Guitar Center Pro Guides Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church into Its Digital Era

--

The Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church has been among the Houston area's largest houses of worship for over 60 years. However, through most of that time, it was also a very analog institution, with a pair of analog consoles used for front-of-house mixing and to route audio to congregation overflow and post-production areas. As of this year, however, Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church has entered its own digital age, with the acquisition of two Studer digital consoles, purchased through Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro), the business-to-business (B2B) division of Guitar Center providing highly customized service for professional accounts. GC Pro managed the sale of a Studer Vista 1 desk, which was installed earlier this year, used to route audio to a number of locations around the church campus. A Studer Vista V console intended as the church's new FOH console was also installed and commissioned at the beginning of the summer. GC Pro's Houston-based team of account managers and sales associates handled both transactions.

The AV control center at the Houston-area Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, featuring a Studer Vista 1 console.

I knew what I wanted for this, says Lennon Allison, AV Production & Design Engineer at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, of the church's transition to digital audio technology. I spent a lot of time researching and even taking training on a number of consoles, to make sure I found exactly the right one for us. Acquisition of equipment is a part of my job, and GC pro is my first choice when it comes to price point and ease of transaction.

Allison had worked in the past with GC Pro Account Manager Troy Hanchett, including the purchase of the church's Avid Pro Tools HD and Control 24 control surface for the church's post-production department. While he had done his homework, Allison still depended upon GC Pro to make sure he got expert help in managing the transition to digital for the church's key audio platforms. Troy set up the conference calls between me and Studer, which made sure that we have everything planned out ahead of time, he recalls. He's had a great working relationship with the church even before I took this position three years ago, so he knows our facility and its needs. We really depend on that.

The first console has already made an impact on the church's media operations. The audio is always split three ways - to FOH, a broadcast stream and Pro Tools. The church's tricaster stream, which is always uploaded to the church's website and for a campus-wide broadcast, generally sync'ed the broadcast video with the Pro Tools audio - in the past, processed with dynamics and EQ. But now with the Vista 1, notes Allison, the audio being sent to the tricaster is so pristine that we no longer need to do any post-production of audio before posting the video, which means no post-production of audio required at all. Another issue was inconsistent volume for a video-over-Ethernet signal, which goes straight to TVs in the church's overflow area. But now, the Vista 1s accurate metering and exceptional dynamics has made our levels consistent and tackled the problem of music vs. spoken word volume differences, adds Allison. For more information, please visit http://www.guitarcenter.com/GC-Pro/.

About Guitar Center Professional

Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro) is the business-to-business division of Guitar Center specializing in Audio, Video and Lighting solutions. Our professional advantages offer companies a dedicated account manager who provides personalized service tailored to the companies' individual needs. This includes a singular point of contact for all product purchases, on-site surveys, system design and professional recommendations for clients' project demands, as well as access to the installation and consultation power offered by our nationwide network of Affiliate Program members. Our clients include recording and touring professionals; houses of worship; educational facilities; corporate offices; restaurants and retail establishments; and much more. With offices nationwide, and a strong support/management staff in Westlake Village, CA, GC Pro has access to an unmatched inventory extending far beyond what is on the GC sales floor, as well as full service and support for all the equipment we sell. No matter your Audio, Video or Lighting needs, GC Pro has the right people and products to serve the job with efficiency and professionalism - a philosophy that has been our foundation throughout GC Pro's 15-year history.

About Guitar Center

Guitar Center is the world's largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, drums, keyboards, recording, live sound, DJ, and lighting equipment. With more than 270 stores across the U.S. and one of the top direct sales websites in the industry, Guitar Center has helped people make music for more than 50 years. In addition, Guitar Center's sister brands included Music & Arts, which operates more than 120 stores specializing in band & orchestral instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students, and Musician's Friend, a leading direct marketer of musical instruments in the United States. With an unrivaled in-store experience, an industry-leading online presence and passionate commitment to making gear easy-to-buy, Guitar Center is all about enabling musicians and non-musicians alike to experience the almost indescribable joy that comes from playing an instrument. For more information about Guitar Center, please visit www.guitarcenter.com. You can visit our press room at http://www.guitarcenter.com/pages/press-room and send media inquiries to media@guitarcenter.com. The Guitar Center logo is a registered trademark of Guitar Center, Inc. Other brand or product names may be

LINK:	https://news.creativecow.net/story/882161...
	See more stories from creativecow

Most recent headlines