Full Sail University Partners With Vintage King For Epic Solid State Logic Install

Full Sail University has once again teamed up with Vintage King to upgrade its studio facilities. The Winter Park, Florida-based audio production institution recently underwent a massive transformation, as Vintage King brought in 10 Solid State Logic ORIGIN consoles and 11 BiG SiX desktop mixer/interfaces.

The Solid State Logic ORIGIN and BiG SiX will significantly influence students' understanding of audio production. Two new ORIGIN consoles are now part of Full Sail's main studio complex, where faculty teach the Recording Principles course. This initial class covers basic signal flow and gives students their first crack at working on a large-format analog console.

“They learn how to record in those rooms, working as a group of six students with one instructor,” says Darren Schneider, Full Sail's Director of Advanced Session Recording. “The first reports we got back after installing the ORIGINs was that the students were learning them faster than the previous consoles in those rooms.”

In the A Mix Lab, Full Sail and Vintage King have integrated seven ORIGIN consoles on a Dante network (another ORIGIN resides in an adjoining classroom) with flexible routing provided by the Avid MTRX. Teachers can feed 16 channels of Dante audio to each console, allowing students to work at their desks on individual mixes. Instructors can then compare and contrast mixes, provide guidance from their workstation via a microphone, and facilitate seamless mixing sessions.

The decision to bring in the ORIGIN consoles stems back to an event that Vintage King and Solid State Logic held at Full Sail.

"As part of the launch tour for the ORIGIN, Vintage King Audio and SSL hosted a collaborative event at Full Sail's campus," says Vintage King's Sales Director Chris Bolitho. "Full Sail turned to Vintage King, a partner for over a decade, when it became time to facilitate this console upgrade. Our ability to help customers recycle outdated equipment and invest in cutting-edge technology, as well as offering creative financing options and flexibility, has further strengthened relationships like the one we have with Full Sail."

The 11 SSL BiG SiX have been integrated into the Mix Palace, revitalizing a series of small, versatile production rooms. Previously outfitted with SSL AWS 900 consoles, these rooms now feature the extremely compact desktop mixer/interfaces. Each BiG SiX connects via USB to a central computer loaded with a vast array of plug-ins, samples, and virtual instruments, allowing students to learn about modern production workflows.

“Students can access the host computer, pull up a sample, play keys over a part that they've been working on, and record it into Logic on their laptop. Then, they can unplug and go to another bay where an artist is going to sing on the track. They can run a mic and preamp through all the plug-ins, track the vocal, and take their laptop away again,” Schneider elaborates. “Today's students’ creative world exists on their laptop, so we're trying to find unique ways to make their laptop the center of the studio and have it interface with the rest of the world. And we're trying to do that campus-wide.”

This collaboration between Full Sail University and Vintage King marks a significant leap forward in the evolution of the school's Recording Arts Program. By integrating Solid State Logic consoles and desktop mixer/interfaces, the school has outfitted its facilities with advanced tools aimed at enriching students' learning experiences and preparing them for their next step in the industry.

From the hands-on instruction in the main studio complex to the advanced mixing capabilities in the A Mix Lab, these new consoles provide students with valuable insights into both large-format analog mixing and contemporary digital workflows. The integration of the BiG SiX mixer/interfaces in the Mix Palace further underscores Full Sail’s commitment to blending traditional techniques with the latest in production technology.

Interested in bolstering your audio production institution's studio set-up? Want to take advantage of our installation services? Contact a Vintage King Audio Consultant via email or by phone at 866.644.0160.