The 24-Channel Analog I/O Interfaces with Pro Tools Plus & Thunderbolt Card Replace Apogee’s Rosetta 800 Analog and Digital Converter and Big Ben Master Digital Clock
Gilbert, Ariz., April 22, 2026 – The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences (CRAS; www.cras.edu), a leading institution for audio engineering education, is proud to announce that it has upgraded two of its studios (F & G) with Apogee’s Symphony Mk II. The audio interface with Pro Tools Plus, Thunderbolt card, and 24 channels of analog I/O replaces Apogee’s Rosetta 800 multi-channel Analog and Digital converter that CRAS had been utilizing for the past 20 years, as well as a Big Ben Master Digital Clock.
“The Apogee Symphony Mk II make a great addition to Studios F/G as it packs 24 channels of pristine analog I/O conversion along with our SSL AWS948 console, complementing our ATC SCM25A monitors,” explained Tony Nunes, CRAS Music Production Instructor. “The Rosetta 800 was rock solid and sure did make its mark at CRAS for so many years. And now the Symphony Mk II will impact our students by being stable during their after-hours sessions and providing excellent conversion so that they can hear exactly what’s in their audio path. For example, during tracking they’ll hear the mics, mic preamps, and any processing they chose, clearly for their recording.”
Designed to deliver professional sound quality for audio recording, mixing, and mastering, the Symphony Mk II features Apogee’s flagship AD/DA conversion, modular I/O (up to 32 inputs and outputs), intuitive touchscreen display and optional world-class microphone preamps.
“Having had the pleasure of getting to see many school’s varied approaches, CRAS stands out for its thoroughness and hands-on approach,” said George Williams, Apogee Electronics Product Evangelist. “Students leave the program with a comprehensive understanding, from core electrical principles to analog console routing and essential modern DAW skills. By integrating the Symphony Mk II Special Edition, CRAS is also giving students access to a true elite professional listening standard, sharpening their perception of detail, depth, and imaging. That experience doesn’t just elevate their work in the classroom, it stays with them, shaping better decisions throughout their careers.”
Added Kirt Hamm, CRAS administrator, “We are always very thankful to be a partner with Apogee. We pride ourselves on training our students with the industry’s leading gear that they will also be working with during their professional lives. Apogee realizes a great education is the foundation for the future. Outfitting our studios with their electronics and software gets the next generation of audio professionals experienced and immediately ready for their career paths.”
The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences is composed of two nearby campuses in Gilbert and Tempe, Ariz. A CRAS education includes broadcast audio, live sound, film and TV audio, music, and video game audio, all taught by award-winning instructors who have all excelled in their individual fields, including sound reinforcement, audio recording and production, digital recording, troubleshooting/maintenance, and music business.
CRAS structured programs and highly qualified teaching staff provide a professional and supportive atmosphere, which is complemented by its small class sizes allowing for individual instruction and assistance for students in engineering audio recordings. CRAS has been providing quality vocational training in audio recording for more than three decades. The curriculum and equipment are constantly being updated to keep pace with the rapid advancements in the music and sound recording industries. CRAS’ course offerings and subject matter have always centered around the skills and knowledge necessary for students’ success in the audio recording industries.
The 11-month program is designed to allow every student access to learn and train in all of the Conservatory’s studios which are comprised with state-of-the-art audio recording and mixing gear, the same equipment used in today’s finest studios and remote broadcast facilities, including Pro Tools 12, API Legacy consoles, SSL AWS consoles, Studer Vista consoles, and much more. All students must complete a 280-hour industry internship to graduate from the Master Recording Program II that may ultimately lead to industry employment.
For more information on the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences, please visit www.cras.edu, contact Kirt Hamm, administrator, at 1-800-562-6383, or email to [email protected].
About The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences
Based in the heart of The Valley of the Sun with two campuses in Gilbert and Tempe, Ariz., The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences (CRAS) is one of the country’s premier institutions for audio education. The Conservatory has developed a unique and highly effective way to help the future audio professional launch their careers in the recording industry and other related professional audio categories.
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