Avid System 5-B Powers Production at CBC Vancouver

Canada's largest radio broadcaster, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC), recently installed a System 5-B in Studio 1 of their Vancouver facility. One of the finest sounding orchestra capable studios north of Los Angeles and west of Toronto, Studio 1 can accomodate everything from small jazz combos to rock bands to 88-piece orchestras.

The first project produced was the Dal Richards and Friends’ big-band CD, One More Time from Warner Music. Additional projects underway include the TD Canada Trust Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Muziclips 2009 Vancouver and various other upcoming projects.

“A very attractive, bulletproof desk”

“Configurations and ease of setup, along with the fact it has a very high degree of hardware redundancy and switching makes the System 5 a very attractive, bulletproof desk,” explains John Fulton, Systems Technologist at CBC. “We are now properly prepared to invite our audience down to Studio 1 to record shows for various cultural events happening in Vancouver.”

The System 5-BP is ideal for the CBC as it comes with dynamic Mix Automation and Machine Control allowing it to handle applications where both audio post-production and on-air applications are required from a single console. Therefore, the 56-fader console will be used not only to record a variety of original content from live music to intimate interviews but also to post produce the material for broadcast.

System 5-B brings premium sound quality to the CBC

"I've used several large frame digital consoles and the System 5 has one of the best physical layouts and human interface, with wonderfully responsive dynamics and equalization processing for music production," says Gary Morgan, Senior TV Post Production Audio Engineer at CBC.

“The System 5 is a beautiful desk with very quiet mic pre's. The metering is excellent with all the important information there at a glance. The automation works great: overall a fantastic intuitive desk. Love it,” explains Richard Champagne, Recording Engineer and Supervisor at CBC.

The CBC Vancouver installation marks the seventh installation of for the CBC nationwide. Currently CBC Toronto has three Avid mixing systems installed in their Radio multi-track studios, two Max Air consoles in their HD Coordination Studios for television, and a System 5-B equipped Radio Mobile truck.