Avid Technology > Case Studies > Park Studio's Transition to Digital Audio Control with Avid S6

Park Studio's Transition to Digital Audio Control with Avid S6

Technology Category

Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application Development Platforms
Sensors - Acoustic Sensors

Applicable Industries

Buildings
Equipment & Machinery

Applicable Functions

Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Smart Parking
Time Sensitive Networking

Services

Hardware Design & Engineering Services
Testing & Certification

About The Customer

Park Studio is a well-established audio facility based in Stockholm. Since its opening in 1977 by Acke Gårdebäck, the studio has seen a number of owners, including the Swedish rock group Kent and Stefan Boman, a former in-house engineer at ABBA’s Polar Studios. Boman, who is now the CEO and technical advisor of Park Studio, has worked with a wide range of artists, from Alice Cooper and Def Leppard to The Backstreet Boys and Chic. The studio is known for its versatility, handling a wide range of projects from rock and pop productions to video, TV, and commercials. Despite changes and expansions, the studio's main focus remains on music production, mixing, and recording.

The Challenge

Park Studio, a renowned audio facility in Stockholm, was faced with the challenge of finding a flexible digital audio control surface that could seamlessly integrate within their existing vintage analog workflow. The studio, which has seen a number of owners since its inception in 1977, was bought by the Swedish rock group Kent and Stefan Boman, the in-house engineer at ABBA’s Polar Studios, in 2004. Boman, who has worked with a range of artists from Alice Cooper to The Backstreet Boys, wanted to maintain the studio's focus on music production, mixing, and recording while also expanding its capabilities. The studio needed a solution that could handle a wide range of projects, from rock and pop productions to video, TV, and commercials. The challenge was to find a digital solution that could integrate with their vintage analog gear, which Boman believed was crucial for inspiration and a better overview of the production process.

The Solution

To address this challenge, Park Studio chose to invest in the Pro Tools | S6 control surface, powered by the MediaCentral Platform. This modular and versatile solution was successfully integrated within the studio's analog workflow. The Pro Tools | S6 control surface provides intelligent control with superior ergonomics, enhancing the studio's access to the industry’s most open, tightly integrated, and efficient platform designed for media. The S6 includes a Master Touch Module, which features a 12.1-inch tilting multipoint touchscreen, knobs, and other controls, allowing quick access to the system and control for different aspects of the mix. This access was key to why Boman chose the S6, and is also central to Avid’s aim to provide the most comprehensive tools and workflow solutions for creating, distributing, and optimizing media. The S6's flexibility and ease of use allowed Boman to organize large sessions quickly and efficiently, keeping focus on the project and maintaining his creative flow.

Operational Impact

The integration of the Pro Tools | S6 control surface into Park Studio's workflow has resulted in a more intuitive and efficient mixing process. Boman has noted that the S6 has allowed him to move away from mixing with a mouse and return to using his instinct and muscle memory, enhancing the creative process. The S6's flexibility and ease of use have also improved the studio's ability to handle large sessions, reducing time spent on organization and allowing for a greater focus on the project at hand. Furthermore, the S6 has been a key component in the studio's recent expansion and future-proofing efforts, serving as the central hub that ties together the studio's vintage and modern equipment. The new possibilities offered by the S6 have already made an impression on existing clients and are expected to attract future users from new industries.

Quantitative Benefit

The Pro Tools | S6 control surface allows for the organization of large sessions with track counts upward of 200 channels.
The S6's modular design allows for easy expansion and rearrangement of modules, providing the flexibility to adapt to different project needs.
The S6's Master Touch Module provides quick access to the system and control for different aspects of the mix, reducing time spent on navigation and increasing efficiency.