About Cadac
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The Cadac name has been synonymous with premium quality audio mixing consoles for over 50 years.
From the earliest recording studio desks in the late 1960s, which recorded classic tracks from major international artists, through to the live sound consoles found in prestigious theatres and on global concert tours, Cadac has always set the benchmark for quality. In fact there are few brands that can match Cadac’s unparalleled pedigree in the world of professional audio.
In 1967 Clive Green started working with Adrian Kerridge at London’s Lansdowne Studios, working on replacing all the valve parts for an old EMI desk with solid state technology and modifying the desk for 8 track recording.
In 1968 Terry Brown, a sound engineer at Lansdowne and Olympic Studios, was asked by Barry Morgan and Monty Babson to set up the new Morgan Studios. Morgan Studios wanted to buy the designs for the new desk that Clive and Adrian had built for Lansdowne. Clive suggested that it would be a better idea if he built the desk for Terry.
Morgan Studios
Clive together with Adrian, David Bott, an engineer from “TVT”, and Charles Billet of Audix, who made the frames for the desks, formed a separate company – Cadac. The name was derived from the first letter of each of their Christian names; Clive, Adrian, David And Charles – hence Cadac. This was also the beginning of a long relationship between Cadac and Morgan Studios. The new desk was an 8 track split console design with transformer balanced inputs and outputs but no automation.
Cadac’s first console
Even today many Cadac recording desks are still in operation in studios all over the world with the last ever studio desk being installed, and still working, at Air Edel Studios in London.
Air Edel Control Room featuring Cadac
In 1984 a sound engineer, Martin Levan, from Morgan Studios was asked to put on a live show, Little Shop of Horrors and this resulted in the first Cadac desk built for live theatre. The spec for the console dictated that is should be of “studio quality audio” and that the front-to-back dimension could not be deeper than a row of seats. This allowed for one row to be taken out by the console and another by the engineer.
Cadac J-Type on Oliver
This was the start of Cadac dominating the theatre market with nearly 70% of theatre shows using Cadac desks. Performances included: Billy Elliot, We Will Rock You, Hairspray, Jersey Boys, Lion King, and Wicked and on Broadway: 13, Avenue Q, Chicago, Guys and Dolls, Gypsy, Hairspray, Jersey Boys, Lion King, Mary Poppins, Pal Joey, South Pacific and Wicked. The longest continually serving Cadac console in London was on Phantom of the Opera where it was used from 1984 until 2008, providing 24 years continuous service!
Not all Cadac consoles were found in recording studios and theatres, they were also the console of choice for concert touring for many internationally acclaimed performers including; Rolling Stones, Van Halen, Franz Ferdinand, Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Status Quo, The Beach Boys, Tom Jones and Bryan Adams.
Sex Pistols at Wessex Studios with a 32 input Cadac
With an enviable heritage in audio and an unmatched reputation for engineering and sound quality, Cadac is currently focused on implementing cutting edge technology, advanced user experience and interface design to meet the ever-evolving needs of the audio professional.
Cadac’s current digital console range offers a powerful, scalable, network-based solution for multi-purpose and house of worship applications, as well as for the touring, broadcast and corporate markets, where audio quality and creativity cannot be compromised.
CDC six Electric Daisy Festival
Cadac is determined to live up to its mission of: “To design and build intuitive, great sounding, high quality audio mixing consoles for the world-wide live sound market.”