Recording and Production in the News

Mandy Parnell adds a Lyra 2 audio interface to her mastering setup

Cambridge, UK, 10 October 2013: London-based mastering engineer and Black Saloon Studios founder Mandy Parnell has acquired a Lyra 2 audio interface. The unit has already been used on remixes for Björk, The xx, Hejira, Medieval Babes Christmas Album and Johann Johannsson’s soundtrack for the film Prisoners.

Mandy Parnell

“I love being the facilitator for artists and helping them realise their dreams in audio,” says Parnell. “It is an immense feeling when I hear the tracks I have worked on and see how much pleasure it gives the listener.”

Based on the award-winning and critically acclaimed Orpheus interface, Prism Sound’s Lyra allows music recording professionals to access the power and sophistication of the Orpheus audio path and clock circuitry, but in a smaller package and at a much improved price point.

The Lyra 1 interface has two analogue input channels – one for instrument/line and one for mic/line – plus two DA output channels and optical-only digital I/O. Lyra 2 includes two AD input channels with switchable microphone, instrument or line input modes and four DA output channels. Both versions incorporate new ARM Cortex processor design offering class-compliant USB interfacing that allows for seamless integration with both Macs and PCs. Both versions also offer digital volume control, a low latency ‘console-quality’ digital mixer for foldback monitoring and optical SPDIF capability.

Mandy Parnell says she evaluates new equipment constantly and is very particular when it comes to introducing new gear into the Black Saloon environment. However, in the case of Lyra 2, she was happy to include it because it contained features she liked.

“First and foremost, it has Prism Sound’s clear and neutral sound,” she says. “I also like the USB connection and its compact size.”

A long-time user of Prism Sound and SADiE equipment, Mandy Parnell says she is also constantly comparing AD/DA converters to ensure she has the best.

“Some AD/DA convertors, in my opinion, add a distortion into the sound that I do not find acceptable,” she explains. “Artists, producers and engineers often describe the sound I bring to their mixes as 'dynamic' and 'wide'. Prism Sound products play an integral part in helping me to achieve what my customers want because they deliver a very neutral sound that is wide and has great separation. The company’s kit is also very reliable and I can have complete confidence in what I am hearing via my playback and record systems. That is invaluable for me. I have never doubted the sound of Prism Sound."

Black Saloon has a client roster as long as it is diverse, featuring artists such as Björk, Matthew Herbert, Feist, Max Richter Frightened Rabbit, The xx, Lianne La Havas, Jónsi, Mount Kimbi and Brian Eno.