Systems Integration
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A systems integrator specializes in bringing together component subsystems to seamlessly function together to deliver the overarching functionality desired—in this case: commercially competitive audio production. This endeavor comes under the heading of “systems integration.”
Commercial Production or
Educational Facility?
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All-analog, all-digital, modern hybrid, or vintage/modern
hybrid?
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What equipment is needed?
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PAD Systems Integration
In the early days of recording, equipping a studio was not as straightforward as you might imagine. While there were less channels and far fewer gear options to consider, everything was custom made and had to be specified by the chief engineer. The reason the word “engineer” was assigned to the person who also sat behind the console, was because doing their job required a knowledge of electrical engineering. These days, while you no longer need to worry about matching impedances, calculating output voltage versus input sensitivity, or gain makeup for resistive networks, outfitting a modern studio comes with greater levels of complication. The current title for someone who creates and installs a studio package is “Systems Integrator.”
In It for the Long Haul
Professional Audio Design takes the same pride and ownership of our studio builds as does a manufacturer of hand-made boutique audio gear. There is no “build it and move on” with PAD. PAD provides retail sales and factory-authorized service for the most respected names in professional audio, which means that not only do you have access to the best gear and best prices in the industry—anywhere in the world you choose to build your studio—you have the peace of mind knowing that Pro Audio Design can repair any piece of equipment, vintage or modern, to keep your shop up and running.
What is a systems integrator?
Modern studio technology has gone far beyond the all-analog signal path. Today’s hybrid studio comprises equipment that can range from vintage analog outboard built in the 1950s to the very latest modular digital controllers. For example, it’s not uncommon to see a pair of Federal AM864/U compressors built in the ’50s with 600-ohm terminal strip I/O in the same rack with a pair of EL Distressors with balanced XLR I/O, each needing to be wired to a DB-25 patchbay.
With the advent of “Smart” gear, such as network-controlled studio monitors, audio-over-IP networks, digital control surfaces, analog consoles with DAW control, computer DAWs, and myriad software, today’s studio is an aggregate of several distinct subsystems, each requiring highly specialized knowledge to configure and implement. The objective is getting gear that may span seven decades to operate as a single cohesive unit—something that doesn’t pose a problem for PAD’s tech team.
The PAD approach
It’s one thing to buy gear from a salesman with a little engineering experience, but quite another when the specialists integrating your studio have a collective 100+ years of experience at the highest levels of pro audio. Experience that includes designing, building, and distributing high-end monitors and Class D amplifiers; repair and refurbishing vintage consoles and outboard; studio design, acoustic isolation and treatment; plus expertise in digital systems, networking, and turnkey DAW systems, as well as practical experience as recording engineers and musicians.
In essence, there isn’t a single area of audio equipment where PAD doesn’t have direct knowledge and mastery.
Ours is a top-down approach to studio integration. It all begins and ends with the music to be done and your production philosophy. From there we delve into the particulars, helping you choose the equipment that will enable you to achieve your creative and business goals with a competitive edge. But it doesn’t stop there. Preparations to accommodate your future growth are built into every studio PAD integrates.
What equipment is necessary to be competitive in your niche of the business?
As your studio integrator, our first order of business is to determine the market you wish to enter and select the right equipment to achieve both your creative and commercial goals. If your business plan is to attract high-end clients, you’ll need the look, feel, performance, and imprimatur that comes with audio royalty, such as Neve, SSL, API, Augspurger, Genelec, Dynaudio, Burl, D.W. Fearn, Manley Labs, and many others.
On the other hand, if you’re working in EDM, deep house, or other genres of electronica, you probably won’t be needing that AMS Neve 88D large-format digital console, but if you’re working in multichannel film mixing, it may very well be your best option for handling 1,000 tracks at 24-bit/96kHz. In either scenario—large or small—Pro Audio Design can specify and install a system that will get the job done.
Plus, as an experienced pro audio distributor, we are keenly aware that a given unit might be better suited for a function other than that which is advertised. Working with PAD is the best preventative medicine for buyer’s remorse.
Let's Talk Systems Integration
Check out some images of the studios we’ve designed and integrated for our impressive list of clientele, then contact a PAD Studio Integrator to make your dream studio a reality.
Will equipment be accessed from different control rooms or insert points?
Perhaps you want the latest touch-screen control surface and frequently collaborate with other producers. In such a case, you may want insert points for them to plug in their laptops and access the main project window.
Maybe you want the engineer in studio B to be able to access the outboard in studio A so that both control rooms being tied into the vocal booth can track with the same level of quality. You may want the option of accessing files directly from a mix suite leaving the console in Studio A free for tracking.
As part of our top-down approach to studio integration, once we’ve created an equipment package, our next order of business is to create a wiring schematic to provide the greatest amount of flexibility possible to enhance your workflow and increase efficiency.
All-analog, all-digital, modern hybrid, or vintage/modern hybrid?
Whether you want an all-analog vintage studio, a digital studio for in-the-box music production and mixing, or more commonly, a hybrid studio, PAD can do it all. We’ve been in the business of refurbishing, selling, and servicing classic consoles and outboard for decades, which makes us uniquely qualified to integrate vintage and modern gear. If you’re looking to integrate an SSL E- or G-series console with a Pro Tools HDX system, there won’t be any surprises when it comes time to install the console and wire the patchbay (see our page on Console Refurbishing), as well as implement network audio, monitors, and archival systems.
We are also in the business of liquidating world-class studios, which means you have an inside track for pre-owned gear used in classic and platinum-selling records. With PAD on your team, you can own a piece of music history as you endeavor to make history of your own.
Commercial production or educational facility?
Commercial production studios for music and film have equipment requirements that fall between well-defined workflows, such as tracking, mixing, post-production, single or multi-operator, number of rooms, etc. Educational studio facilities have additional requirements, such as lecture support equipment including public address and overhead view screens, performance rooms that accommodate instruction, and music technology labs with student workstations the instructor can monitor from a single location. Pro Audio Design has built and specified studio packages in all areas of pro audio, from personal studios for Grammy-winning mix engineers to multi-room educational facilities teaching all aspects of audio production.
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