News

The new season’s coffee is here. If you ever wondered why Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee costs 100 times that of other coffees now is the time to experiment. Is it hype or does heaven have a price?

Here’s the rather long list of the latest coffees we’re roasting at omuk for our pleasure and to seduce visitors to the London studio. Come and enjoy!

Brazil Ipanema Yellow Icatu – A wonderful example of Speciality grade Brazillian coffee, it has a chocolaty walnut/hazelnut flavour with a smooth mouthfeel.

China Washed Arabica Simao Huimin – This is a Grade One washed Arabica which is smooth, sweet coffee that suits a dark roast.

Costa Rica SHB EP Monte Plata  – Monte Plata is a small estate which is part of Coopedota. With the correct extraction characteristic Red Fruit flavour develops, with a slight acidity. Also subtle hints of cantaloupe or honeydew, plum, red berry jam, and a sweet spice in the finish.

Cuba Altura Lavado  – A very light and mellow coffee, slightly floral with a sweet finish.

Dominican Republic Barahona Paraiso – This has a rich, creamy body and low acidity are why many consider it to be the best coffee from the Dominican Republic.

El Salvador SHG – Mild, with good balance, medium body, sharp acidity and a hint of sweetness. The green beans are processed using the wet-process and grown under shade.

Ethiopian Sidamo – Prized for its good acidity and smooth, sweet flavour. It is an Arabica bean grown at high altitude which is great for all day drinking.

Guatemala El Cascajel Washed  – Medium roasted this excellent coffee is clean, lemony and sweet. Roast darker to bring in a hint of chocolate with orange tang.

Guatemalan SHB HueHueTenango  – From the north highland, exceptional with distinct fruity flavors…

Indian Arabica Plantation AA Pambadampara Estate  – A UTZ and RainForest Alliance certified coffee. A wonderful desert wine sweetness with hints of sweet pepper, coconut, subtle earth and cedar notes.

Indian Monsoon Malabar –  A pure Indian coffee, harvested post-monsoon to deliver a plump mature bean. When medium roasted produces a full palate with well rounded body and a strong hint of spice.

Indonesia Java Blawan  – An exceptional heavy bodied arabica of unique character. Displays a spicy tang, with a rich and nutty texture. Blend with mocha for distinctive popular brew.

Indonesia Torajah Kalosi G1 Lasuna Estate, South Sulawesi – Spicy and fruity with an excellent aroma.

Jamaican Blue Mountain Peaberry RSW – An amazing balance of aroma, body and acidity is the medley which makes Blue Mountain Coffee very special.

Malawi AB Plus Pawamba  – From the southern Thyolo district of Malawi. Medium bodied with caramel and green apple notes.

Mexico Altura Topacio  – Medium body with a light acidity.High grown in Southern Mexico. Delicate flavours with a clean crisp after taste. Full medium roast.

Nicaragua SHG EP Hacienda Sajonia  – Low acidity with an aroma of fruity apricot. Dark and smoky flavour with a hint of toasted coconut.

Papa New Guinea Y Grade Mountain Top  – An excellent Arabica from this region, produces a cup that is quite fruity and earthy in the cup. Performs better when dark roasted.

Peru MCM Grade 1  – The highest grade green coffee from Peru, features pronounced acidity, good body, intense and strong flavour.

Rwanda Fully Washed AA Inzovu AA  – Inzovu new crop – Sweet and clean, with a bright acidity and some floral notes.

Rwanda Gisuma – Red Bourbon Washed A high grown Bourbon that provides a complex cup, especially if medium roasted. Look out for grapefruit, blackcurrants, plums and damsons. Dark roasts will have slight chocolate notes.

Sumatra Jagong Village – Organic Semi Washed when roasted three quarters the way to second crack the taste is very heavy and full of rich sumptuous chocolate.

Sumatra Mandheling GR1 – Full bodied with a rich flavour and low acidity. Sumatra Arabica green coffee beans. Produces a full bodied brew with a rich flavour and low acidity.

Uganda Arabica Bulgisu AA – from the Bulgisu mountain region (obviously), will roast to full well into the second crack for rustic fruity tones.

Vietnam Arabica – Another one best enjoyed when roasted into second crack.

OMUK founder Mark Estdale is a guest speaker for the second year running at Platform 2013.  Mark’s session this year is on voice work in video games and focusses on methods developed to empower actors.

Slow Club recorded “It Doesn’t Have To Be Beautiful” and this video with us. The old studio is gone but the picture remains.

Next week we start recording the 5th title in Charles Cecil’s renowned Broken Sword series. Successfully funded through Kickstarter,  Broken Sword the Serpent’s Curse is all set to be another classic.  Watch this space for updates.

A big congratulations to Vicky Prentice for winning the 2012 Underwire Festival Award for  Best Sound Design for her work on the film ‘Storm House’.  To see the whole story go to:
http://www.underwirefestival.com

“MotoGP 13’s a lean, scrappy racer that’s not just the best motorbike game around at the moment – it’s one of the best pure motorsport experiences on console for years.” Concludes the Eurogamer.net review.

We worked with MotoGP commentator Gavin Emmett recording his commentary for the title. You can see an interview filmed at omuk with Gavin talking about working on the game: http://youtu.be/LZBMLyecu1I

Six of the finalists from June’s voicespro competition to win a place on the Voice in Video Games workshop pose before they start their roller-coaster day at the sharp end of voice recording for games.  Congratulations to the June winner Bethan Dixon Bate – top left.

“The workshops are of immense value for the actors and a superb forum for us to work with actors wanting to break into the world of video games.  We are on a continual look out for new and talented actors to work with, so demystifying the videogames industry and giving actors a chance to explore the medium is an essential and enjoyable element of our job.” Mark Estdale – Director

omuk hosted Mark Estdale’s video game voice masterclass for RADA students.  Here one group are being introduced to Telltale Games’ Walking Dead. As well as exploring game play and looking at what the future of games will mean for actors, the students had opportunities to get on mic at the production sharp end. Time was also spent exploring casting and approaches to character work.

CDT got described as “the Holy Grail of game dialogue”. Not a bad start to GDC 2013. The tools don’t look sexy but what they do is orgasmic.  Of course we agree seeing we’ve invested almost 15 years in their development.

For those who don’t know, one thing they do is that they help transform the recording studio into a fluid creative space.  For performance to work context is everything; get it wrong and the dialogue fails. So, CDT brings context (the game) to the studio then CDT drives the studio. Any existing game asset can be recalled and reviewed instantly in session, even the audio being recorded, making the creation of the dialogue a truly fluid and immersive experience at the point of creation.  And that’s just the start…

If you’re at the GDC and want to find out more email Mark Estdale: mark@omuk.com

Meet us @Official_GDC for the @UKTI showcase and lunch.

Yetizen Innovation Lab, 540 Howard Street, San Francisco.

Today 25 March 11:00 to 13:00.