Avid
Introduction
If there is a company that is synonymous with the true revolution in digital audio recording with the development of the digital audio workstation at its heart, it’s Avid. It is the Avid corporation which creates, develops and markets Pro-Tools, which is the true standard for recording, editing and mixing professional music and sound for picture. However, let’s not think of Avid as just a software development company. In fact, when I developed a survey of the equipment that could be found in thirty of the most historic and legendary recording studio facilities in America, it is to be noted that thirteen of them were using control surfaces from Avid and many of them were also using digital audio interfaces from the company, as well. It is safe to say that Avid is not just one of the premiere companies in the world of professional music recording, but an innovative standard-bearer whose products have become important staples in it.
Which products from Avid that were used by the great engineers and recording studio facilities of the past would be a great fit for the educational space?
When I started working in the world of professional music recording for the very first time in the summer of 1996, digital audio workstation software programs, such as Pro-Tools were in their infancy. Two years later, in 1998, I was a member of a production team in Nashville, Tennessee, that was using Pro-Tools primarily for the task of editing (comping) and tuning vocals. By 2001, the program had already been used to record (track) and mix some of the greatest hit songs in the history of popular music. By 2006, ten years after its introduction, I was teaching multimedia students how to use Pro-Tools to create class projects and when I came back to Nashville that summer to visit with my friends who were still working in recording studios at the time, each of them noted that Pro-Tools was being used to track and mix almost every single song that was being produced in popular music. Today, I do not know a single professional recording studio engineer who does not use Pro-Tools to do the vast majority of their work. It is an easy, intuitive and fun digital audio workstation software program to teach and for students to use. But, it is to be noted that the control surfaces and interfaces from Avid can also be found in fine recording studios throughout the world and each of them would also be an excellent fit for an educational institution that is developing a music recording or multimedia program.
Image: Avid Pro-Tools
Image courtesy-- Avid Technology Inc.
Image: Avid MBOX Studio
Image courtesy-- Avid Technology Inc.
Avid— Pro-Tools
Without a doubt, the Pro-Tools digital audio workstation software program is the true gold standard for the tracking, editing and mixing of professional music in today’s recording studio environment. Quite simply, if your students are not learning how to use this easy to learn and intuitive, but powerful software program, then they will not be prepared to work in the world of professional music recording. Throughout its development, Pro-Tools has become more powerful, but it has remained an easy program for artists, engineers, musicians and producers to be able to learn to use.
Avid— MBOX Studio
As a teacher, I taught my students how to use Pro-Tools and our interface was the original Avid MBOX. The new Avid MBOX Studio is perfect for an educational space. It features the ability to connect microphones, instruments, amps, speakers and digital devices. With its incredible connectivity, students could use it to record musical instruments, but I believe that it would be the perfect tool for teaching students how to record voice-overs, effects and to learn how to create their own podcasts. In other words, it can be used for either music recording, or content creation. Like each of the products made by Avid, it is both feature-packed and easy to use.
Avid— S1
While the Avid S1 features a small footprint with just eight faders, it is an incredibly powerful control surface that allows you to control Pro-Tools, or any other major compatible digital audio workstation software program (i.e. Logic Pro, Nuendo, Cubase, Digital Performer, etc.). It can be paired with a second S1 and the Avid Dock to create— in effect— a sixteen-channel digital software controller that is just as powerful, intuitive and feature-packed as its larger siblings— the S3, S4 and S6 control surfaces.
Image: Avid S1
Image courtesy-- Avid Technology Inc.
Image: Avid S3
Image courtesy-- Avid Technology Inc.
Avid— S3
The Avid S3 is a small footprint control surface that features sixteen faders and like the S1 allows you to control both Pro-Tools and other compatible digital audio workstation software programs (i.e. Logic Pro, Nuendo, Cubase, Digital Performer, etc.). Though it does not have the monitoring features that the S1, or its larger siblings possess, it does have the same powerful functionality and ease of use. There are major recording studio facilities that use this control surface in their editing suites and it would be an excellent tool for an educational facility.
Image: Avid S4
Image courtesy-- Avid Technology Inc.
Avid— S4
The Avid S4 is medium sized control surface that provides every bit of the functionality of its larger sibling, the Avid S6. However, the Avid S4 is only available in models that feature up to 24 faders. That said, it would be a perfect fit for an educational institution that would be seeking to have a control surface that would offer the functionality of the flagship control surface from Avid, but in a smaller footprint. It is also modular which means that it can be expanded if you purchase a smaller surface and wish to expand it later.
Image: Avid S6
Image courtesy-- Avid Technology Inc.
Avid— S6
The Avid S6 is the flagship control surface from the company and it is perhaps the most advanced digital control surface on the market today. It is not just used for music production, but also for sound for picture, as well. The Avid S6 would be perfect for a multimedia facility in an educational space and can offer not just a tremendous feature set but also the ability to work in the Dolby Atmos immersive mixing environment with ease. It can also be used with any major digital audio workstation software program.
Why should an educational institution invest in products from Avid?
Avid has long set the standard for excellence in the digital domain. The Pro-Tools software program is the most important shared component that can be found in recording studios— no matter their size or location— around the world. Their interfaces and control surfaces are excellent products which are used by fine recording studios around the globe. Avid has always made a strong commitment to the educational sector, plus, the company has always offered top-notch service and training programs for all of its customers. When working with software programs or digital hardware there is almost always a concern about upgrading these components to keep up with the rapid pace of innovation. Avid has been in this business for a very long time and has always had a sixth sense about how to create groundbreaking products that quite literally change the nature of the way in which we are able to create great music. It’s a company that has great products, great services and from every experience that I have had with them— great people, too.
If you would like more information about Avid and the amazing products that were discussed in this article, please use the following links which are listed below.
The following link will take you to the Avid website where you can learn more about this legendary corporation and also, find an authorized dealer for their fabulous products in your area.
Special Note: Each of the images in this article appear through the courtesy and generosity of the wonderful people at Avid.
Special Thanks— At The Recording Session Vault Educational Website Project, we would like to take a moment to express our thanks and appreciation to Jim Sheehan at Avid for his time and assistance with this article.