While also a producer position at Belgium public broadcaster VRT, Steven Cauwenberg uses his own studio in Duffel for creating podcasts, audiobooks, audio guides for museums and also recordings and editing for stage productions. The facility is built around a Macbook M1 Max, and has an extensive microphone collection including Josephson Engineering C700S and C715 models, and outboard from Cranesong, Universal Audio, Tubetech and Bricasti Design.
The most recent arrival is Prism Sound’s ADA-128 Converter.
‘I was looking to replace my previous audio interface, so I took advice from Joystick Audio, a company I have turned to many times in the past when I’ve needed help with equipment purchases and after-sales service,’ he explains. ‘They recommended the ADA-128 and, after some research, I ordered the unit with complete confidence that it would suit my needs. While I was waiting for it to be delivered, Joystick Audio loaned me a Prism Sound Titan interface, which proved to be a good way of acquainting myself with the sublime sound quality of Prism Sound.’
This modular ADA-128 offers up to 128 channels of 32-bit A/D and D/A conversion at sample rates of up to 768kHz, and is designed as both a conversion system and a high-performance, networkable audio distribution and processing system. Its 2U-high mainframe can be fitted with up to 16 analogue and digital IO modules (each of which nominally provides eight input or output ports or both). Up to four host modules provide bidirectional multichannel connections to host computers, workstations and networks, with the ADA-128 providing free routing between all of these inputs and outputs under detailed user control, as well as a wide range of processing functions.
‘Prism Sound’s reputation for clocking and audio quality was a key reason why I chose the ADA-128, Cauwenberg says. ‘The fact that the ADA-128 is a modular device also determined my choice. With this unit, my home studio is futureproofed because I don’t have to build everything from scratch whenever I change my set-up – the ADA 128 can simply be adapted to my future projects. Currently I have one A/D line in card, one D/A line out card, one AES card and a Pro Tools card, but I can easily expand that in the future, depending on my needs.’
As a producer, Cauwenberg likes to combine working in-the-box with a traditional workflow that incorporates outboard hardware. The ADA-128 gives him the ability to add AD/DA whenever he wants to use external hardware. ‘It is particularly good with my Cranesong Spider and works better than my previous set up,’ he says. ‘I use the clock from the ADA 128 and let the Spider follow. For me, that works very well.’
Integrating the ADA-128 into the studio proved straightforward and only required some re-cabling work, which was carried out by Jo Heijlen who has previously cabled studios for the rock group dEUS and artists such as Charlie Burchill, Triggerfinger and Goose.
Joystick Audio’s Diederik Van den Broeck took charge of connecting the device and showing Cauwenberg how to use it. The well thought-out touch screen and remote computer control made this a simple task and set up was, says Cawenberg, very smooth.
‘I’ve been using the unit for a few weeks now and it fully meets my expectations,’ he reports. ‘I am already considering expanding the device with a Dante card so that, in the long term, I can make a connection with a rehearsal room behind my house.’
Having the back up of a knowledgeable distributor is something Cauwenberg particularly values: ‘Raf Lenssens and Mathijs Indesteege have helped me on numerous occasions and one of the greatest assets of Joystick Audio is the fact that they don’t limit themselves to just sales,’ he says. ‘In case of a technical defect or problem, they look for the best possible solution and have even helped me get second hand equipment repaired, which is remarkable. I am very happy with the service they give me – and the advice.’
