Elewijt, Belgium; June 2010 – Audient’s 16 channel mixing console Zen is quickly making its mark in Belgium with the help of recently appointed distributor Juke Box Ltd, with two prominent sales and a successful demo studio in the bag within three months.
Studio Simonne was set up two years ago by engineer/producer David Minjauw and is now centred around his new Zen, with an extensive range of outboard gear, patching, Logic and ProTools recording software, ADAM and Genelec monitoring. “My goal is to realise a compact studio within an affordable budget, but without compromising the quality. The addition of the Audient Zen has gone a long way to help with this,” says Minjauw, who is currently upgrading the studio - previously just a mixing room – by adding a recording booth for basic recording and overdubs.
“It has completely changed the way I work, there is a more natural and ergonomic feel when using the Zen,” explains Minjauw, who originally created his studio to enable him to do more than just pre-production work. Minjauw has 15 years experience as a freelance producer/engineer under his belt, and although it was clear to him that there was an increasing demand for more cost-effective production, ten years ago equipment wasn’t advanced enough to handle ambitious projects in a small studio – how things have changed.
“It is much easier to try different setups and effects, just by using the insert in/out switch on the Zen. I really appreciate the bus compressor, as it helps to get a better feeling of the end result even when tracking or pre-mixing,” says Minjauw.
Brussels-based Ohm Studio has also upgraded to an Audient Zen. “It has an incredible sound which makes a huge difference, especially compared to mixing ‘in the box’,” says studio owner Owen Replay, also an artist in his own right. “It has very effective routing, and I really love the bus compressor,” he enthuses. “I am impressed by the faders’ precision, too.”
Zen incorporates Audient’s proprietary moving fader automation, which allows effortless integration with DAW software providing precise, fully featured automation of moving faders, mutes and transport control. This takes advantage of the computer’s power for recording and processing while enjoying the sonic benefits and superior workflow of the analogue domain.
Installed by local audio dealer Orbit Pro Audio, Ohm Studio also doubles up as a demo studio in Brussels, giving potential customers in the region the chance to assess the sound of the Zen for themselves.
Juke Box Ltd is now handling distribution of Audient products in Belgium and Luxembourg. Manager Filip De Vos, is pleased with the success so far. “It’s great to add Audient to our portfolio. We have great ambition for this brand and I’m confident that these sales indicate a strong interest in our territory, one that we intend to explore fully.”
David Minjauw speaks for all Zen owners in Belgium when he says: “The sound of the console is really great!”
