Background
The College of the Canyons (COC) Music Department set out to give students a true professional studio experience- one that mirrored what they’d encounter in Los Angeles recording facilities. Under the leadership of Instructor Bill Macpherson, the department envisioned a space where students could learn Pro Tools, recording, mixing, and session workflows using industry-standard equipment.
With support from Perkins and CTE funding, Macpherson and his team transformed an underutilized classroom into a purpose-built recording environment. Key Code Media– already a trusted partner for the COC Media Entertainment Arts Department- was brought in to design, integrate, and train faculty and students on the new systems.
The Challenge
The project had to overcome several hurdles:
The Solution
Key Code Media designed and delivered a complete audio production ecosystem from console to cabling- spanning two main spaces:
Music Lab – Studio
A fully integrated recording studio anchored by an Avid S6 M40 24-Fader Console. The custom configuration included Master Touch, Automation, Process, Knob, Display, and Joystick Modules. Power and network integration were managed through dual Ethernet frame sets and a centralized Dante-based rack.
The S6 system interfaces with dual Avid Pro Tools | HDX workstations and Avid MTRX Studio interfaces for pristine audio conversion. Eight-channel Neve 1073OPX preamps provide classic warmth and remote-controlled gain, integrated via Dante for total recall.
Monitoring is provided by a Genelec 7.1 surround system, built around Genelec 8351B coaxial monitors and 7380A subwoofers, calibrated using Genelec GLM software for precise room tuning.
Acoustic isolation and treatment were handled through dense wall insulation, custom angled wall geometry, and ceiling baffles- creating a quiet, accurate environment for critical listening.
Music Technology Classroom
Across the hall, Key Code Media outfitted a teaching studio featuring an Avid S4-24 Fader Console, matching Pro Tools | HDX system, and a smaller Genelec 7.1 monitoring setup. Both rooms share mirrored Mac-based systems and identical software configurations, ensuring continuity in student training and easy file interchange.
Dante-Enabled Campus Audio Network
To enable collaboration across the music facility, Key Code designed a facility-wide Dante AV-over-IP workflow, connected via Netgear PoE+ Gigabit switches. This allowed multiple studios and classrooms to share I/O, preamps, and playback systems over standard Cat6 infrastructure.
A single Dante link now connects the studio to the college’s upstairs rehearsal hall- letting students record full ensembles from multiple rooms with no perceptible latency.
“We recorded a jazz trio and 17 singers in separate rooms, and there was no delay between them. It felt like everyone was performing together in the same space.”
— Zac Imperial, Operations Manager, College of the Canyons
Results
The new COC Recording Studio and Music Lab have quickly become the centerpiece of the Music Program. Students can now record, mix, and master in a professional-grade environment, learning on the same tools used at major studios.
Key Code Media’s team also provided on-site Pro Tools and S6 training led by Jon Connolly, a former Avid specialist, ensuring both instructors and students gained confidence using the new systems.
“Key Code went above and beyond. Their support has been world-class — not just in the install, but in helping our students and faculty truly learn the gear.”
— Zac Imperial, College of the Canyons
With Key Code Media’s design and integration expertise, College of the Canyons now offers a world-class recording studio experience to its students- one that rivals top-tier production facilities in Los Angeles.
The project demonstrates how a community college can leverage CTE funding and innovative engineering to deliver real-world training environments that bridge education and professional media production.
