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GALLATIN, TENNESSEE: Volunteer State University held a reception on April 16th and 17th for their new multi-media studio complex, which features a
recording studio and audio editing suites, as well as a large video studio and several video editing suites.
The recording studio (designed by Austin Belmar of J. Scalf & Associates)
features an ample tracking area with an additional isolation booth, as well
as a control room with gallery seating for up to sixteen. In addition there
is an editing room with three ProTools editing suites with Mackie Control
fader surfaces. The facility is rounded out with a studio lounge.
The Vol State recording program is led by engineer and producer, Vaughn
Skow, who has taught there for the last seven years. Skow also served as
design and construction consultant on the facility, as well as selecting and
installing equipment in both the main studio and editing suites. "The Vol
State studio is a perfectly capable recording facility. However, the studio
is all about the students and I have personally chosen every piece of gear
based on its educational value," says Skow.
When choosing a mic pre that would capture the special nuances of classic,
vintage tube pres, Skow picked A Designs Audio's MP-1. Pete Montessi,
president of A Designs Audio had known about Skow's commitment to the art
form of fine recording and elected to donate the MP-1 to the school's
program. A Designs Audio rep Brian Thomas presented the unit to the school
at the reception.
"Vol State's class is trying to promote the 'arts' and I feel engineering
is an art unto itself. From my own teaching experience, I know that money is
always in short supply for the arts in any educational system," says Montessi.
He enthusiastically adds, "Nashville, Tennessee is also the home of country
music! You couldn't ask for a better location for learning, educating, playing
and recording music."
(left) Engineer and producer, Vaughn Skow, director of the Volunteer
State recording program, with A-Designs Audio rep Brian Thomas, at the school's
grand opening of their new multi-media studio.
Montessi's intention for donating the MP-1 was to provide the
students access to a particular lost art: The chance to record using an all-tube
microphone preamplifier. "Currently seasoned engineers desire this sound,
but long for it because of the influx of digital recording and solid-state electronics,"
explains Montessi. "Often their remarks are that they have been searching
for this full, rich sound from the 1960s and 70s."
Skow, a fan of that classic sonic quality, agrees, "The A Designs Audio
MP-1
is everything you could want in a tube mic pre, and the sound is most
definitely vintage tube," says Skow, whose engineering credits include
Grammy, Emmy and Dove award-winning projects, as well as work with Garth
Brooks, Vince Gill, Wynonna, Shawn Mullins, Keith Urban and many others. "It
sounds as warm and as big as a classic piece of '60s tube gear with the
reliability and connectivity of a modern piece. If you want an instant trip
to the sound of Motown in 1967 or The Beatles, the A Designs MP-1 will
definitely take you there!"
Also featured at the Vol State recording facility is a ProTools HD|2-Accel
rig in the main studio, running on a silent Carillon PC, with a 192 expanded
I/O. There is also a Motu MTP-AV SMPTE hub and eight-port MIDI interface,
as well as a 438-point long frame patchbay. In addition, there are 24 tracks
of high-definition 24-bit DA-78HR tape machines clocked to the Digi 192 I/O
for additional clock stability, plus a Tascam BR-20 15/30 ips two-track
reel-to-reel, Sony DAT and a Tascam CD burner. The console is a Mackie
32-input eight-bus console in an Argosy 90 Series custom console.
The studio's mic closet features a solid assortment of AKG, Mogami, Samson
Sennheiser and Shure. There is a wide complement of outboard gear including
Alesis, dbx, Focusrite, Samson and TC Electronic.
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