Our studio partner
Where ShortCut records.
Empire Studios is a purpose-built podcast and video space in Manchester. It's a separate business with its own booking system — hire it by the hour, whether or not you ever work with us.
Manchester · 10 minutes from Piccadilly
The relationship
Two businesses, one room.
ShortCut is a production company: we make the content. Empire is a studio: it rents the space. We work together constantly, but you can hire either one on its own — and it's always clear who you're booking and who you're paying.
You need a crew and finished content
Talk to ShortCut
We plan the format, bring the team, film it and hand back edited episodes, films and clips.
You need the room and the kit
Book Empire directly
Hire the studio by the hour. An engineer is included to run the room and kit — Empire takes the booking.
Who does what
And how to book each.
Creative and production
ShortCut
- Format, concept and creative direction
- Crew, direction and filming on the day
- Editing, audio, grading and graphics
- Clips, thumbnails and delivery
- Booked as a production, not by the hour
Quoted per project, based on the shoot and the outputs you need.
Enquire about productionThe space and the kit
- Purpose-built podcast and video studio
- Treated acoustics and controlled lighting
- Cameras, microphones and recording setup
- Available for hourly hire, engineer included
- Booked directly with Empire
Hourly hire from £148 for the first hour, £108 for each hour after.
Hire the studioInside the studio
The space itself.
Treated acoustics
A room built to sound right without post-production rescue work.
Controlled lighting
Repeatable, cinematic lighting states rather than whatever the day gives you.
Multi-camera setup
Cameras and microphones already rigged for two to four people.
Easy to get to
Ten minutes from Manchester Piccadilly, in central Manchester.
Common questions
Booking, plainly.
Can I book Empire Studios without ShortCut?
Yes. Empire is a separate business with its own booking system. If you just want the room and the kit, book directly with Empire — an engineer is included to run the session.
Does ShortCut only film at Empire?
No. Empire is where most of our studio work happens, but we film on location across Manchester and the UK — offices, events, conferences and client sites.
Who do I pay?
If you book a production with us, you pay ShortCut and the studio time is handled inside the project. If you hire the room on its own, you pay Empire.
Is an engineer included?
Yes. Empire's hourly hire includes an engineer to run the room, kit and recording setup. If you'd rather have a full crew, direction and a finished edit, that's a ShortCut production.
Recording with us
Want the studio and a crew?
If you'd like a full crew, direction and a finished edit, we'll produce the session end to end at Empire — and hand back finished episodes.