The Institute of Sonology at the Royal Conservatoire The Hague has installed a new Audient ASP8024-HE console in its recently completed studio facilities. The analogue console now forms the centrepiece of the department’s teaching and production environment, connecting decades of electronic music history with contemporary music education.
Founded in 1964 from the Philips Research Laboratories, the Institute of Sonology has played an important role in the development of electronic music. The new console replaces a previous D&R Vision desk and is used for teaching, composition, analysis and archiving. The ASP8024-HE connects the department’s extensive modular synthesiser system, Studer tape machines and digital audio workstations within one studio setup.
For Head of the Institute Kees Tazelaar, it was important to find an analogue console that would be both flexible and easy to use in an educational setting. The ASP8024-HE was selected for its high bus count, clear workflow and ability to work with an eight-channel loudspeaker system.
Around forty bachelor’s, master’s and one-year course students work with the console each year. Its hands-on design supports an accessible learning environment. ‘The advantage is that you see all the knobs, switches and faders and don’t have to dive into layers,’ says Tazelaar.
The installation coincides with the Royal Conservatoire’s 200th anniversary year and reflects the Institute of Sonology’s ongoing commitment to combining technological innovation with a strong historical foundation in electronic music.