When establishing the Michael and Anne Greenwood School of Music, Dr. Mark Perry of Oklahoma State University envisioned a studio that would function both as a professional recording space and as a hands-on learning lab for students. 

"I wanted my students to get an opportunity to work with equipment that they might not have access to in the early stages," says Mark. 

To achieve this vision, the studio was equipped with high-end analog and digital equipment that combines classic recording techniques with modern production workflows. Essential gear, such as the Rupert Neve Designs 5088, Avid S6, and a state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos monitoring setup, provide students with valuable hands-on experience using industry-standard tools.

The journey from concept to completion involved adapting to evolving technology and changing needs, which is common for complex projects. Vintage King’s Cedric Yee conducted a site visit and updated the system design to align with OSU’s goals. “Given the time between planning and construction, we revisited the design and worked closely with staff to address new priorities,” Cedric says.

One major challenge was integrating a Dolby Atmos system within the existing space. Due to constraints, overhead speakers were permanently installed in the tracking room. Power outlets were strategically placed with campus construction teams to fit the Atmos DARDT layout while avoiding HVAC, lighting, and fire safety systems. “We marked floor positions for speaker stands and designed a setup where the Avid S6 console could be rolled in and connected quickly,” Cedric explains.

Connecting the studio with rehearsal rooms on different floors required extended Dante networking using fiber optic cables. Working with university IT and a subcontractor, fiber lines were installed through multiple IT rooms, creating a reliable network. “Once fiber was installed, we integrated Dante across the building for flexible recording,” Cedric adds.

Fitting the 48-channel Rupert Neve 5088 console into the compact control room presented a significant challenge. To manage the complex array of cables without creating clutter or safety hazards, custom cable trays were installed along the rear of the console. This thoughtful solution kept wiring meticulously organized and maintained clear, unobstructed floor space for easy movement and access.

“Frank and Cedric from Vintage King were the ones that came on site and did the integration and they were quite accommodating because there are some decisions that have to be made on site,” says Mark. “It’s hard to plan certain things and they were great with offering solutions when there were some potential problems. So we worked out good solutions and oftentimes what we ended up doing made it better than my original plan.”

Consoles / Control Surfaces

• Rupert Neve Designs 5088
  
  

Converters / Interfaces

• Focusrite RedNet X2P
  

• Focusrite RedNet HD32R
  

• BURL Audio BDA8
  

• BURL Audio BAD8
  
  

Outboard Gear / Processors

• Universal Audio 1176LN
  

• Chandler Limited TG2
  

• D.W. Fearn VT-2
  

• Daking FET IIIB
  

• Pultec EQP-1A
  

• Bricasti Design M7
  

• Universal Audio LA-2A
  

• API 3124V
  

• Shadow Hills Mono GAMA
  
  

Microphones

• Coles 4038
  

• Soyuz 013 FET-M-B
  

• Neumann U87 Ai
  

• FLEA FLEA47
  

• Neumann M149