LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 2013: A 32-channel 1608 console will contribute to the education of many audio engineering students at the Musicians Institute College of Contemporary Music for years to come. The 1608 console can be found in Studio C of the college and was installed in the beginning of January, just in time for the spring semester.
The school, located in Los Angeles, has been an important part of music education in southern California since the late 70s and offers a variety of programs, such as Guitar Craft, Music Industry and Audio Engineering, where the 1608 will be used. Approximately two hundred students are currently enrolled in the Audio Engineering program.
The console was sold and installed by Westlake Pro, an API dealer located in North Hollywood. The 1608 was selected to replace the aging large format console in Studio C after a complete rework of the patch bay. “The API was chosen based on recommendations. When we decided to get a new console, many of the instructors requested an API. The final decision was made by our previous program chair after discussing the options with Westlake,” said Krystal Schafer, studio manager.
“The API 1608 is perfect for teaching classic, all-analog, signal chain theory, operation and patch bay to MI’s beginning audio engineering students,” says instructor Barry Rudolph. “The Practical Recording Class is one of the first exposures they have to professional recording consoles.”
Audio Engineering students will learn the basics of the 1608 console in the Practical Recording course during their first quarter and will dive deeper into recording during their second quarter in the Mixing and Mastering course. Students are also able to book studio time on weekends to practice and work on projects.
“API was the overwhelming choice, as everyone involved knew of the API 1608’s value as a high-quality, easy-to-use, great-sounding, traditional recording console,” said Gadget Hopkins of Westlake Pro. “The API 1608’s rich heritage, based off the renowned vintage 1604, is classic API sound and quality, while adding new modern features that are valuable for today’s engineers, producers and musicians. These features fit the schools requirements for their curriculum perfectly.”
ABOUT API (AUTOMATED PROCESSES, INC.) Established more than 40 years ago, Automated Processes, Inc. is the leader in analog recording gear with the Vision, Legacy Series and 1608 recording consoles, as well as its classic line of modular signal processing equipment.
