LIPA, whose lead patron is Sir Paul McCartney, was opened in 1996 and offers degree level training and education for both performers and those who make performances possible. It possesses some of the most advanced technical facilities for sound recording training in the country and its decision to continue with analogue desks such as the ASP-8024 is an indication of the desks continuing presence in education. Jon Thornton, Head of Sound Technology for LIPA says of the purchase: "After much deliberation, we decided that we still wanted to maintain analogue consoles in the two studios - for both educational and technical reasons. Teaching concepts such as signal routing, processing and mixing is easier on an analogue surface than a digital one - once students have a firm grasp of these concepts on an analogue console they are far better prepared to tackle the differing ergonomics and technical prerequisites of digital consoles."
The ASP-8024 is the result of a research and development programme that was driven by the simple goal of establishing a new 'standard' in cost effective analogue recording - delivering a product that is truly 'technology proof' while at the same time providing the accepted and familiar functionality and performance of existing 'high-end' large scale systems.
Thornton continues: "Audient seems to have identified a big gap in the market for a mid-range analogue board that fulfilled our basic requirements of good noise figures and 24-track bussing. In addition, the layout of the console is tremendous particularly the master section with comprehensive monitoring and communications. We also felt that the attention to detail with respect to labelling conventions, backlit indication and colour coding makes the ASP8024 far more straightforward in use than other in-line designs."
The two consoles were sold to LIPA via Stirling Audio, Audient's UK distribution company to Studio Care, acting consultant on the project. Audient plc was formed in 1997 by David Dearden and Gareth Davies. Between them Dearden and Davies have over 50 years experience in the Professional Audio industry and before forming Audient were the founding partners of DDA - a company whose mixing console designs set new price/performance standards during the '80s and '90s in both the recording and live sound fields. Sales and marketing of Audient products throughout the world is undertaken by Expotus plc.
(Lee Baldock)
