PRO-AUDIO

Creation Audio Labs started as a pro-audio service center. Our background in pro-audio is what makes our products sound so good. Having serviced, restored and modified all types of professional studio and touring equipment we know how to produce and preserve the most pristine, clear and uncolored audio signal.

We're bringing this level of sound quality to the guitar effects world and we approach each design from a very different angle than your typical guitar effects manufacturer.

We provide the following services:

Console Repair and Restoration: This is our forte. The repair and restoration of mixing consoles - notably Soundcraft, Allen and Heath, Crest and Yamaha - is what sets us apart from all other "repair centers." We are recognized in the pro-audio community as the foremost leaders of our field. Our restoration process is second to none. It is a highly involved series of stages that, in most cases, brings the console back to better-than-new status. We also offer console modifications and upgrades. These include grounding mods, noise floor reduction mods and IC upchipping.

BSS Audio and Soundweb Repair: Our extensive background with these product lines is what makes us the experts in BSS Audio and Soundweb repair. You will not find another repair center with as many hours logged servicing these units as we have.

Specialized Repair: If you have A&H, Soundcraft or AMEK gear that needs attention, there is no other location with as much expertise as ours. You will find no other repair center in North America equipped to work on the Soundcraft DC2000 and DC2020 consoles.

We will also service many other types of pro-audio gear - such as power amps, rack gear, processors, individual mixer modules and much more. We are also equipped to modify existing equipment or custom build devices to suit almost any unique Pro Audio need. Let us know your specific needs and we'll see what we can do.

Our shop is fully equipped for JBL Service and Speaker Reconing - Call and ask Brandon Arora for details! Please contact us with any questions you might have. Thank you for visiting. We look forward to hearing from you!

Soundcraft Ghost:

Creation Audio Labs, Inc. offers the finest Ghost repair, refurbishment and modification services available. We have repaired, refurbed and modified numerous Ghost consoles. Previously employed by Soundcraft / BSS, the Creation Audio Labs techs have the greatest amount of experience relating to this console. Gary "Sarge" Gistinger has rebuilt several Ghost consoles that were deemed not repairable due to massive shipping damage, and currently uses two modified Ghosts in the studio and as a live FOH desk.

The Ghost circuitry design responds very favorably to modification with the stellar Burr-Brown IC’s. This mod is very good and the sonic improvement is extremely significant. Up-chipping the Ghost provides the biggest bang for the buck. Any other mod such as cap, transistor, and diode replacements will be very costly and only provide minimal sonic improvement. The original Ghost design is very good to begin with, and the Burr-Brown upgrade puts this desk over the top! The mic pre’s, EQ section, the outputs, B-Mix path, direct output drivers, and aux sections all gain responsiveness and clarity. This is THE mod! Everything else pales in comparison!

Creation Audio Labs can do entire consoles, master sections, or individual channels as requested. We recommend that as a minimum, the master section be done first, with the possibility of at least two input channels as well. This gives a stereo pair of "hot rodded" channels through a big time beefed up master section!

We also offer a general refurb of this console (as well as any other!) which is a complete strip down and rebuild of the desk. We address all problems, clean up things, hand re-solder pot and jack connections, etc. Please view the refurbishment / restoration section of our web page at www.creationaudiolabs.com for a walk through of this process. Any older desk will greatly benefit from this treatment, and often the life of the console will be extended out another 5 to 7 years. (You should see some of the living death consoles we have refurbed!)

Now for some Ghost particulars:

-The first thing we do is take digital photos of the desk when it comes in. A photo journal of the refurb / up-chip process is taken and placed on CD for each project. This allows the customer to "see" the before, during, and after.

-The console is then stripped all the way down. All rearcons, inputs, and master section PCB’s come out. This entails removing all knobs, pot nuts, and screws (and we mean all).

-All metal work, knobs and PCB modules are cleaned with the appropriate chemicals / solutions / high pressure air. -All rearcon jack connections and all pot connections are resoldered by hand. This insures good connection to the PCB and corrects any solder fractures which cause "crackle" and intermittent drop outs.

-All switches are cleaned and lubed.

-All pots are cleaned with very expensive chemical cleaners and HP air.

-All faders are cleaned and lubed, and the hot lead of the fader is moved and resoldered to prevent shorting to adjacent cards. Additionally any hot glue is removed and the wires are securely attached with foil tape. Ghost faders are not typically extremely smooth to begin with, but we have found a special cleaning and lube process that makes them as silky as possible. The fader mods do not effect the audio, they only improve the reliability and feel.

-All insert jacks are replaced with gold Neutrik jacks.

-After the refurb process is complete the console is reassembled and fully tested via oscilloscope waveform analysis and condenser mic "live" audio testing. All noted or found problems are corrected.

-Additionally, the power supply is QC’d and trimmed to exacting specs.

When a console comes in for "up-chipping," all of the above is accomplished along with the removal of all original IC’s and replacement with the appropriate Burr-Brown IC’s.

While the refurb and up-chipping process is not exactly "cheap," consider that the life of the console is greatly extended (with reasonable care, of course) and the sonic improvement is very significant. Many mods are touted as being great, usually at great expense. Again, the IC replacement mod is the best value for the money. Anything else follows diminishing returns pretty quickly. A majority of the cost for the refurb process is simply the man hours it takes to "rip and strip," clean, resolder, repair, rebuild, and test. (Think of it this way: count all of the knobs on your console, then think of all the solder connections under those knobs! We’re sure you get the picture!).

Refurbishment of any console over 5 years of age is highly recommended. Even in clean environments most consoles get dirty over time. Unfortunately, the majority of consoles live under rather hard conditions and the grit and grime and smoke factor is tough! (You should see a rather remarkable Soundcraft 400 ). A refurb of your console will save you money and time in many ways. First, as compared to the cost of a new desk we are not even talking! You most likely are very familiar with the console you have been using for several years, and the majority of older desks are of better physical quality then the newer ones. You know how "cheap" many of the new desks feel! You are right! Cost cutting and profit gouging has run the gambit! Secondly, a refurb / up-chip puts your console BETTER-THAN-NEW in most cases! The "wave flow" solder technology used on PCB’s is typically weak and over time the connections fracture. If you have been doing sound for some time you know the "crackle" and intermittent drop outs that can sometimes be corrected by "gassing the gain," banging on the console, or pulling on the wires. This is solder fracture! Hand soldering the 50 zillion points is the only way to make this problem go away for good. Additionally a thorough cleaning is something most desks never get. Very quickly you can see the benefits of this process. Lastly, and probably most importantly, refurb of your desk may just save your hide by preventing a gig slowing/stopping failure. Have you been so lucky to never have had a gear problem foul up a studio take or live show?

Ghost refurbishment prices / Refurb with Burr-Brown Chip replacements:

24 Channel: $2000.00 / $3612.12

32 Channel: $2600.00 / $4650.04

24 Channel Expander: $1900.00 / $3069.76

Master Section: $550.00 / $754.00

Single Channel: $85.00 / $133.00

****For information on refurbs / upchips on other consoles please call us for a quote!

BSS DPR402:

For years, the DPR402 has been the industry standard compressor/de-esser for both live and studio applications. If your DPR402 is not sounding as pristine as it once did, it may be time for the electrolytic capacitors to be replaced. Symptoms include poor frequency response, distortion, noise, hum, erratic LED activity, and general functions not performing as intended.

At Creation Audio Labs, we offer the only Recap/Refurbish Service available for the DPR402. This service includes:

* Replacement of all electrolytic capacitors
* Thorough cleaning – inside and out
* Labor for other repairs as needed
* Replacement transistors, capacitors and resistors as needed
* All specifications tested with original BSS Audio Precision test procedures
* Restoration to original specifications

* Don’t replace your DPR402 with an inferior product.* Restore it today!

Soundweb 9088:

Soundweb is truly a revolutionary product. A favorite of audio system contractors as well as live and recording engineers, Soundweb offers exceptional value for the amount of power and flexibility it delivers.

When hardware problems do arise, pros send their Soundwebs to Creation Audio Labs. We offer the only Refurbish and Preventative Maintenance Services available for Soundweb – for about 5% of the price for a new 9088MM.

Find out why Microsoft, The Harry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, The Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and Turner Arena in Atlanta depend on Creation Audio Labs to help keep their systems running smoothly.

Console Restoration:

Here at Creation Audio Labs we go beyond the standard repair work that might be found at a typical repair center. In fact, our refurbish and restoration process is unlike any that all other companies offer. The services we provide are of the highest caliber. In most cases, the console is restored to "better-than-new" status. This procedure will cure intermittent pops and crackles, restore lost channels, correct super- and sub-sonic distortions and strengthen the console to increase its durability and stability. To find out more about this detailed process, please view our slideshow below.

This is a flash slideshow that is controlled by the round controller with arrows pointing to the left and right. Captions at the bottom tell you what is happening in the picture. Thanks and enjoy the show!

Pro Audio Service Testimonials:

"Alex,
Back from Bonnaroo. It went great and the Calrecs worked flawlessly and sounded fantastic! Everyone was really knocked out by the recordings. 31 bands in three days. Thanks for getting us through the harrowing setup night beforehand."
-Lij Shaw Recording Engineer/Producer Nashville, TN

"Alex,
Just wanted to drop you a email and thank you again for taking care of my DC2020! I finished installing everything last night and I am very pleased with the results. I got the computer talking to an old 486 and it's working great! I will admit that I never thought I would ever use the 486 again, but I knew there was a reason I kept it all these years!
I've also got it sync'd to my Big Ben Clock system. I finally got to hook up my video system, and everything is clocking like no other! This console has never ran quieter either!

You are the man when it comes to these, and if there is anything I can do for you please let me know! Thanks again!"
-Pete Tewes - Re'Pete Studios - Portland, OR

"You guys rock! I sent my Soundwebs in on a Monday afternoon, and I had them back in my hands on Wednesday morning! And they work perfectly. There is going to be a very happy group of actors this weekend. Kudos on amazing service!"
-Todd Sandridge Technical Assistant - Hemmens Cultural Center - Elgin, IL

"In the A/V world the worst possible thing to deal with is having a DSP go down. In the A/V world the second worst thing to deal with is getting equipment repaired. My experience with C.A.L. was the best repair experience I have ever had!"
-Chris Joyce, CTS J Systems - Entertainment Technology Group

"Alex, Just thought you might like to know that during this session we compared your Ampex MX-10 mod to the newer Inward Connections MP tube mic pre (based on the Universal Audio mic pres). The Ampex beat it out with much higher gain too for an RCA 74B Jr ribbon mic). Nice work. I can't wait to try it on other stuff."
-Lij Shaw Recording Engineer/Producer Nashville, TN

"C.A.L. rocks. At the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio Texas, we have the single largest installed BSS Soundweb network in the world. As many of our units are some of the earliest manufactured, installed devices, when something does go down we send it to the guys who know more about them than any other techs in the world. Creation Audio Labs--The original factory service guys. The guys at Creation get our devices back quicker than any other company and it is factory perfect. The best part is that they return our phone calls. I love our BSS equipment and will only send it to the best Service Techs in the country. CAL thanks for expediting our gear so quickly, and Mike thanks for always being so easy to work with."

-Blake Rothstein CMP Technical Systems Supervisor San Antonio, TX

"Mike and the gang at Creation Audio Labs did an amazing job repairing our BSS unit. The service was prompt, professional, budget friendly, and sympathetic to our tight theatrical scheduling needs."
-David Stephen Baker Dallas Theater Center Resident Sound Designer Dallas, TX

"I live in Ohio and I needed my Soundweb 9088ll serviced. I sent it to Mike, and I had it back fixed and working great in less then a week. And it is still working. I didn't have to send it back. It was done right the first time. You did a great job. THANKS!!!"
-Rob Snyder Chillicothe, Ohio

"Creation Audio Labs, Inc. repaired a couple of BSS Compressors/Limiters for us. They have been working flawlessly since being returned. The work was done in a timely manner. I will use you again I'm sure, since equipment will always breakdown."
-Jerry Bogan Audio Supervisor Ameristar Casinos Kansas City, MO

"Great service, quick turn around time. Mike is a pleasure to do business with."
-Mark Loalbo General Manager North American Theatrix Waterbury, CT

"The Omni drive you guys fixed is still working fine. Thanks for the great service!"
-Ryan M. Glick Chosen Sound and Lighting Longwood, FL

"Thanks guys for all the Great Work and Excellent Support! It is a pleasure to be associated with such a professional group that performs quality work, and really cares about the customer. Keep it up gang!"
-Bill Rice Clair Brothers Nashville, TN

"Thanks for the great deal on the used FCS-960...Working great. Also, the repair of the Omnidrive was perfect. Look forward to working with you in the future."
-Tom Provenza Blue Line Audio Glenn Dale, MD

"Hey Alex, Haven't talked to you in a while, but I was just sitting here in a session punching in piano on analog tape with the sustain pedal down the whole time, and there simply aren't any gaps; everything's smooth as silk. And I thought to myself, "gee, Alex Welti has made my life so much simpler. So, thanks!"
-Brian Carter at Paradox Productions in Murfreesboro

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