[ATTACH=CONFIG]194536.vB5-legacyid=1332[/ATTACH]Schubert Systems Group (SSG), a leading provider of innovative, cutting-edge audio for touring sound for more than 30 years, has purchased one PRO9 and two PRO6 digital consoles by Midas, augmented with the Klark Teknik DN9331 Rapide rack-mountable remotes with motorized faders to operate the console’s graphic EQs.
SSG president Dirk Schubert and general manager Mike Gonzales discussed their decision. “We’ve always been big fans of Midas,” Schubert relates. “When they rolled out the PRO Series digital consoles, we really liked how they looked. Compact, plenty of horsepower, bringing all the technology from the XL8 into a smaller form factor. And of course, the sound quality is everything you’d expect from Midas.”
The PRO Series consoles all share the same control surface, being differentiated primarily by the I/O and mix engines that are supplied. Both the PRO6 and PRO9 come with a DL351 modular I/O, with the PRO9 adding the DL451 rack unit as well. Schubert Systems took advantage of this modular approach in making its purchase.
“One reason we went with a PRO9 along with the two PRO6s, aside from the additional channels, was for the DL451,” explains Schubert. “It can be used with any desk, and gives us a lot of options for configuring systems in terms of inputs and outputs. For front of house, that means lots of extra inputs. In monitor world, you can have enough outputs to handle all the in-ear systems an artist might have.”
Adds GM Mike Gonzales, “We’re configuring all our DL351 racks the same, 48×16, and each control surface has a TRS card, an AES card and an extra input or output card available. That’s our base system. We went with the fully modular I/O racks so we can customize each console as needed. That’s important in our business model, which includes a lot of dry hire to other companies as well as touring with our own clients.”
In fact, SSG is the largest dry hire company on the West Coast, which is why they own far more consoles, monitors and ancillary equipment than they do PA systems. “For us, it’s not just about touring,” says Schubert. “We also rent gear on a business to business basis. Over the years, we’ve developed relationships with many other sound companies. They know they can trust us to provide the excellently maintained equipment, configured for their needs. The PRO Series consoles fit right into that side of our business.”
On the operational side, SSG was especially impressed with the PRO Series implementation of VCA groups and POP Groups. “Once the board is configured, which we do here in the shop, it’s really operator-friendly,” say Schubert. “That’s where, in my opinion, Midas really excelled in this design. It’s a departure from the typical digital board design with layers. The whole surface is like one giant layer, and you can get anywhere you want by using the POP Groups and VCAs. Plus you’ve got Area B, which can be used in any number of ways to make life easier.”
One of the subtleties of the control surface that Schubert found particularly insightful is its visual coding. “It’s an interesting design concept,” he observes. “A round button will not affect your mix, but a square button will. You never have to be afraid to push a round button. That’s a really smart idea.”
There are obvious parallels between SSG and Midas. Both built their reputations on superb sound and innovation, and on taking great care of their clients. Today, Schubert Systems Group is the largest sound company in Los Angeles, with a 10,000 square-foot North Hollywood facility that includes two acoustically designed rehearsal halls and a who’s-who list of clients that includes Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne and Jeff Beck (currently out with a PRO6).
SSG is not your standard-issue sound company. While their focus on exceptional sound is constant and expert, they also strive to have a great time in the process. “We don’t take ourselves too seriously,” notes Schubert. “That attitude is reserved for the actual audio.” This fun-loving approach is evident on the company’s website, in its engineers and techs, and in the enthusiastic, long-term loyalty of its clients.
Gonzales provides an example of what sets SSG apart. “Anybody can go out and buy PA and amps and consoles,” he states. “So it really comes down to packaging and deployment, and SSG has always been considered to have the most elegant and robust packaging and system integration in the industry. We think that sets us apart.”
SSG gained fame as the first sound company to create multi-connectors for consoles and effects racks, connecting them with a single click to ensure accurate patching and fast setup. Today, that approach has been further refined with the company’s new drive system, which groups 10 analog/AES lines and two Cat6 Ethernet lines, integrated into a single cable via a single multi-connector. “It solves a lot of problems and makes for an easier day,” says Schubert. “We try to carry that philosophy into everything we do.”
With a history of sustained success and loyal customers, Schubert knows what works, both for his company and his clients, and he suggests that SSG’s investment in the PRO Series is just the beginning. “Buying three new consoles was only the first step. We’re planning on expanding that commitment dramatically,” he states. “With Midas, there’s no fear that the product you buy today will become obsolete tomorrow. We see the PRO Series as the mixing platform we’ll be using for the next 10 years.”
