Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Post Pro Looks to GC Pro for Neve Genesys

The control room at Raleigh, North Carolina-based facility Post Pro, featuring a Neve Genesys console sourced through GC Pro.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA, August 5, 2013 — Matt Horton’s Raleigh, North Carolina-based facility Post Pro is a primer on what it takes to keep a commercial studio facility afloat and successful in an uncertain economy and in a secondary market. The most recent location opened last December, but Horton has done business in two other locations over the last two decades. Horton chose early on to diversify his services; he’s hosted recording, mixing and mastering sessions for a range of well-known artists including Matchbox Twenty, Big Daddy Kane, Evanescence, Swizz Beatz and Julio Iglesias, as well as audio post work for corporate clients like Winnow Creative and Brazilian filmmakers. Horton has also been overseeing a transfer of original two-track masters from legendary art rockers Devo. Horton notes, “The way we’ve made it work is to be able to do it all, a bit of everything that the client could need,” from basic tracks to mixing, mastering and video post, to CD and DVD duplication and even audio restoration and forensics services. With the opening of the new complex, Horton sourced a Neve Genesys console through Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro), the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users.

The tracking room at Raleigh, North Carolina-based facility Post Pro. The facility features various gear, including a Neve Genesys console, sourced through GC Pro.

The new studio facility consisting of the following spaces: Studio A’s large tracking room and spacious control room, the latter centered around a 24-channel Genesys console with Neve 1073 microphone preamps and Neve 1084 equalizers on each channel and Avid Pro Tools HD and Studer and Tascam analog multitrack recorders; a smaller preproduction studio loaded with over 30 vintage and new hardware synths and drum machines; and the Video Post Suite featuring a Euphonix MC Pro control surface and Blackmagic Design hardware.

Horton notes, “That [Genesys] console is amazing, and having the 1073 microphone preamps on it just takes it to another level,” he says. “You’d actually have to work to make it sound bad. It just sounds great naturally, as soon as you turn it on.”

There’s lots of other gear, esoteric and otherwise, much of it sourced through GC Pro. Horton says they were the only place in the country that could get him the Neve Genesys, which he says he bought before he ever actually heard it. “I’ve worked on a Neve many times and I know what a 1073 sounds like, and it just makes me gush inside,” he notes. “Getting that Neve console was a very happy moment – I was blown away by it. It just sounded like heaven.” Horton says that GC Pro has been a resource for him for most of the years he’s owned Post Pro, and he’ll be back there in the near future to add more Neve 1084 preamp/EQ modules for channels 17-24 on the Genesys.

GC Pro isn’t just a resource when he’s at the studio, though. Horton fondly recalls them being able to deliver a Roland Fantom-G6 workstation keyboard to him while he was on the road with Guns N’ Roses. “I was programming keyboards for them and I called and asked if they could get the workstation to me ASAP,” he recalls. “And it was waiting for me when I got to the hotel. They take care of me in the studio and on the road.”

For more information, please visit www.gcpro.com.

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About Guitar Center Professional/Guitar Center
Founded in 2001, Guitar Center Professional is the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users. Its clientele includes recording studios, audio engineers, producers, recording and touring musicians, live sound venues, post production facilities and more. Emphasizing extraordinary individualized service via local account managers, GC Pro offers expert consultation and a comprehensive selection of the world’s finest equipment for music and audio professionals. More information on GC Pro can be found by visiting www.gcpro.com.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Slate RAVEN MTX: FAQ


The Slate RAVEN MTX is a revolutionary product for professional audio, so it's only natural that everyone has a lot of questions about what it is, how it integrates into a studio, and what advantages it presents. Slate Audio has provided this FAQ that will answer everything you ever wanted to know about RAVEN, and more. To get a demo of the RAVEN, contact your GC Pro representative here.

Q: What is The RAVEN?
A: The RAVEN is a state of the art Multitouch Production Console and DAW controller, compatible with all major DAWs. RAVEN ships with Pro Tools 10 & 11 compatibility and will soon offer other DAWs, such as Logic and Cubase/Nuendo, Live etc.

Q:  Does The RAVEN need a computer to run?
A:  Yes, your computer.  The RAVEN runs on the same computer as your DAW and is used as the main display.  You can use additional displays if your computer supports them.

Q: How does The RAVEN work?
A: The RAVEN is cutting edge hardware and the world’s only multitouch DAW controller on a Mac allowing you to touch the DAW itself, not an external device.  RAVEN integrates with your DAW, allows for instantaneous control of all of the user’s DAW parameters, and adds many workflow enhancing features through its user-customizable controls.

Q:  How do I hook up The RAVEN?
A:  RAVEN is plug-n-play.  Just like a computer display and a USB device.  All you need is one standard DVI cable and one USB 2.0 connection from your computer.  Industry standard DB25 audio cables and breakouts connect to your audio interface, speakers, and/or patchbay. For more information, watch the “Raven QuickStart” video available on SlateDigitalTV via YouTube.

Q:  Will my arms get tired?
A:  Our arms are feeling great!  The Slate team found the ideal ergonomic relationships that make up the RAVEN MTX console.  Moving your arms, hands and fingers around the multitouch screen is fast, fun, intuitive and promotes good health.

Q: How is the RAVEN Mixer different from the mixer in my DAW?
A: The RAVEN turns your DAW mixer a multitouch controller.

Q: How does the RAVEN Software connect to my DAW?
A:  RAVEN programming team created the RAVEN Protocol which connects to your DAW via the industry standard NeyFi protocol.  No ethernet or MIDI required.

Q: Am I able to use more than one finger to touch the RAVEN?
A: RAVEN enables the user to have multitouch access to one’s essential mixing tools with up to twelve simultaneous touch points.  Editing is done with direct single touch.

Q: Are Plugins touch capable as well?
A: Yes! Reach out and touch your plugins.  Manufacturers are developing multitouch plugins for RAVEN.  In the case of really small plugin GUI controls, a mouse or trackball works great.

Q:  What do RAVEN’s analog components do?
A:  RAVEN provides high-resolution analog monitoring in stereo and 7.1 surround for the ultimate clear monitoring experience.

Q: Is the RAVEN a computer audio interface?
A: No, the RAVEN does provide pristine analog monitoring for multiple sources, headphones and speakers.  You will continue to use your converters and preamps as normal.

Q:  What does The RAVEN sound like?
A:  The RAVEN Mixer software does not process audio, rather it provides multitouch control of your DAW which is ideally running the industry’s best plugins from Slate Digital and Steven Slate Drums.

Q:  Why does The RAVEN also include a keyboard and trackball area?
A:  Our multitouch mixer, customizable toolbar and Direct DAW Touch promote fast, intuitive workflows.  Sometimes it’s easier to type on the keyboard, especially if you’re emailing and some operations work great using a traditional trackball.  We recommend a hybrid approach.

Q:  How will the large display affect the sound of my speakers?
A:  RAVEN’s acoustic characteristics are an improvement upon traditional consoles and work surfaces.  Here’s what world renown studio architect and master acoustician Wes Lachot had to say:  “The good news about your console design – the 40° angle precludes the comb filtering effect of a typical console.  That’s something you can advertise – that’s a cool thing.”

Q:  What’s the effect of working close to a large display?
A:  The RAVEN display is LED backlit, which means it consumes very little power and emits less EMI.  The image is clear and the brightness controls make it easy to set up to your liking.  Our Samsung display will last 5-7 years running 24 hours a day.

Q: What is the resolution of the screen?
A: HD resolution.  1920×1080 pixels.

Q: Can I attach an additional display?
A: Yes, if your computer can.  On a Mac, additional displays can be configured in the System Preferences of your computer.   Note: Additional displays will not be touch capable, unless it is a RAVEN.

Q: What do I do if something happens to my screen, or it goes out?
A: The Raven is designed to be easily serviceable. In the case of screen damage, we can ship a new screen and have it installed into the unit. The serviceability and cost of most components are substantially below that of replacing a single hardware fader of an analog console.

Q: How hot does The RAVEN get?
A: The Raven consumes very little power and therefore produces little heat.  It’s difficult to detect any temperature increase on the display surface itself.

Additional Answers:
Raven will first ship with Mac compatibility, but will also be Windows compatible.  Users also provide the audio interface of their choice.  Raven’s analog audio electronics connect simply and seamlessly to to DB25-equipped audio interfaces.  No patching is required to quickly switch between stereo and surround mixing and monitoring modes.

Friday, May 31, 2013

GC Pro Audio Solutions Magazine Spring 2013



READ IT NOW!

Our Spring 2013 issue of Audio Solutions includes great articles on getting big sounds in small spaces, the physics of musical instruments, our "Producer's Corner" column on Chuck Ainlay, advice on headphones and IEMs, and much more! Click here and read Audio Solutions Spring 2013 now!


GC Pro Appoints Marcin Nowak



— Promotion of longtime GC Pro employee reflects the division’s ongoing growth —

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA, May 29, 2013 — Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro), the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users, announces the appointment of Marcin Nowak to the position of GC Pro Technical Services Manager, Western Region. In his new position, Nowak will be assisting the GC Pro staff and its affiliate network on the design of advanced installations projects. The announcement was made by GC Pro Vice President Rick Plushner and reflects the division’s ongoing success and expansion.

Nowak is certified on Apple computers and has been training on a variety of high-end products from manufacturers such as Avid, Ocean Way, RedNet, Raven and Penteo. In the near future, he will be attending advanced training with many vendors in an effort to better support GC Pro’s clients.

Plushner stated, “In his previous position as a GC Pro Technical Services team member, Marcin has done outstanding work for the past two years. In 2012, his skills and services assisted clients and helped us earn new business. Marcin is also chief engineer of GC Pro’s Hollywood recording demo facility – he will continue to be an asset to GC Pro, and we wish him congratulations on his new position.”

For more information, please visit www.gcpro.com.

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About Guitar Center Professional/Guitar Center
Founded in 2001, Guitar Center Professional is the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users. Its clientele includes recording studios, audio engineers, producers, recording and touring musicians, live sound venues, post production facilities and more. Emphasizing extraordinary individualized service via local account managers, GC Pro offers expert consultation and a comprehensive selection of the world’s finest equipment for music and audio professionals. More information on GC Pro can be found by visiting www.gcpro.com.

GC Pro and Malvicino Design Group Collaborate



— GC Pro is instrumental in outfitting three locations of the Monterrey Institute of Technology’s recently introduced audio production program —

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA, May 22, 2013 — Mexico’s Monterrey Institute of Technology has been one of the leading institutions of higher education in Latin America since it was founded 70 years ago. Monterrey Tech (Tecnológico de Monterrey), as it’s also known, has over 90,000 students across 31 campuses in 25 cities in Mexico. In the last three years, the school instituted and expanded a highly successful audio production education curriculum that is now in place at three of its campuses: the school’s Monterrey headquarters, as well as the Santa Fe and new Mexico City campuses (both in the Mexico City metro area). Key equipment at all of the facilities supporting these audio production programs was sourced by Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro), the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users. Working with the New York City-based Malvicino Design Group – a leading design and consulting firm specializing in innovative architectural, acoustical and technical systems design and also a member of GC Pro’s Affiliate Program – GC Pro assured Monterrey Tech that they would have every piece of gear the school needed to make their audio production program as cutting-edge as possible.

The equipment lists for each campus are comprehensive and outfit all of the studios in ways that offer students a real-world environment for learning, and one with enough variation that will ready them for an increasingly complex audio technology landscape.

“That was one of the things that I really emphasized in my designs for the school,” explains Horacio Malvicino, President of the Malvicino Design Group. “You want all the studios to have the latest equipment, but I also wanted each room to have some outboard gear and other items that were unique to each room, so that students would encounter something new in each studio.”


Horacio Malvicino adds, “GC Pro and I have worked together on many projects in the past, and whether I work with them as a member of their Affiliate Program or I bring them to one of my projects as the supplier, as we did here, GC Pro proves time and time again that they are the best resource you can have.”

For more information, please visit www.gcpro.com.

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About Guitar Center Professional/Guitar Center
Founded in 2001, Guitar Center Professional is the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users. Its clientele includes recording studios, audio engineers, producers, recording and touring musicians, live sound venues, post production facilities and more. Emphasizing extraordinary individualized service via local account managers, GC Pro offers expert consultation and a comprehensive selection of the world’s finest equipment for music and audio professionals. More information on GC Pro can be found by visiting www.gcpro.com.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

2013 Recording Industry Golf Tournament


GC Pro is a proud sponsor of the 2013 Recording Industry Golf Tournament™, and you're invited to tee it up with us at this terrific charitable event!

Come join Honorary Chairs and engineers extraordinaire Ed Cherney and Al Schmitt for a day in the sun at the 2013 Recording Industry Golf Tournament, June 24, at the beautiful Malibu Golf Club! This Best Ball charity tournament has a noon shotgun start. Enjoy on-course contests and games, including a $1,000,000 Shoot-Out. You'll also mingle with the icons of the Los Angeles community of recording engineers, producers, studio management, musicians, and more.

Proceeds will directly benefit the music and recording program at A Place Called Home (www.apch.org). APCH is a dynamic community center and safe haven in South Central Los Angeles. Music and recording are key components of the organization’s program offering, and the APCH youth band performs and records on a regular basis.

For more information, click here. To sponsor the tournament or sign up your foursome, click here. We'll see you in June at Malibu Golf Club! Fore!

Monday, April 8, 2013

Soundcraft Truck Tour coming to GC Pro!


-GC Pro and Soundcraft bring you a free event with hands-on demos, training, and more-


We've hooked up with Soundcraft for a truckload of fun! Soundcraft's 73-foot demo truck is fitted out with the latest in British engineering; you can get hands-on demos, training, and playtime on the new Si Expression range of digital consoles... you can even visit the on-board Studer studio and do some dreaming in front of the flagship Vista 9 console!

The Soundcraft Si Expression utilizes some of the newest DSP, component technology and manufacturing techniques to deliver their most powerful cost effective digital console ever. Each console in the range is identical in its feature set and offers 66 inputs to mix - your only choice is how many faders and local mic amps you want. With a range covering the super portable 19" rack mount Expression 1 to the mighty Si Expression 3 with its 30+2 faders and 32 mic/line inputs, there is a model to meet all needs.

The events are free and open to everyone. Send your staff, bring your friends, and join our factory experts for a great opportunity to learn more about mixing on the latest in compact digital consoles. Shopping for new gear? Your GC Pro representative is ready to give you a thorough demo, with Si Expression and more Soundcraft gear in stock and ready to go. At these Soundcraft Truck stops, there will also be giveaways and more! Contact your GC Pro rep for more information!

SOUNDCRAFT TRUCK TOUR SCHEDULE (all events at Guitar Center store locations, 10am - 7pm):

14 Apr 2013: Hollywood, CA
15 Apr 2013: Sherman Oaks, CA
16 Apr 2013: Cerritos, CA
17 Apr 2013: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
18 Apr 2013: San Marcos, CA
20 Apr 2013: Phoenix, AZ
22 Apr 2013: El Paso, TX
24 Apr 2013: Ft. Worth, TX
25 Apr 2013: Austin, TX
26 Apr 2013: Houston, TX
27 Apr 2013: New Orleans, LA
30 Apr 2013: Nashville, TN
01 May 2013: Atlanta, GA
02 May 2013: Greenville, SC
03 May 2013: Charlotte, NC
05 May 2013: Seven Corners, VA
06 May 2013: Towson, MD
07 May 2013: Totowa, NJ
08 May 2013: Queens, NY
10 May 2013: Pittsburgh, PA
11 May 2013: Detroit, MI
13 May 2013: Arlington Heights, IL
15 May 2013: Bridgeton, MO
17 May 2013: Tulsa, OK
18 May 2013: Oklahoma City, OK