application. And it means we’ve built an infrastructure that’s not just right for today… but right for what’s coming next.”

Gary Churcher, CEO of Voiceovers.co.uk, recollects:

“I remember working alongside Paul to draw up the complex cable diagrams, even though the building is fairly small, joining together 7 creative spaces for myriad scenarios became a complex challenge. The team at Van Damme were quick to recommend the right cable for the job, ensuring the specification was decent but not budget-breaking, and also ensuring that technical data (such as bend restrictions) was available up front. Choosing the best (Van Damme) echoes the attention to detail we deliver as a business.”

The best cabling is invisible

Most visitors will never consider what lies under the floors or within the walls. For Fresh Air Studios and Voiceovers Ltd, that hidden layer is the foundation – and Van Damme is part of it.

For more information, visit www.voiceovers.co.uk and www.freshairstudios.co.uk.