WBEZ Chicago Public Radio has upgraded the studio space at its facility on the city’s famed Navy Pier. Measuring 35ft by 42ft with an 18ft ceiling, the performance space features a 9ft Steinway grand piano and has hosted diverse artist’s recording tracks for the syndicated radio show “Sound Opinions” as well as client demos. The recent upgrade involved the purchase of a new Solid State Logic AWS 900+ analog console and a Digidesign HD3 Pro Tools system, acquired through Guitar Center Professional, the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users.
WBEZ is a community-supported, public service broadcasting institution that specializes in engaging, thoughtful and entertaining programs of depth, breadth, diversity and substance. To support that mission, all new studio gear must be highly flexible yet cost-effective to meet the budgets of public broadcasting, and GC Pro and SSL provided WBEZ with a turnkey recording console solution.
WBEZ audio supervisor Mary Gaffney had been working on an all-digital console for the last eight years, but when she learned that the SSL AWS 900+ offers digital control features such as recall and the warmth of analog sound, within her price range, she knew that was what she wanted. “SSL offers the sound we were looking for, and the company’s history in the recording market puts performers at ease when they show up for the session. It’s just like seeing the Steinway we have. It fills both the performers and us with confidence and then delivers. Plus, the AWS offers all these features and functionality in a reasonably sized footprint,” Gaffney said.
GC Pro, the exclusive U.S. retailer of the AWS 900+, worked closely with Gaffney as part of the studio’s upgrade, including helping the station finance its purchases.
For more information, visit www.gcpro.com.
