"The biggest thing was ergonomics", says Peter Randlette, Evergreen's head of electronic media. "You can't sit at the front of some consoles and reach the EQs. And I love the clarity of the [5088's] signal flow, in terms of teaching students fundamental principles of recording and production. It's really straightforward - it doesn't mean it isn't potentially complex, but it 'feels' really good...and the sound has been wonderful."
Their 5088 is outfitted with six Shelford 5052 mic preamp / EQs, eight Shelford 5051 EQ / compressors, eight Portico 5033 EQs, four Portico 5032 mic preamp / EQs, six Portico 5015 mic preamp / compressors, and Rupert Neve Designs' proprietary SwiftMix moving fader automation.
"The quality of the physical fader control is outstanding - and the Portico modules all sound really good. Coming from my synthesizer background, I love an EQ where over a certain level you start to 'hear' the filter. These sound really good; not ringy or nasal. They don't stick out."
Evergreen has four music technology media labs outfitted with a wide range of equipment new and old. "We still teach students analogue recording practices with tape", which "really complements the digital production structure". The school also has a number of "large, acoustically complex production spaces", a band room with an iso booth, a recital hall with raked seating, and a THX video theatre space.
(Jim Evans)
