At Owen Hall on Pacific’s Stockton Campus, music industry studies and music management students get hands-on experience recording and producing music, as well as exploring the business side of the music industry as Pac Ave Records staff members.
This fall, students will get even more invaluable learning experiences with the arrival of a new, state-of-the-art recording device: the Solid State Logic (SSL) ORIGIN 32-channel studio console.
Solid State Logic (SSL) ORIGIN console
The new console, an award-winning, analog recording device that is used at top studios including Abbey Road and Republic Records, will help Conservatory students master the professional tools they will see and use in their future music careers.
“Students will get experience on industry standard gear, which will qualify them for competitive positions,” said Benom Plumb, program director and associate professor of music industry studies. “Experience on an SSL console is crucial for a recording engineer to get hired in professional studios.”
The SSL ORIGIN console is compatible with Pro Tools, allowing students to work in both analog and digital realms. The technology recently won the National Association of Music Merchants’ Outstanding Technical Achievement Award.
“This console is exciting because it’s a hybrid device, so it combines analog and digital, tradition and innovation,” said Plumb.
Analog recording: a prized gem
Analog recording, the foundational technology that launched the recording industry, is esteemed among music industry professionals for its warm, natural sound quality.
Professor Jeff Crawford, recording arts professor and Owen Studio manager, said he is excited to work with students on the new console and teach them about the unique benefits of analog.
“Analog is highly prized by audio engineers for its more human sound,” explained Crawford. “Studios that have stood the test of time, like Skywalker and Abbey Road, are primarily analog.”
Owen Studio expansion
This tech upgrade will coincide with an expansion of the Conservatory of Music’s music production hub, which will soon include three designated studio spaces—all centralized on the second floor of Owen Hall.
Students will now have access to the analog recording studio, a digital mixing space and a beat studio, which will streamline production flow and function like a professional recording studio.
“This investment will allow our students to learn, record, mix, and soon, master on site,” said Peter Witte, dean of the Conservatory of Music. “Pacific’s vision of a leading modern Conservatory—fully engaged in music creation, production, and distribution, all student-led and faculty-guided—is even more tangible now.”
The SSL console will be installed this summer, so students will arrive on campus in the fall with a fresh new space to innovate, create and learn in. So, watch out for a new hit record coming soon from Pacific’s Owen Studio!
Fantastic article! Excited for everyone & students!