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MTSU Elevates Recording Program with Professional-Grade Console, Strengthening Murfreesboro's Creative Reputation

Jun 27, 2025 at 02:55 pm by WGNS


Murfreesboro, TN - Middle Tennessee State University’s College of Media and Entertainment has taken a major step in advancing student training with the installation of a new API Legacy AXS analog console inside its recording studios — a move that signals the school’s ongoing commitment to preparing students for top-tier careers in music and audio production. The state-of-the-art, 32-channel console replaces a two-decade-old system and brings MTSU’s facilities in line with iconic studios like Ocean Way Nashville and Capitol Studios, where renowned artists such as Fleetwood Mac and Radiohead have tracked legendary albums using similar technology.

 

 

 

 

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Dr. Beverly Keel, Dean of the College of Media and Entertainment said, “This new console is more than an upgrade — it’s a clear investment in our students and their futures. We’re giving them access to the same gear used by the industry’s best so they can become the best.”

Faculty and students alike are praising the enhanced functionality and real-world workflow the console brings. Clarke Schleicher, Director of Recording Industry Studios and Audio Technology, called it “a professional-level tool that reinforces everything we teach — from signal flow to advanced mixing techniques — using the analog warmth that defines some of the greatest recordings ever made.”

Installed in Studio B, the API AXS console mirrors its larger cousin, the API Vision Console in Studio A, ensuring consistency for students as they rotate between facilities. Audio professor Bill Crabtree, who led the two-year acquisition process, said the console also mirrors what students will encounter just down the road.

“There are multiple consoles like this already in use across Nashville studios,” Crabtree explained. “So when our students head into professional sessions, they’re not catching up — they’re already in the game.”

Local engineers Alton Dellinger and Chris Dilday were instrumental in the technical installation, which faculty praised for its precision and execution.

The console rollout is part of a larger push by MTSU to remain a national leader in media education. Recent investments include a $2 million mobile production truck and a $1 million extended-reality (XR) stage, all located in Murfreesboro and directly impacting the local creative economy.

“Technology is only as powerful as the people behind it,” Keel said. “That’s why our faculty focus on not just how to use the gear, but why it matters. That’s the difference-maker.”

The new console is now live, with upper-division students already integrating it into coursework. MTSU says access for individual student projects will follow shortly.

For details on the Department of Recording Industry and how to get involved, visit recording-industry.mtsu.edu.

 

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