SSL Consoles and Outboard Equipment Provide Real World Experience for Students Oklahoma City, OK – Since September 2009, the new Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma (ACM@UCO) has been offering an Associate of Applied Science degree in Music Production. Classes are being taught in the brand new SSL Teaching Studio, featuring an AWS 900+ SE console, and the SSL Mix/Edit Suite, featuring a Matrix console. Both rooms are also equipped with SSL AlphaLink audio format converters, Delta-Link Pro Tools HD® to MADI interfaces and Duende Mini units. The Matirx system also includes two XLogic X-Racks loaded with analogue processing modules. “SSL consoles were on the top of our studio wish list when we were in the planning stages for this program,� says Scott Booker, CEO of ACM@UCO. “The whole point behind this school was to make the learning experience match what the
students will find out in the real world. The great thing about working with the AWS 900+ SE and the Matrix is that SSL is what the major stars are recording on. All of our staff were super excited when they found out that we were getting  an SSL board because they had all worked on one and were immediately comfortable driving our consoles.� The SSL Teaching Studio is essentially being used for tracking groups, while the SSL Mix/Edit Suite, as the name implies, is being used for mixing the work done on the AWS 900+ SE. The two X-Rack units, offering dynamics, mic-preamps, EQ modules and one Master Bus module, support the Matrix mixing process and allow for overdub and voiceover sessions. The XLogic Alpha-Link and Delta-Link units provide I/O to the consoles from Macintosh computers offering Pro Tools and Logic Express software with processing further supported by the Duende Mini units. “SSL is one of the finest companies in the world,� says Chris Hicks, coordinator of academic operations for ACM@UCO. “In my professional experience, almost every major studio I worked with in Nashville had a 9000 or one of the older SSL consoles. When our inaugural class of 80 students came through the door, they dropped their jaws when they saw the AWS 900+ SE. SSL is a recognized name for high-quality engineering and sound even for our first year students. They feel the education they are receiving through working with the consoles really gives them the opportunity to learn the craft of capturing and mixing high level audio.� The University of Central Oklahoma has partnered with Europe’s premiere contemporary music school, the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) of London, England to create ACM@UCO. The ACM in London serves around 1,400 students each year in 7 programs of study: music performance (guitar, bass, drums and vocals), music production, music business and sound design. The ACM@UCO program follows the lead of ACM and is focused on providing students with an opportunity to learn from and collaborate with working musicians and music industry professionals.
