Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Barbara Schultz

Photo: Skip Burrows

Gold Studio, MediaTech Institute (Houston, Texas)

Engineer Skip Burrows designed this new studio within MediaTech Institute's Houston campus; the facility serves Burrows' commercial clients, as well as projects done by students in the school's music recording and post-production departments. Final exams for the post-production students require them to choose a movie of their selection; obtain actors, voices, music and sound effects; and apply to film with the proper timing and balance. The studio is centered around a 32-fader ICON D-Control console. Monitors are Genelec 1029 surrounds; Genelec 1031As are also on hand as are Yamaha NS-10s. Burrows implemented a blend of acoustical treatments from RPG, Auralex, Pac International and Acoustic Systems to vary the stone room's acoustics. Motorized curtain panels are used to dampen reverb time.

American University (Washington, D.C.)

The Mixing Suite, which serves American University's (www.american.edu) Audio Technology program, was renovated this past summer to accommodate a new 32-channel API 1608 console. The studio is used to develop analog mixing techniques in stereo and 5.1 surround. In addition to the new board and updated acoustic treatments, equipment upgrades include the addition of Avedis Audio and A-Designs EQs, Argosy and KK Audio racks, Pro Tools HD2, Focal and Genelec monitors, SSL XLogic and more. The university plans to further upgrade and expand its studio facilities, and has retained the Walters-Storyk Design Group to design a complex of new studios in the coming year.

Cuyahoga Community College (Cleveland, Ohio)

The new Walters-Storyk-designed complex at Cuyahoga Community College (www.tri-c.edu) includes seven recording studios, three multistation labs, a 5.1 surround classroom and a two-story, 3,000-square-foot, green screen-equipped soundstage/TV studio. All of the rooms feature A/V production panels that allow multichannel recording via a 192-channel, three-network Aviom Pro64 A-Net system. Pictured here is Studio A, with its 48-input SSL Duality console, ADAM S6VA Mk2 monitors and 48 tracks of Pro Tools HD3. This room is used for recording and mixing labs, student capstone and college record-label projects.

Webster University (St. Louis)

Webster University's digital suite, Studio D, was designed by Paul Hennerich of Pan Galactic Recording. The studio was conceived as a critical listening space that also serves as a classroom for teaching digital theory and practice; the university plans to expand uses for this room to include courses in mastering and mixing for 5.1 surround. Featured in Studio D is a Euphonix Fusion System 5 console supplied by Ozark Audio and coordinated by Lee Buckalew of Pro Sound Advice. Also included is a RADAR 24-channel hard disk recorder, Tascam DV-RA1000 master recorder, Genelec 1031A monitors, and Macs/PCs running Pro Tools, Nuendo and Final Cut.

SAE Institute (San Francisco)

SAE's sixth U.S. campus opened this year in San Francisco. Students begin the program with the use of the school's Mackie 8-Bus-equipped studio; they later progress to working on an SSL AWS 900 (pictured) and Euphonix Artist Series MC Control and MC Mix. They also complete music and post-production projects in the 5.1 Digidesign ICON room using Pro Tools HD, and finally have the opportunity to work on a Neve Genesys console with 32 I/O of Apogee converters. All of the SAE control rooms are also fitted with outboard gear from Focusrite, TLA, Neve, SPL, Lexicon and TC Electronic. Monitors are from Boxer, Genelec, Blue Sky and KRK.