Prism Sound Orpheus - Audio Media

++STUDIO PROJECTS + + + + STUDIO PROJECTS+ + + + STUDIO PROJEStudio ProjectsSouthern California Microphone Company Aims High ButKeeps Their Costs LowIn 1997, PMI Audio Group founder AlanHyatt was beginning to see some successfrom producing Joemeek’s JM47 condensermicrophone. However, Hyatt ultimatelywanted to produce a full line of microphones.When Joemeek chose a different direction byfurthering their signal processing line, Hyattdecided to strike on his own once again toform Studio Projects, a company that quicklyearned a reputation for producing sturdy,robust-sounding microphones, preamps,and accessories at a price that even theaverage ‘Joe’ can afford.To cut costs without sacrificing quality,Hyatt partnered with Beijing 797 Audio Co.Ltd, one of the largest and most respectedmanufacturers in Asia. 797 Audio has oneof the largest anechoic chambers on theplanet, as well as B&K electro-acoustictesting equipment and digital DASS testingsystems. In other words, they have highStudio Projects C1The Studio ProjectsC1 is a largediaphragm, fixedcardioidcondensermicrophone• Pressure-GradientTransducer: 1.06”(27mm) 6um mylardiaphragm• High Pass Filter,6dB/octave@ 75Hzor 150Hz• -10db or -20dB Pad• Comes with HaloShockmount,Foam wind screen,and casestandards. In addition, PMI Audio Group doesits own design, service and modificationsin-house utilising the latest equipment. “Itwas 797’s history that gave us the confidenceto build with them,” says Justin Hyatt, whooversees PMI Audio’s U.S. operations inGardena, Calif. “The company was foundedin 1952 by a group of highly experiencedGerman microphone engineers. Theyhave been the premiere audio electronicsmanufacturer in China ever since.”The C1, C3 and T3With their partnership firmly intact andopenly discussed, Studio Projects targetedthe home and project studio market withthe C1, C3, and T3 microphones. Evenskeptics soon embraced the company’slarge diaphragm condenser mics, andword quickly spread via Internet forumsand media sources about the company’sexcellent products and amazingly gooddeals.By launching Studio Projects with anaffordable line of microphone, the companycould tap into the burgeoning home andproject studio market; which, in the midtolate 1990s, flourished as more studioprofessionals adopted computer and DAWbasedrecording. “This was the arena wherewe could most effectively compete, and ithelped us build our brand awareness ratherquickly, too,” says Justin Hyatt.Studio Projects continued to build namerecognition with their C and B Series mics,and drew attention with the budget LSD2,a stereo large-diaphragm condenser micthat essentially consists of two C3 miccapsules contained within a single housing.While Studio Projects’ reputation grew in themid-level studio market, they kept one eyefixed on their long-term goal: to corner thehigh-end market. In 2007, they broke groundin this arena with the recently launched CSSeries, which consists of the all-purposeCS1 cardioid mic and the CS5 transducermicrophone. The CS Series features an allnewdesign from Studio Projects Directorof Engineering Brent Casey that’s handdesigned “from the capsule all the waydown to the XLR,” says Justin Hyatt. “We’realready building a strong momentum withmany commercial recording studios in theL.A. area. The line is still new and largelyunheard of, but we expect great thingsfrom CS.”With three lines of microphones to theircredit, moving into preamp design seemedlike a logical next step. They took that routewith the VTB-1 and SP828 microphonepreamps, both designed by Studio Projectsand both boasting affordable, yet highqualitytechnology. The VTB1 is a solid-statepreamp using a totally discrete circuit, butalso offers a ‘Tube Drive’, feature, which is avariable drive to a 12AX7 that allowsthe user to blend as little, or as much of, theTube Drive they want. “The VTB1 has reallygained a lot of ground because it’s a veryaffordable pre, but also very good quality,”says Justin Hyatt. “It doesn’t use any chips.It’s a Class-A/B design, and has a verytransparent sound.” The VTB1 continues tobe an extremely popular, especially at its$150 price category.”Low Cost Without Cutting The QualityStudio Projects can keep their overheadlow mainly because they build in China. Buttheir alignment with the highly reputed 797Audio keeps the quality above board. “We arestraightforward about where we build, andwe have been since we introduced StudioProjects,” says Justin Hyatt. “We have sucha great relationship with 797 that we wantedto promote them in the beginning and make32 STUDIO PROJECTS