Cadac Electronics

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Cadac Electronics
Founded15 September 1968;55 years ago (1968-09-15) in London, United Kingdom
FoundersClive Green, Adrian Kerridge, David Bott, Charles Billet
Headquarters
Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire
,
United Kingdom
Key people
Rob Hughes (UK Sales Manager)
Richard Ferriday (Director of Sales and Marketing
Parent Soundking Group
Website cadac-sound.com

Cadac Holdings Limited are a manufacturer of sound mixing consoles for live music productions, theatres, recording and broadcast. Cadac desks presently are best known for their use in large-scale musicals such as Phantom of the Opera (from 1984 till 2008), The Lion King , Mamma Mia! and We Will Rock You [ citation needed ] but historically from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s were installed in famous recording studios around the world including Lansdowne Studios, Manor Studios, Wessex Studios, Scorpio Studios and George Harrison's Friar Park Studio. Clive Green retired in 2001. [1] In early 2009 the assets and IP of the company were purchased by Xianggui Wang of the Soundking group, China. [2]

Contents

History

In 1967 Clive Green started working with Adrian Kerridge at London's Lansdowne Studios in Holland Park, working on replacing all the valve parts for an old EMI mixing console with solid state technology and modifying the desk for 8-track recording. In 1968, Terry Brown (a sound engineer at Lansdowne and Olympic studios) was asked by Barry Morgan and Monty Bason to set up the new Morgan Studios. Brown asked to buy the designs for the new mixing console that Green and Kerridge had been working on. Green suggested that he build the desk for Brown, and got together with Kerridge, David Bott an engineer from "TVT", and Charles Billet of Audix (who made the frames for the desks). The brand name Cadac came from the combination of their first names (Clive, Adrian, David and Charles). The first Cadac mixing console, an 8-track split console design with no automation and transformer balanced inputs and outputs, was delivered to Morgan Studios, who later purchased and installed additional Cadac desks. Many Cadac desks are still in operation in studios all over the world. The last studio desk to be installed is still at Air Edel Studios in London. [3]

In 1984 a sound engineer, Martin Levan, from Morgan Studios was asked to put on a live show, Little Shop of Horrors , and the first desk was built for live theatre. [4]

Cadac launched a digital audio network called MegaCOMMS, that was designed to work with many many complex applications. It embedded control data in a data stream to avoid losing audio channels. It could carry up to 128 channels of 24-bit, 96 kHz audio, in addition to control data, using two RG6 coaxial cables. It also allowed for phase-aligned clock distribution via embedding markers in the data stream, which in turn allows synchronisation of multiple hardware elements within the network. [5]

Cadac have been used on several theatre productions around the world, including West End performances of Billy Elliot , We Will Rock You , Hairspray , Jersey Boys , Lion King , and Wicked , and Broadway performances of 13 , Avenue Q , Chicago , Guys and Dolls , Gypsy , Hairspray, Jersey Boys, Lion King, Mary Poppins , Pal Joey , and South Pacific . [6]

Albums such as Supertramp's Crime of the Century , the Clash's London Calling , the Sex Pistols' Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols , [7] AC/DC's Highway to Hell , and Queen's A Night at the Opera were all, or had tracks, mixed on a Cadac recording console. [8]

In 2009, Cadac was purchased by Xianggui Wang of the Soundking Group Company Limited of Ningbo, China, and Bob Thomas was appointed as the general manager of Cadac Holdings Limited. All of Cadac's employees were retained and Soundking invested $6 million into the company. [9]

In 2011, Cadac appointed David Kan as company CEO and Nick Fletcher as director of research and development. Fletcher had previously been working for Cadac for 20 years, starting as a test engineer before becoming a console design engineer. Kan had previously worked with Cadac's product development engineers. [10] In the same year, Cadac also partnered with the US company LIFT Distribution to help sell its products to American consumers. [11]

In 2014, Rob Hughes was announced to be the company's UK Sales Manager. At this time, the company also announced that it would be making its UK distribution entirely in-house, rather than shipping in supplies from overseas. This was done in an effort to allow for faster project development, and to build stronger relationships with customers in the UK. [12] In the same year, the company also established a US headquarters in the city of Hoboken, New Jersey. [13] The US headquarters was subsequently relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota. [14] [15]

On 21 October 2015 Richard Ferriday, who has worked for the company since 2013 as a brand development manager, was appointed as Cadac's new director of sales and marketing. He later participated in two sessions at the Live Sound Expo in New York, to help promote the company. [16]

The company's Polish distributor, Tommex, installed an installed a CDC six console in the Miejskie Centrum Kultury in the Polish town of Płońsk, in an effort to help modernise the town's cultural centre. The CDC Six consoles, which are manufactured by the company, sold well across Europe, with the first two shipments selling out. It has also been shipped to Asia. The console was praised for its simplicity and easy to use features. [17]

2020 beam steering loudspeakers were launched under the name of Cadac Technologies. [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mixing console</span> Device used for audio mixing

A mixing console or mixing desk is an electronic device for mixing audio signals, used in sound recording and reproduction and sound reinforcement systems. Inputs to the console include microphones, signals from electric or electronic instruments, or recorded sounds. Mixers may control analog or digital signals. The modified signals are summed to produce the combined output signals, which can then be broadcast, amplified through a sound reinforcement system or recorded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Recording studio</span> Facility for sound recording

A recording studio is a specialized facility for recording and mixing of instrumental or vocal musical performances, spoken words, and other sounds. They range in size from a small in-home project studio large enough to record a single singer-guitarist, to a large building with space for a full orchestra of 100 or more musicians. Ideally, both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician or audio engineer to achieve optimum acoustic properties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sound reinforcement system</span> Amplified sound system for public events

A sound reinforcement system is the combination of microphones, signal processors, amplifiers, and loudspeakers in enclosures all controlled by a mixing console that makes live or pre-recorded sounds louder and may also distribute those sounds to a larger or more distant audience. In many situations, a sound reinforcement system is also used to enhance or alter the sound of the sources on the stage, typically by using electronic effects, such as reverb, as opposed to simply amplifying the sources unaltered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JBL</span> American audio hardware manufacturer

JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer headquartered in Los Angeles, California, United States. JBL serves the customer home and professional market. The professional market includes studios, installed/tour/portable sound, music production, DJ, cinema markets. The home market includes high-end home amplification/speakers/headphones as well as high-end car audio. JBL is owned by Harman International, itself a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics.

Altec Lansing, Inc. is an American audio electronics company founded in 1927. Their primary products are loudspeakers and associated audio electronics for professional, home, automotive and multimedia applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mackie</span> Brand of professional audio equipment

Mackie is an American professional audio products brand. Founded in Seattle in 1988 by Greg Mackie as a manufacturer of affordable and versatile compact pro audio mixers, Mackie is the primary product line of LOUD Technologies.

Neve Electronics was a manufacturer of music recording and broadcast mixing consoles and hardware. It was founded in 1961 by Rupert Neve, the man credited with creating the modern mixing console.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trident Studios</span> British recording facility

Trident Studios was a British recording facility, located at 17 St Anne's Court in London's Soho district between 1968 and 1981. It was constructed in 1967 by Norman Sheffield, drummer of the 1960s group the Hunters, and his brother Barry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Studio monitor</span> Speaker designed to reproduce sound accurately

Studio monitors are loudspeakers in speaker enclosures specifically designed for professional audio production applications, such as recording studios, filmmaking, television studios, radio studios and project or home studios, where accurate audio reproduction is crucial. Among audio engineers, the term monitor implies that the speaker is designed to produce relatively flat (linear) phase and frequency responses. In other words, it exhibits minimal emphasis or de-emphasis of particular frequencies, the loudspeaker gives an accurate reproduction of the tonal qualities of the source audio, and there will be no relative phase shift of particular frequencies—meaning no distortion in sound-stage perspective for stereo recordings. Beyond stereo sound-stage requirements, a linear phase response helps impulse response remain true to source without encountering "smearing". An unqualified reference to a monitor often refers to a near-field design. This is a speaker small enough to sit on a stand or desk in proximity to the listener, so that most of the sound that the listener hears is coming directly from the speaker, rather than reflecting off walls and ceilings. Monitor speakers may include more than one type of driver or, for monitoring low-frequency sounds, such as bass drum, additional subwoofer cabinets may be used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Mick</span> British audio engineer

"Big" Mick Hughes is the British live audio engineer for Metallica, a position he has held since 1984. He had to miss the 2021 shows due to post-COVID-19 travel restrictions and was replaced as FOH engineer by Greg Price who continues to mix Metallica on their 2023/2024 M72 World Tour.

UKC Radio was the student radio station for the University of Kent at Canterbury (UKC). it began life in 1967 as an audio distribution system through the central heating radiators before obtaining a broadcast licence in 1968, at which point it was operated as a student service by the University of Kent Students' Union.

Wessex Sound Studios was a recording studio located at 106a Highbury New Park, London, England. Many renowned popular music artists recorded there, including King Crimson, Queen, Sex Pistols, the Clash, Pete Townshend and the Pretenders. The property was sold to a residential development company in 2003.

Morgan Studios was an independent recording studio in Willesden in northwest London. Founded in 1967, the studio was the location for recordings by notable artists and bands such as The Cure, Jethro Tull, the Kinks, Paul McCartney, Yes, Black Sabbath, Donovan, Joan Armatrading, Cat Stevens, Rod Stewart, UFO and many more. Morgan sold its studios in the early 1980s, with some of its studios succeeded by Battery Studios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stage monitor system</span> Sound reinforcement for performers

A stage monitor system is a set of performer-facing loudspeakers called monitor speakers, stage monitors, floor monitors, wedges, or foldbacks on stage during live music performances in which a sound reinforcement system is used to amplify a performance for the audience. The monitor system allows musicians to hear themselves and fellow band members clearly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Audio engineer</span> Engineer involved in the recording, reproduction, or reinforcement of sound

An audio engineer helps to produce a recording or a live performance, balancing and adjusting sound sources using equalization, dynamics processing and audio effects, mixing, reproduction, and reinforcement of sound. Audio engineers work on the "technical aspect of recording—the placing of microphones, pre-amp knobs, the setting of levels. The physical recording of any project is done by an engineer…"

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Advanced Music Systems</span> Former manufacturer of professional studio equipment

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smaart</span> Audio measurement software

Smaart is a suite of audio and acoustical measurements and instrumentation software tools introduced in 1996 by JBL's professional audio division. It is designed to help the live sound engineer optimize sound reinforcement systems before public performance and actively monitor acoustical parameters in real time while an audio system is in use. Most earlier analysis systems required specific test signals sent through the sound system, ones that would be unpleasant for the audience to hear. Smaart is a source-independent analyzer and therefore will work effectively with a variety of test signals including speech or music.

Advision Studios was a recording studio in Fitzrovia, central London, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lansdowne Studios</span>

Lansdowne Studios was a music recording studio in Holland Park, London, England, which operated between 1958 and 2006.

Adrian Kerridge was a Britiah sound engineer, one of the earliest employees of the Lansdowne Studios in 1959 and eventually its owner. He helped establish the distinctive sound of the Dave Clark Five.

References

  1. ↑ Davies, David, 6 January 2012, Clive Green: silver shadow (http://www.psneurope.com/clive-green-silver-shadow/). PSN Europe. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  2. ↑ Evans, Jim, 28 January 2009, Cadac purchased by Soundking Group of China (http://www.lsionline.co.uk/news/story/Cadac-purchased-by-Soundking-Group-of-China/KE6J2R%5B%5D) LSI Online. Retrieved 4 March 2016
  3. ↑ Air Edel
  4. ↑ Collison, David (2008). The Sound of Theatre: A History (illustrated ed.). PLASA. ISBN   9780955703515.
  5. ↑ Anon. MegaCOMMS Digital Audio Protocol (http://www.cadac-sound.com/i/megacomms/megacomms-digital-audio-protocol/17/ Archived 6 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Cadac.com. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  6. ↑ Anon. About Us. (http://www.cadac-sound.com/aboutus/ Archived 6 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine ). Cadac.com. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  7. ↑ Buskin, Richard, 2004, CLASSIC TRACKS: 'Anarchy in the UK' (http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep04/articles/classictracks.htm)Sound on Sound. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  8. ↑ Anon. Classic UK Recording Studios in the 60s, 70s, and 80s(http://www.philsbook.com/cadac-1.htm Archived 29 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine ) Philsbrook.com. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  9. ↑ Evans, Jim, 28 January 2009, Cadac purchased by Soundking Group of China (http://www.lsionline.co.uk/news/story/Cadac-purchased-by-Soundking-Group-of-China/KE6J2R%5B%5D) LSI Online. Retrieved 4 March 2016
  10. ↑ Anon. (2 December 2012) "New CEO and director of research at CADAC" (http://www.cadac-sound.com/newsview/12/%5B%5D). Cadac. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  11. ↑ Anon., 2013-02-14 "CADAC Appoints New US Distributor" (http://www.cadac-sound.com/newsview/14/%5B%5D) Cadac. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  12. ↑ Anon.2014-03-18 "CADAC appoints UK Sales Manager and takes UK distribution in-house" (http://www.cadac-sound.com/newsview/72/ Archived 24 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine )Cadac. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  13. ↑ Anon. 2014-07-21 "http://www.cadac-sound.com/newsview/94/"(http://www.cadac-sound.com/newsview/94/) Archived 2 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Cadac. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  14. ↑ Anon. Contact Cadac. (http://www.cadac-sound.com/contactus/ Archived 6 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine ) Cadac Sound.com. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  15. ↑ Anon. Richard "Fez" Ferriday now Director of Sales & Marketing; sits on AES sessions.(http://www.cadac-sound.com/newsview/163/ Archived 15 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine ) Cadac.com. Retrieved 4 March 2016
  16. ↑ Anon. Richard "Fez" Ferriday now Director of Sales & Marketing; sits on AES sessions.(http://www.cadac-sound.com/newsview/163/ Archived 15 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine ) Cadac.com. Retrieved 4 March 2016
  17. ↑ Anon. 2016-01-04 "CDC six consoles shipping across Europe: first two production runs sell out" (http://www.cadac-sound.com/newsview/167/ Archived 6 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine ). Cadac. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  18. ↑ "Cadac Technologies Beam Steering Loudspeakers." (https://www.worshipavl.com/details/64855-cadac-steers-into-the-loudspeaker-market). Cadac. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
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