Audio Lab

Student uses Audio Lab equipment

The Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business Audio Lab is a professional-quality recording studio designed for the exploration of sound and recording techniques, especially as it relates to gamification, and the design of forward thinking user experience to achieve business objectives.

The Audio Lab is outfitted with high-quality hardware and industry-standard software and is well suited to recording projects such as voiceovers, as well as sound design and soundtrack composition. 

It harnesses the power of digital equipment, centered around a Mac system and a Universal Audio Apollo recording interface with a quad-core built-in processor. In addition, the Audio Lab boasts several pieces of analogue equipment to offer the highest quality possible and to give students an opportunity to work with equipment that they may find in professional studios later in their careers. 

The design of the studio is such that an experienced veteran can work easily, or a first-time student can find their way through it easily.

Getting Started

For your first visit to the Audio Lab, you must watch the Tutorial and pass the test in the Stratford School Field Guide (login required).

Equipment List

HARDWARE

  • iMac
  • Apple Cinema Display (Secondary Display)
  • Universal Audio Apollo Quad
  • Universal Audio LA-610 MkII
  • Presonus Central Station
  • Presonus HP60 Headphone Amplifier
  • Furman M-8LX Power Conditioner
  • DBX PB-48 Patch Bay
  • Ableton Push
  • Presonus FaderPort
  • M-Audio Axiom 25 MIDI Keyboard
  • 88-key MIDI keyboard
  • Shure SM-58 Unidirectional Dynamic Mic
  • Shure SM-57 Unidirectional Dynamic Mic
  • Shure SM-78 Large Diaphragm Cardioid Dynamic Mic
  • AKG C1000S Cardioid/Hypercardioid Condenser Mic
  • AKG C2000B Large Diaghragm Condenser Mic
  • KRK Rokkit 8" Studio Monitors
  • Quicklok BS-336 Studio Monitor Stands
  • Yorkville Studio Workstation Desk
  • TRS Multi-coloured Patch Cables
  • Monoprice Studio Cables
  • K+M Mic Stands x 5
  • sE Electronics Instrument Reflexion Filter
  • Sennheiser HD380 Pro Studio Monitoring Headphones
  • Music instruments (can be signed out from Media Services)

SOFTWARE

  • Cycling '74 Max
  • Apple Logic X
  • Adobe Creative Cloud
  • Roland RE-201 Space Echo Tape Delay Plugin
  • Roland CE-1 Chorus Ensemble Plugin
  • Sonnox Oxford Inflator Plugin
  • Brainworx BX_Tuner Plugin

Reservations

The Audio Lab must be reserved and you must be a current MDEI or GBDA student in good standing in order to use it. Please use WebCheckout to reserve time (at a maximum of 2 hours at a time).

Location

University of Waterloo Stratford School Campus, Room 2037.

Further Questions?

If you have any questions about using the Audio Lab, please contact Media Services.