#asp8024

North West Regional College recently decided to install an Audient ASP8024 and we chatted to Ciaran Haslett from their Technical Department to hear his thoughts on the console.

What research did you do in the process of deciding on the ASP8024?

We wanted to replace a 20-year-old Soundtracs Jade S console that was bought new when the courses first started. Our concern was the functionality and practicality of its operations in modern recording setups. It has features onboard (dynamics processors and flying faders) that are greatly outdated in terms of use. Think timecodes and single line LCD screens.

Mixing on it was an exercise in signal flow that was cumbersome to teach to students used to their audio interfaces and DAWs. Even the channel strips themselves are painful to look at. Cluttered and drab. It really felt like a step back in time. It was time to modernise.

We set ourselves strict criteria that the replacement desk had to meet. The new console had to:

Easily integrate into our new facilities (installed with common connection tie lines).

Display a clear, understandable signal path both into and out of a DAW for teaching students new to the discipline.

In-line architecture.

Have a current source of service/repair personnel.  (there only one guy left in the UK that services Soundtracs consoles).

Meet our modest budget of 20k.

The ASP8024 met these and offered even more!

What features of the desk do you particularly like?

The very first thing that attracted my colleague and I (we are the department technicians) was Audient's use on common connections. Our Jade S was exclusively 56 pin EDAC. Apart from the amount of work required to wire this into our new building and the length of recording downtime that is required if an EDAC needs repaired, teaching fresh students who barely know what a mic cable is was a real challenge.

The ASP8024 is entirely built around XLR/TRS connections. This really helps explaining to students that there is no witchcraft afoot when you plug that microphone into the liveroom wallbox and it meters on channel 1. It’s a clear demonstration of plugging a really long mic cable directly into the back of the desk.

Then there’s the use of TRS for the Line/Insert points on each channel.  This made fabricating a TRS patchbay for our small outboard collection a quick and painless affair.

The channel strip layout is very well thought out. As you move down the strip you are met with the next process required when recording into a computer i.e. Head amp > Bus > Aux/foldback > EQ > Fader. Clear, precise steps to follow in order to record without jumping to the bottom, then the top, then the middle of the channel etc. The ASP made the whole process a teachers dream.

Personal highlights include:

Foldback system and its ability select your source with the press of a button. 

4 monitor controls (currently using 2 but planning for more). 

The ability to bypass selected EQ bands (great for teaching EQ and demonstrating the difference between your tweak and the original).

What is the studio mostly be used for?

We are an education college dealing mostly with students new to recording. The studio caters for different modules within the course. Critical Listening, Recording Techniques, Post Production etc. So from mic techniques, tracking, mixing and mastering, we try to cover all.

How are you using the desk?

It’s the heart of the classroom. We use it to teach gain, EQ, signal path/routing, mono/stereo, everything. Every aspect of a studio can be taught directly from the console.

What other equipment is employed in the studio?

Pro Tools HD2

Adam S3X-H monitors

Genelec 1031a monitors

Some outboard (Focusrite RED, Joe Meek VC2, TLA EQ and Compressor, Lexicon PCM 81 to new a few)

Collection of industry standard mics (U87’s, 57’s etc)

Host of instruments

What do you feel makes the Audient ASP8024 good for teaching? Any specific examples?

Clear/concise layout of signal flow.  Uncluttered.

Punch in/out EQ.

Foldback flip (SF button) making teaching headphone sends a doddle.

We purchased the 32 channel version so we could hardwire our stereo effects units outputs to the right hand side of the console. This allows us to teach the concept of internal/external signal routing without having to patch in first (again dispelling the witchcraft but offering a physical explanation of what’s going on when you turn that Aux knob).

We also extended our budget to stretch for the DLC (Dual Layer Control) DAW controller option. Our reasoning for this was simply for modernity. DAW controllers are how it's done in the real world and the DLC performs its duties flawlessly AND its right there in the centre of the console below the computer screens.  We can teach software automation USING the ASP8024!

What made the console stand out from the competition?

As stated, it met our initial criteria but it offered so much more.  Bus compressor, the DLC package, modern fresh layout, price. The common connections (still pleased with that one 3 years later!) As cheesy as it sounds, given the specs of the 8024, there was no competition.

What courses do you run that will be using the Audient console?

We teach 4 music courses that make use of the console in various ways.  We have:

HND in Music Production (primary user). Modules cover Recording Techniques, Post Production Techniques, Critical Listening, Sound Design

Level 3 Music Technology. Modules covering same as above but with a few extras, ADR and foley

Level 3 Music Performance. Has one recording module

NCFE Music Production. A level 2 part time course that serves as an introduction to all the above

Have they changed since you first specified Audient?

Absolutely! Each module has been completely rewritten in the last 3 years. As I said, the Jade S was a cumbersome board to teach even the basics on. Lecturers found themselves recapping previous classes time and again as students had a hard time getting to grips. 

The ASP8024 changed that the day it was installed. Suddenly we found ourselves running out of things to teach on the current teaching plans. The students understanding of core concepts was dramatically improved. This allowed us to really meat out what we could teach them. We started introducing new material. 5.1, foley, advanced mixing techniques. We started feeling less like a school and more like a studio. That change gave life to the place.

Are your studios going through an upgrade or are you building more in the future?

When our new building was built we specified two control rooms sharing a liveroom.  They all lay side by side i.e. Studio A > Live Room < Studio B. We installed the 8024 in Studio A when we first moved in but largely ignored Studio B as the move was mid semester and was a rush to get set up with minimal class downtime.

Well only a month ago we got approved for £10k for a console for Studio B.  I’ve been a subscriber to Audients newsletter since I first contacted Gareth when enquiring about the ASP8024. As soon as I was given the budget I already knew how I was going to spend it. So we bought the ASP4816.

Absolute no brainer!  We were so impressed with the 8024 that it made perfect sense to get its wee brother. It’s an ASP!  Identical to Studio A bar a few channels. Our students can jump right in and get to work. We allow unsupervised sessions where students book studio time and record themselves, other bands, their mates or just o sit and mix. With uniformity across both studios, we can increase the amount of time available for booking as there is no new learning curve.  Perfect

What other Audient products are you using? Are they integral to the teaching?

Currently the ASP8024 and the ASP4816.  But if I ever manage to win your Facebook competition for a Mico I will add that to the list (wink wink).

How did you find the service you received throughout the sales process?

I dealt with Neil Boia at Academia when purchasing the ASP8024.  We were so pleased with the service that we expanded our relationship to software and even to sponsoring.  Very friendly but more importantly, personal.  Every time I lifted the phone, I could always get through to the person dealing with our account.  That is getting rarer these days but having the assurance of accountability greatly lends to the whole experience, especially when spending the kind of cash we have in the last few years.

We bought the 4816 through Kazbar Systems. The guy there was Gavin Miller. Again a painless, pleasant experience. He was really a gent and was very flexible when dealing with the procurement processes we have to follow on our end.

Information on NWRC (North West Regional College)

http://www.nwrc.ac.uk

We have 30,000 plus students spread throughout our campuses. The music department has over 200. Catchment continues well into the Republic of Ireland. Simply put, we are now one of the best spec'd music departments in the country that offer so much hands on, practical experience in the studios.

Thanks for reading,

Andy @ Audient

The idea behind the concept of 'This is Gold - Modern Pop Production' was to create a high quality, creative and easy to use tool for musicians, producers and bands, whether for music production, scoring of commercial and TV scenes, jingles or much more.

To accomplish the goal of delivering authentic and high quality loops and samples I only used the finest equipment like Music Man and Fender Guitars, Blackstar Amplifiers recorded and mixed over an Audient ASP8024 console to give you the warmth you need.

The Guitars were recorded over a Blackstar HT Series Tube Amp with 3 Mics. I used an AKG Tube Condenser which gives huge bottom, a Rode NT5 for adding some air and of course a Shure SM57 for giving that classic sound. All mixed together creates these sparkling guitars.

To satisfy contemporary requirements it was important for me to afford our customers maximum flexibility. Every Construction Kit includes up to 37 single loops, is key-labelled and with BPM information. Most of the sounds are available as dry and wet versions to make them fit your tracks easily. All drum lines come in a dry and a room version, so you can mix your own favourite drum sound for your custom production.

Furthermore the package includes melodic pianos, cinematic strings, groovy basslines, crisp percussion and special instruments like harp or kalimba. Of course everything was mixed over the Audient ASP 8024. I‘ve sent all the sounds through the console, glued them together with the internal Bus Compressor to record final mix stems.

We don‘t want to sound like everybody else. We want to create something special and unique. We only want to deliver sounds and samples we are chuffed about it and which we would use in our own production. To achieve that goal Engineering Samples is happy to be able to use products like the Audient ASP8024.

Oliver Melchers

You can purchase 'This is Gold - Modern Pop Production' here.

Thanks for reading,

Andy @ Audient

Audient was founded in 1997 by Gareth Davies and David Dearden with the philosophy of providing world class, affordable and accessible technology with the aim to capture and enhance creativity.

Audient's product line has since evolved and expanded but our goals and ethos have stayed the same. Sixteen years later and the ASP8024 is still in production and can be found in studios around the world.

We recently reached a milestone achievement by selling 500 ASP8024's. Rob Dewar purchased console number 500 and was kind enough to send us a few photos of the console and its installation.

Number 500 being delivered

Studio in Construction

Rob Dewar proudly sat in front of his ASP8024

Final Setup

Here's what co-founder Gareth Davies had to say:

"Although the design has evolved over the years, the fact that sales of ASP8024 and its variants continue to show year on year growth stands testament to just how right David Dearden and the Audient team got the original design.

As well as our continuing success in the private and commercial studio sectors our console sales to education have shown particularly strong gains over the last two years and its hugely satisfying to know that our products are helping another new generation create great recordings.

We'd like to thank all of the users worldwide who have contributed to establishing ASP8024 as such an iconic product."

Thanks for reading.

Andy @ Audient

ASP8024 owner and renowned producer Russ Russell has recently been storming the charts thanks to his work on the new Evile and Ginger Wildheart albums.

Evile's brand new album 'Skull' reached the top 10 of the BBC's rock chart.

Ginger Wildheart's album 'HeyHello!' went straight to number one. Both albums were mixed and recorded by Russ at Parlour Recording Studios on his ASP8024.

Nice work Russ and congratulations from us here at Audient!

Thanks for reading.

Andy @ Audient

We recently caught up with producer and music composer Pedro Luís Janela to talk about his career and his ASP8024 large format recording console.

What is your background, and how did you get to this position?

My grandfather was a Harmonium builder . I grew up in a family surrounded by music. My father also specialised in keyboard selling at a store that he owns. In my teenage years I accompanied the advance of music technology specially the synthesiser.

The possibility I had to work with those machines was very important. The pallet of my sound universe expanded a lot. I was studying piano at school also but was fascinated with these new possibilities. I still remember the invention of MIDI now. Later I decided to study music composition at university and when I was about to end my studies I decided that instead of being at the conservatory (school) giving composition lessons I wanted to have my own studio where I had the chance to do my own music. It was a natural decision...

Check out this  ASP8024 being delivered to Fullerton College, CA. Enjoy!

Andy @ Audient