Recording and Production in the News

The University of Westminster is MAD about Prism Sound

Cambridge, UK: September 2008 The University of Westminster's School of Media, Arts and Design (MAD) has invested in three Prism Sound AD/DA converters as part of a major upgrade of its recording studio facilities.

The university has 12 studios at its site in Harrow, four of which are high end facilities where students can learn to operate the type of equipment commonly found in commercial recording studios. The Prism Sound ADA-8 multichannel converters with AES and Pro Tools interfaces are being installed into one of these rooms where they will be used in conjunction with an Amek Angela console and a Pro Tools system that has recently been upgraded to HD3.

Alan Fisher, head of department for the Centre for Commercial Music at MAD, says: "This studio has a dedicated live room and can handle both stereo and 5.1 projects. It is aimed at students who are studying for a Masters degree in audio production and also at third year undergraduates on our BA Commercial Music course. Given the calibre of work that is undertaken in this room, we felt it was important to offer the very best converters as an interface between the desk and the Pro Tools system. We chose Prism Sound units because its converters are widely regarded as the best and most accurate on the market."

Prism Sound's ADA-8 converter can be configured in numerous ways using plug-in modules to suit a variety of recording, mastering, broadcast and post-production applications. It offers the cleanest and most transparent conversion available and is ideal for producers, engineers and songwriters who want to produce top-quality results when recording, tracking & overdubbing, mixing to stereo or surround, mastering and monitoring. The ADA-8 operates with a wide range of Digital Audio Workstations including Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase and Nuendo.

The Centre for Commercial Music at MAD attracts some of the UK's most talented students thanks to its programme of five innovative courses that are designed to educate and extend natural talent, as well as prepare students for a potential career in the music industry.

"Our four main studios each have a different selection of equipment so that students can really extend their learning," Fisher adds. "We also have eight project studios that allow students to focus on getting the best from home recording equipment. Where possible, we try to support UK equipment manufacturers in our purchase choices, although audio quality is also an important consideration."

The Centre for Commercial Music at MAD is now considering a further investment in Prism Sound, which should see Maselec EQ and stereo compressors and Prism Sound Orpheus Firewire interfaces added to each of the eight project studios in coming months.