Apr 3, 2007 6:39 PM

At Butler University in Indianapolis, the $12 million Fairbanks Center for Communications was recently upgraded by Professional Audio Design (PAD). The PAD team worked closely with Butler to convert a former classroom into a hybrid analog/digital recording and mixing studio centered around an Audient ACS8024 analog console with a Digidesign Command | 8 control surface.

“PAD shared our vision as an educational facility,” says Cutler Armstrong, a lecturer in Butler’s media arts department. “They helped us to take full advantage of the studio space, and their experience working with universities allowed them to understand our objectives, as well our budget. PAD really listened to our needs and put together an unbeatable package for our students and staff.”

PAD’s Technical Services Group handled the wiring for the console as well as all the gear that accompanied it to provide Butler’s staff and students with a complete system that was fully functioning from the first day.

PAD specified the Audient ACS8024 console after consulting with Butler to determine the faculty’s particular educational approach. “From a theoretical standpoint, instead of just using plug-ins to get the sound, we want to show students how to use a console and outboard processors," explains Mark Harris, facilities manager, for Butler’s Media Arts department. “The board is approachable and has taken the fear factor down so that they feel comfortable with mixing and recording. PAD told us, ‘We can get you the pieces of gear that you need,’ and they came through. They also did a great job wiring the new room to our existing TV studios so that we could use them as recording spaces. We have a complete studio that’s very useful.”

“Our choice of the Audient is an example of how PAD’s experience with colleges and universities was helpful to Butler,” says Dave Malekpour, president of PAD. “It has a signal flow like a high-end analog board would so that people can get hands-on with production, but it’s still integrated with Digidesign’s Command | 8 console and Pro Tools HD, all at a good price. That allowed us to balance the budget against the comprehensive wiring and systems integration we provided, and execute the job within a tight timeframe. These are the complete services that we believe sets PAD far apart in realizing the objectives of education, post, broadcast and record/mix facilities, personal studios and beyond.”

For more information, visit www.proaudiodesign.com and www.butler.edu/mediaarts/facilities.html.

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