Berklee NYC, one of the leading institutions for advanced music production and live production event design, has expanded its relationship with Focusrite to integrate high-performance audio equipment into its programs. Through this collaboration, Berklee NYC is offering students access to industry-standard tools used in professional live sound and recording environments, preparing them for real-world careers in the evolving music and live production industries. Berklee NYC is the Berklee College of Music’s New York City campus, housed in the historic Power Station recording studio located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan on West 53rd Street.
Daniel Pembroke, Chair of Live Music Production and Design and Director of Academic Technology at Berklee NYC, shared insights on working with Focusrite: “Our collaboration with Focusrite has evolved as our graduate programs have grown. Our focus is on creating environments where students gain hands-on experience with professional audio interfaces, immersive mixing, and playback systems that they’ll use in the field. With Focusrite, we’re ensuring our students learn not only the technical skills but also best practices in latency reduction, signal flow, and digital over-network audio transmission.”
The Live Music Production and Design master’s degree is crafted for aspiring designers, producers, and collaborators eager to enter the immersive sonic and visual experience industry. This program hones a unique design voice and equips students with foundational skills across set, lighting, and sound disciplines. Graduates emerge ready to realize their own and others’ visions, effectively collaborate across fields, and adapt to the evolving landscape of immersive experiences. Through the curriculum, students gain expertise in lighting, sound, content creation and set design, with a focus on multimedia storytelling that prioritizes impactful audience experiences. Graduates will be prepared to lead and participate in interdisciplinary teams, combining project management and design skills with an entrepreneurial approach that supports a sustainable, ethical, and influential career in the arts.
Equipping Students with Professional-Grade Gear
In the fourth year of Berklee NYC’s graduate programs, the Focusrite collaboration has resulted in the integration of RedNet audio-over-IP interfaces, Red 16Line interfaces, and PCIeNX cards throughout the campus. These devices enable students to experience and manage low-latency, high-channel-count audio systems, crucial for live sound and recording workflows. From Dante®-enabled DiGiCo consoles and Yamaha mixers to Waves plugins and Ableton Live playback systems, students have access to a comprehensive toolkit reflective of the professional music production and live sound industry.
Pembroke emphasizes the importance of these tools: “Our students learn using products like the RedNet PCIeNX cards that provide ultra-low latency and high channel counts—features critical to achieving seamless live production in modern setups. From reducing latency for on-stage performers to implementing Dante networks across our entire campus, these experiences ensure our graduates are proficient with the technologies they’ll encounter on major tours, festivals and studio sessions.”
A Curriculum Built on Real-World Technology
The relationship between Focusrite and Berklee also supports Pembroke’s commitment to providing education on advanced, cutting-edge technology. Pembroke, who has been with Berklee NYC for four years, leads courses in Introduction to Live Sound, Advanced Live Sound, Project Management, and Interactive Experience Design, equipping students with skills in everything from content creation and lighting design to front-of-house audio and set design.
With a background as an architect and design professional and electronic artist, festival organizer and recording professional, Pembroke brings extensive industry knowledge to Berklee NYC. He has spent the last two decades performing internationally and curating electronic music festivals, like Charivari Detroit, which bring immersive audio experiences to life. His perspective has informed Berklee NYC’s integration of tools like Focusrite interfaces to create dynamic, real-world environments for students.
Future-Ready Learning and Networked Audio
With the recent campus-wide implementation of Dante networks and Focusrite RedNet technology, Berklee NYC now supports fully networked audio across its performance spaces and studios. This setup allows students to seamlessly connect between performance and studio environments, learning how to build playback rigs, integrate analog gear, and manage large-scale, networked audio systems. The Dante infrastructure lets them work with in-ear monitors, front-of-house setups, and live broadcast streaming, all in a streamlined, low-latency environment.
“Partnering with a brand like Focusrite isn’t just about getting gear in the room—it’s about shaping the future of our industry,” said Pembroke. “From troubleshooting audio challenges to implementing cutting-edge digital solutions, Focusrite has worked with us to create a learning environment that’s agile and adaptable.”
