Blue Wilding Launches Audio Power Tools — Proven, Better, Reliable Gear Outta Brooklyn
WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN: Chances are, Blue Wilding has something you need. Under his brand-spankin-new, Brooklyn-based joint, Audio Power Tools, Wilding is repping the select audio brands BAE (Brent Averill Enterprises), BlueSky, Burl Audio, Dangerous Music, Mojave Audio, Royer Labs and more to be announced soon — something (awesome) for everyone.
“We represent makers of premium hardware for recording, mixing, post and mastering,” Wilding describes, further qualifying, “No do-it-all cheap boxes, ‘just-like’ plug-ins, clunky vintage or frilly boutique. Just quality product with great support right here in NYC.”
Wilding has been consulting users and dealers of top-level pro audio gear for over 15 years. During his recent role with Audio Agent (with previous time served at GC Pro NY and Dale Pro Audio), Wilding helped develop a new representation model designed to create a stronger symbiosis between the manufacturers of high-end audio gear, their dealers and end-users.
With Audio Power Tools, Wilding has now further customized these concepts specifically for the NY and Northeast market. Here’s the pitch, straight from Wilding to you:
“You wouldn’t use a $29 cordless drill to build a house…conversely, you don’t need an $800 imported drill with 400 different bits to do it either — you’re gonna grab that trusty, dust-covered Skil Saw™ that you’ve had for the last 10 years.
I noticed that the common thread between these brands was that that though they cost a bit more than the generic, ‘over-the-counter’ stuff, they represent the best of the “next level” that the user needs to stretch to to truly achieve top level performance and make a good investment without wasting money on unnecessary extras. These products get you there. These are what we feel are the audio power tools.
Also, the products we represent all compliment each other perfectly… People that contact us for one thing will often end up upgrading their whole rig. I’ll take a guy a BAE mic pre to demo, he’ll start talking about mics and out comes my Mojave MA-200, arguably the best mic for a hard-earned grand (please don’t argue with me, you’ll probably lose). Then we’ll discover that the 45-cent volume knob in his $299 monitor controller isn’t allowing him to hear how good the combo is and the Dangerous D-Box clears the ‘lens’ and saves the day!
Suffice to say, we understand the needs and strengths of each party, (manufacturer, user and dealer) and act as matchmaker in every regard. We create ideal conditions and provide solutions to make “the good stuff” accessible for clients and salespeople right away.
Working on the inside of many of the local dealerships we know the pitfalls first-hand. Though there are exceptions, it can take months before a hot “underdog” product becomes available for display, demo or purchase at a local dealer. When this is the case, pro users should not be banished solely to web-based ‘hearsay’ shopping for these highly personal investments.
Knowing this, we don’t wait for the products to take off on their own…we reach out to our 15+ year pro user client base to try out the gear. These initial demos stimulate local awareness and interest and everyone benefits.
We offer the salesguy that’s buried behind his desk or counter a convenient and simple way to sell this otherwise difficult to obtain gear to their clients. We can facilitate almost any local ‘right away’ need. It’s a ‘stop, drop, and fetch’ system and it works great!”
PRODUCT AND STUDIO CONSULTATION, TRIALS & RENTALS
During his tenure with Audio Agent, Wilding also worked directly with hardware manufacturers, even helping conceive tools, such as BAE’s new DMP Desktop Mic Pre.
“The power supply for a BAE unit was sitting open on my coffee table and I thought, is there enough space in there to fit just one channel of pre? Just that simple, and the owner of BAE and I got to sussing it out,” Wilding explains. “Every since my studio rat days, I always wished I could just have the same sound of the pre from the old Neve in a box, to go!”
“It seemed to make good sense for many users…those setting up a smaller “B” rig that still want a 1073 pre for track building …the musician that loves the sound he got in the ‘Neve’ room, that records one track at a time at home…maybe the guy that wants to toss the pre right in the booth for a short cable run, or take it to a live gig andsit it on stage.
“What makes it different from other brick-style pres we’ve seen is that it simply delivers that sound (you know the one) with no shortcuts or constrained headroom at a price everyone can afford.”
Audio Power Tools also offers system design, integration and upgrade consultation, as well as 5.1 / 7.1 surround consultation and optimization.
“Whether you’re looking to expand an existing system with the least change to your workflow, or build a new, correct playback or production monitoring system, we can help eliminate the mysteries and get you listening and mixing with confidence and superb translation,” Wilding assures.
Now what if you need to do 5.1 and don’t want to expand your system permanently yet? Audio Power Tools offers surround rentals! They’ll deliver, and setup a turnkey or expansion system that works with your existing gear, then take it away when you’re done!
In fact, rentals are available on much of Audio Power Tools’ stock. There’s the “try before you buy ” program through which you can demo gear in your own studio environment for a day or two. Then, there’s a rental program, which can extend the trial period (costs may even be applicable towards purchase). Or you can straight-up rent the piece, if it’s available. Contact APT for details.
An audio engineer and musician himself, Wilding genuinely believes in the products he represents and wants to spread the good word. Based in Williamsburg, Audio Power Tools takes on this mission guerilla-style, getting equipment into the hands of local engineers and doing it’s part to improve NYC sound — one set of ears at a time.
For more information, visit http://www.audiopowertools.com!
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