Ayr, UK (June 29, 2018)—Ayrshire College in Scotland has purchased a new Solid State Logic AWS 924 δelta SuperAnalogue hybrid console for a three-room studio facility at the college’s Ayr campus.
The college is a multi-campus institution formed from several smaller regional colleges and boosted by ongoing, targeted support from the Scottish government. It has been running sound production courses since 2000 but stepped up several gears in 2002 thanks to investment in the new music, sound production and performing arts department. With that came a new, large studio facility with three studios: Two DAW-based rooms, and what has very recently become the SSL room.
SSL Reveals Remote Tile Live Desk Extender and V4.7 Software
Patrick Devlin, curriculum manager for the department, noted, “It’s filled one of the biggest holes that we wanted to address. We wanted to instill the ability to make decisions. A tool of this quality means students feel comfortable about using inline compression straight-to-tape, for example, or inline EQ—making decisions instead of messing about with a mouse on a DAW for ages. It’s about having a physical connection with the equipment.
“We’ve never had such an ability to trust in what we’re seeing and feeling with the console. It’s so rewarding to commit to a one-off experience.”
Students are prepared for a range of roles in the professional market place, not just the traditional rock and roll routes. “Scotland doesn’t have a big traditional music industry anymore,” says Devlin, “so we have to open the minds of the students to a whole range of options. We equip them for the challenge of a modern creative industries career.”
One project that is proving successful is the creation of a record label—Sun Turtle Records—and promotions company—High Tide Promotions—within the college, enabled by innovation funding. Devlin is determined that this project is a long term, sustainable, student-led endeavor with real-world benefits.
“We have appointed students to internships with the two companies, giving them experience in A&R, promotions, multi-format publishing, and so on. The new SSL console is a big part of that. We need to make sure we have fantastic, commercial production facilities that can deliver the best quality, while giving the students the most relevant experience we can.”
Solid State Logic • www.solidstatelogic.com
