Symetrix
Symetrix Inc. is a Seattle, Washington-based manufacturer of professional audio signal processing products for the installed, broadcast, and live sound markets. The company was founded in 1976 by Dane Butcher who was at that time working as a recording engineer. Symetrix currently specializes in audio DSP (digital signal processing) hardware and software. In the 1980s the company engineered one of the first channel strip voice processors, the Symetrix 528. Over the years Symetrix products have been sold under vertical market brands which include Symetrix, SymNet, Lucid and AirTools.
History
Dane Butcher worked as a recording engineer in the early 1970s and recognized the need for affordable high-performance signal processing equipment. Because he was formally trained in music (he holds a B.A. from the University of Washington in music), Butcher worked for Greg Mackie at Tapco to learn electronics. He founded Symetrix shortly thereafter.
The SG-1 Signal Gate was Symetrix’ first product, followed by budget-conscious compressors, limiters, and phasers aimed at the recording and live sound markets. One of the company’s first – and enduring – hits was the 528 Voice Processor, which combined broadcast-tweaked preamplification, compression, limiting, downward expansion, de-essing, and three-band parametric EQ in a single rack space. Well-behaved Automatic Gain Control processing was another of Symetrix’ early niches.
In recent decades, Symetrix has shifted focus from analog processing to digital processing. It has also come to embrace the installed sound market and currently manufactures several families of DSP systems designed for the major segments of that market. Modern IT paradigms figure prominently in Symetrix’ installed sound equipment and include audio-over-Ethernet protocols, customizable user interface hardware, and customizable user interface control via Smartphone apps. Installed markets include: conferencing, mixing and routing, public address and distribution, sound reinforcement and special purpose signal processing.
Products
Installed sound
Symetrix produces several families of DSPs with related peripherals:
- The Jupiter series of fixed I/O devices uses an “app-based” design paradigm, where the programmer selects an “app” appropriate for the installation.
- The Integrator series of fixed I/O devices provides the tools necessary for small- and mid-sized installations at restaurants, hotels, etc.
- The Solus series of fixed I/O devices provides open-architecture programming for completely customizable designs.
- The SymNet series of flexible I/O devices provides modular open-architecture programming of any complexity.
User control of Symetrix DSP systems is available via ARC wall panel remotes (multiple varieties), ARC-Web Smartphone control, SymVue computer software, or third-party devices.
Recording, broadcast and live sound
Symetrix still manufactures the popular analog 528E one-rack-space channel strip. It also manufactures a digital version, the AirTools Voice Processor 2x. Symetrix also manufactures a broadcast obscenity delay, the AirTools 6100, and a high-end digital clock, the Lucid 88192.