JBL Vertec Rocks The House

The Conservatory’s 6,000-sq. ft. live sound classroom was recently upgraded with a JBL Vertec line array, a standard in the touring industry. The 12 4888 Vertec cabinets are powered by 8 Crown Macro-Tech 5002 amplifiers and are complimented by JBL subs powered by four Crest 8002 amps. Live sound engineer Robert Scovill is creating an exclusive curriculum that will allow students to certify in setting up the Vertec array.

"David Sheirman, Director of Tour Sound Markeing at JBL was instrumental in bringing the Vertec rig here to the school," says Administrator Kirt Hamm. "Having our students certified in setting up the #1 line array in the touring industry makes them that much more able to compete in the world of audio."

The JBL rig is part of the Conservatory’s recent expansion into its new purpose-built Gilbert location. The new location allows the Conservatory to serve over 800 up-and-coming audio professionals each year.

Photo credit: left to right: Keith Morris (live sound instructor), Robert Scovill, David Scheirman (JBL), Kirt Hamm and Jim Bender (live sound instructor)

What The Heck Is A PM1D?

In another step along the way in the Conservatory’s recent campus expansion, the school took delivery of a Yamaha PM1D Digital Audio Mixing System. The pro-quality live desk is a popular option for theater and live tour sound. It is featured in such venues as the new Walt Disney concert hall in Los Angeles, the showroom at the Las Vegas Hilton and the Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in Seattle.

"This desk rocks," says Conservatory live sound instructor Keith Morris. "After an hour of instruction from (Yamaha’s) Randy Weitzel, I was flying." Conservatory students will benefit twofold from the new addition to the school’s 6,000-sq. ft. live sound classroom. First, the new desk perfectly compliments the newly-installed JBL Vertec line array system. And secondly, students will have the opportunity to become certified PM1D operators. Live sound engineer Robert Scovill will develop a PM1D certification for the school to add to the rest of the curriculum he has penned for the CRAS.

"Our upcoming Vertec and PM1D certifications are an awesome combo," adds Administrator Kirt Hamm. "It gives our students’ resume’s a one-two punch that will make them eminently employable in the audio marketplace.

Photo credit: Randy Weitzel of Yamaha with live sound instructor Keith Morris

Top Audio Pub Does The Desert

Recently, Senior Editor Sarah Jones and Editor Tom Kenny of Mix magazine traveled to Arizona to view the Conservatory’s new 25,000-sq. ft. Gilbert location. Mix, the #1 Audio production and recording magazine in the US, brings the brightest and best audio educational institutions to print each year in its October education issue.

"Mix was nice enough to dub our Gilbert D Room as one of the hottest new rooms to open, ‘Class of 2004’, in the June Design and Acoustics issue," says Administrator Kirt Hamm. "Having Sarah and Tom come all the way to Phoenix just to see our new facility means a lot to us."

The editors got the full tour of the Gilbert location and also the school’s original Tempe location. Both facilities offer over 40,000 square feet dedicated entirely to audio education. The entire campus features 8 studios, 24 Pro Tools rigs, 6 two-inch analog tape machines, 9 digital hard disk recorders including Alesis HD24 and Otari RADAR, various outboard gear, microphones and much more.

Photo credit: Kirt Hamm with Mix editors Sarah Jones and Tom Kenny

Apply To The Conservatory Online - Our easy-to-use online admissions form makes it simple to get a Conservatory education.