Recording and Production in the News

Gighouse recording studios installs Prism Sound converters

Leamington Spa, UK - November 2006 The warmth and clarity that Prism Sound products bring to recording and mastering projects has inspired engineer and producer andie thomson to invest in three ADA-8 converters and a DA-2 converter. These have now been installed in his Gighouse Recording Studio complex in Warwickshire.

Engineer/producer andie thomson with his Prism Sound gear

Thomson is using the converters in conjunction with Digital Performer 5. He has invested in Prism Sound's new FireWire Interface Module that enables ADA-8 and ADA-8XR units to interface directly with Mac and PC workstations. This option seamlessly integrates the converters to any Core-Audio compliant Mac programme, or WDM or ASIO compliant Windows programme, allowing the user to plug and play the ADA-8 and ADA-8XR with a variety of systems including Digital Performer, Steinberg Nuendo, Cubase, Apple Logic Pro 7 and Cakewalk Sonar.

"I was considering upgrading my existing converters to Apogee but was having difficulties finding the right soundcard," thomson explains. "Then I was contacted by Prism Sound and it became apparent that they had a solution to my problem in the shape of an ADA-8 with FireWire option. I demo-ed the units and was very impressed with the quality of the audio. The mid range and low mid range is much more detailed, which allows vocals and mid-range instruments to be very clearly defined. There's also a real warmth to the sound, which is something I've wanted for a very long time."

thomson adds that blind comparison tests carried out on visiting artists and engineers reinforced his decision to buy the units.

"The most crucial component in the digital recording environment is high-quality A/D conversion and the most trusted and desirable converters are made by Prism Sound," he adds. "Everyone who has heard the new units has preferred them and they are now used as standard on all digital sound sources including mixdown, remixing and mastering. They are particularly good for mastering applications, which I tend to do in the analogue domain, because they don't colour the sound or compromise the original recording."

Established in the early 1990s, Gighouse Recording Studio is housed in a converted 19th century Gig House, which was originally used to keep a pony and trap. It is a fully commercial facility and comprises a control room equipped with a Soundcraft Ghost console and three live areas that can be adapted to suit the needs of each client.

Many of the studio's clients choose to work at Gighouse because of andie thomson's reputation as a sound engineer. Among those who have recently used the facility are Coldcut, The Levelers, Banco de Gaia, Hangover Blues Band, Seize The Day and 100th Monkey.