New Audio Lab Opens in Holland Library

WSU Libraries’ patrons now have access to a state-of-the-art audio lab for the production of podcasts, music recordings, and sound for video.

The Audio Lab is located in Holland Library’s Dimensions Lab, Room 120C. For reservations, visit the Dimensions Lab webpage. The Audio Lab is available for four hours a day from noon-4 p.m., with no renewals, Monday through Friday on school days during the semester. The lab can be checked out once in a seven-day period and sessions booked up to two weeks in advance.

Equipment and software for the Audio Lab include the Whisper Room isolation booth and studio desk as well as a powerful computer with two displays and a microphone, stand, and windscreen. There are also four high-quality studio monitors; MOTU 828es audio interface, patch bay, and ART Voice Channel preamp; and controller hardware, including DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor, a Novation MIDI keyboard, and a LinnStrument. Digital audio workstation software includes Reaper, Pro Tools, Adobe Audition, Audacity, Ableton Live, and Native Instruments Komplete.

WSU Libraries’ Jason Anderson worked with a large group of collaborators to find students interested in developing a Student Technology Fee proposal to fund the Audio Lab, which was awarded in 2019. Scott Blasco, associate professor of music theory, composition, and electronic music; Reza Safavi, fine arts associate professor, digital media coordinator, and graduate coordinator; and career track Assistant Professor Ruth Gregory, director of undergraduate studies and the Digital Technology and Culture Program, all played a major role in making the audio lab a reality. After pandemic-related delays, the lab officially opened on Jan. 28.

“Users can create very high-end sound recordings for their projects,” Anderson said. “And as new technology becomes available, we’ll do our best to make sure the Audio Lab adapts to those changes.”

For more information about the Audio Lab, contact Anderson at jason.anderson@wsu.edu.