Portable analyser enables audio consultancy

Renowned audio engineer Peter Watts reckons the Prism Sound dScope Series III is one of the most sophisticated analysis tools on the market.

One of the biggest advantages of the Internet is its ability to set people free from the constraints of the traditional office environment.

Running a company with little more than a laptop and a modem connection is now entirely possible, as renowned audio engineer Peter Watts has discovered.

For the last four years, Watts has been operating his R and D consulting business Stonepower from wherever he happens to be in the world.

At present, he is based in South Wales but he has also spent time in Hong Kong and China, working alongside manufacturers producing a range of equipment, from mixers and signal processing units to amplifiers and line array speaker systems.

The portable nature of Watts' business created the need for an equally portable piece of audio test equipment - something that could travel with him and be easily connected to his laptop.

Watts found the solution in a Prism Sound dScope Series III audio analyser, which is now the mainstay of his test lab.

"While I was based in China and Hong Kong I had no need for my own audio analyser because most of the manufacturers I was working with already had them", he explains.

"However, when I returned to the UK I realised that I needed to establish my own test facility to check the audio systems and circuits I was designing for my clients".

"I investigated various possibilities but eventually chose the Prism Sound dScope Series III because recent software developments have made this one of the most highly sophisticated analysis tools on the market".

"It is also incredibly portable and versatile, which were important considerations for me".

At the moment, Watts is using his dScope Series III to test circuits for analogue and digital mixers.

"Its lightweight, compact construction makes it eminently suitable when I am travelling and the fact that it can be quickly connected to my laptop is a major plus point", he adds.

Watts is well known within the pro audio industry for his research and development credentials.

After 18 years with console manufacturer Trident - 10 of which were spent as Head of R and D - Watts moved to Mackie where he was Vice President of Engineering for seven years.

In 2003 he moved into audio consultancy and set up Stonepower.

His clients include many of the MI and pro audio industries top manufacturers including Korg, Mackie, Gibson, Ashdown, Apogee Digital, Rode/Event, Wharfdale Pro/IAG and Alto.

He has also worked closely with factories in China helping them to establish production lines for his clients.

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