LAKEWOOD, NJ, SEPTEMBER 3, 2008 – Neutrik, designer and manufacturer of the XX series XLR cable connector, is aiding the Women’s Audio Mission (WAM) in its continuing efforts to increase opportunities for women in the audio engineering industry. Neutrik is donating two of its "Easy Patch" Bantam TT patchbays to WAM to be used as central connection points in the organization’s newly constructed recording studio. 
As an international, nonprofit, women-run organization based in San Francisco, CA, WAM is dedicated to the advancement of female audio engineers. Through its newly constructed studio, WAM will be embarking on online training sessions this coming fall, in order to expand its reach and impact beyond the San Francisco area. These classes will be offered in a video on-demand format on the organization’s website that will include lectures as well as instructional seminars. Through its on-site and newly created online workshops, WAM introduces, supports, and expands on its traditional recording arts course of study.
The studio, which officially opened in June 2008, is now the site for several real-world projects. WAM is currently recording five local San Francisco bands and is busy on a feature film where it is responsible for narration and voiceover work. Advanced WAM students are helping in the actual construction and coordination of the gear used within the rack space.
“As the nerve center of the studio, patchbays are a really important part of this project,” says Terri Winston, president, Women’s Audio Mission. “We immediately thought of Neutrik, not only because they have been a continued supporter of our organization, but because they offer the quality we are looking for.”
Thanks to donations from several industry manufacturers, the studio is equipped with state-of-the-art gear including Neutrik patchbays and connectors, RapcoHorizon cable, Daking Mic Pre/EQ and FET Compressor, A Designs Red Mic Pre and REDDI tube DI, Avedis Audio 500 series rack, Lavry Blue A2D2 Micr pres and ADA, Mojave Microphones, Shure Microphones, THE Microphones, Digidesign Pro Tools HD system, Digidesign Pro Control with Edit pack, Otari Status Console, Little Labs IBP Phase Tool, Mackie HR624mkii Monitors, Mackie Control Universal Pro with Extender Metric Halo SpectraFoo, Gotham Audio Cable, Mogami cable and Ready Acoustics acoustic treatment.
“WAM continues to make an impact on female audio engineers through its educational workshops,” says Jim Cowan, president of Neutrik USA. “WAM is now able to provide real-world experience through its newly created studio, offering classes on-site as well as online. Neutrik USA is excited to be a part of this through our product donations.”
Neutrik’s “Easy Patch” Patch Panel (NPPA-TT-PT) is designed with 2 x 48 TT (Bantam) jacks, a half normalled bottom row and 288 push terminals for fast and easy wiring. The panel is fitted with high-quality, long-life NJ3TTA gold-plated double contact jacks, featuring drastically improved contact integrity. The patch panel is also manufactured with a built-in cable bar and two large channel-indent strips for perfect management of the system. Neutrik’s Easy-Patch is easily programmable for any one of five configurations, standard is half normalled bottom row; other configurations include half normalled top row, full normalled, isolated and normalling parallel. Users can also choose the grounding system that fits best for their application, options include individual, group, central or chassis-common. Each individual pair of jacks can be changed or reconfigured quickly and without fuss even while the panel is “on air.” The Easy-Patch is an innovative and compact patching system (just 1U high) for 19" rack mounting. Robustly housed in a black coated steel shell and featuring precision aluminum fittings, it is built to last.
In its previous support of WAM, Neutrik USA provided 50 of its NC3FX, NC3MX and NP3C connectors, as well as 25 of its NP2C connectors, for the organization to use in its workshops, including “Make Your Own Cables” and “Basic Audio Electronics /Testing & Wiring” courses.
Women's Audio Mission is a San Francisco based, non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of women in music production and the recording arts. In a field where women are chronically under-represented (less than 5%), WAM seeks to "change the face of sound" by providing hands-on training, experience, career counseling and job placement to women and girls in media technology for music, radio, film, television and the internet. WAM believes that women's mastery of music technology and inclusion in the production process will expand the vision and voice of media and popular culture.
Neutrik manufactures a wide array of XLR connectors and receptacles, jacks and plugs, speaker connectors and accessories for the professional audio industry. Neutrik USA is located at 195 Lehigh Avenue, Lakewood, NJ 08701.
