As China’s premier venue for the performing arts, the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) completed a major technological transformation of its professional music recording studio in the summer of 2025. With a groundbreaking audio system architecture, it has redefined the standards of music recording.

Since July 2025, the upgraded audio system has supported the successful recording and production of numerous high-profile projects, including the “Ultra Live” broadcast of the opera "Le Nozze di Figaro", a special concert by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, and the “Great Commemoration” concert featuring Valery Gergiev, the Mariinsky Orchestra, and the NCPA Orchestra. Behind these prestigious productions are the tireless efforts of NCPA’s recording engineers, as well as the Trinity system solution jointly developed by DMTPro and Solid State Logic.

As a long-term technical partner of the NCPA, DMTPro first installed an SSL Duality analog console in its music recording studio in 2008. Seventeen years later, DMTPro has once again elevated the system by upgrading it to the cutting-edge Trinity platform, injecting new momentum into the digital dissemination of high art.

From Classic to Innovation
A 17-Year Technical Partnership

The SSL Duality analog console has served the NCPA recording studio for 17 years, witnessing the creation of numerous acclaimed works, including Lang Lang’sPiano Book, Chen Qigang’sJiang Cheng Zi, as well as opera films such asRigolettoandLa Traviata. With the evolution of performance formats—especially the growing demand for immersive experiences and remote live broadcasting—DMTPro worked closely with NCPA’s recording engineers to develop a targeted upgrade solution. The result was the introduction of the SSL Trinity system, integrating the existing Duality analog console with the new System T TCA digital console to create a hybrid workflow that combines the warmth of analog sound with the power of digital processing.

This upgrade goes far beyond simple equipment replacement. Built upon the existing infrastructure of the NCPA, DMTPro’s engineering team implemented a Dante-based network architecture to enable seamless conversion between analog and digital signals. This allows the system to retain the renowned SuperAnalogue™ mic preamp quality of the SSL Duality while leveraging the powerful processing capabilities of System T TCA to support mixing formats ranging from stereo to Dolby Atmos and Audio Vivid immersive audio.

Three Key Innovations
Redefining Professional Audio Standards

The introduction of the SSL Trinity system, along with the DirectOut PRODIGY.MX multi-format audio matrix, brings comprehensive advancements in networking, digitalization, and immersion to the NCPA recording studio.

Networking: Dante Enables Seamless Signal Flow

Leveraging SSL Network I/O interfaces and the native Dante routing capabilities of System T, combined with the powerful conversion features of the DirectOut PRODIGY.MX, the studio now achieves full network-based management of microphones, analog lines, AES, and MADI signals. The system also supports seamless switching between Dante and Ravenna protocols. This architecture simplifies traditional complex cabling while enabling remote control capabilities, laying a solid foundation for future remote collaborative production.

The DirectOut PRODIGY.MX, as an innovative multi-format audio matrix, offers an impressive capacity of 1664×1668 audio channels, efficiently handling high-density audio streams in complex systems. Its modular hardware design supports real-time conversion and routing across multiple formats, including Dante, RAVENNA/AES67, SoundGrid, AVB/MILAN, and MADI, effectively breaking protocol barriers. Integrated bidirectional sample rate conversion (HD SRC) ensures stable connections across different clock domains, eliminating synchronization errors. System management is streamlined through the Globcon software (compatible with macOS and Windows) and a touchscreen interface, with support for third-party protocols such as Ember+ to simplify system integration.

Digitalization: Enabling Flexible and Efficient Workflows

The addition of the System T TCA digital console equips the NCPA recording studio with multi-format immersive bus processing capabilities for the first time. Its configurable DSP architecture allows multiple 7.1.2 bed buses to run simultaneously, while XYZ axis positioning and Theta rotation panning enable precise object-based audio placement, supporting production workflows from stereo to 7.1.4 immersive formats. The audio workstation has also been upgraded with the latest version of Pro Tools Ultimate, along with a DAD AX64 audio interface. Connected via Thunderbolt, the AX64 supports routing for analog, AES, MADI, and Dante signals. It integrates analog signals from the Duality console and digital baseband signals from outboard equipment, converting them into a Dante-based IP workflow that bridges baseband and IP audio domains. The addition of the Grace Design M908 monitor controller further enhances the system, offering full 7.1.4 immersive monitoring control and 32-channel Dante I/O, seamlessly integrating into the studio’s digital ecosystem and providing an intuitive user experience for engineers.

Immersion: Redefining Spatial Audio Expression

The 7.1.4 monitoring section and multi-format immersive mixing buses of the SSL Trinity system significantly enhance the spatial expression of music productions. To further optimize the immersive environment, the studio’s monitoring system was upgraded from a Genelec 5.1 setup to a 7.1.4 three-dimensional monitoring system, ensuring readiness for future immersive audio production demands.

Since the upgrade, the recording studio’s audio system has demonstrated stable and high-quality performance. The SSL Trinity system has been tested through multiple major recording sessions and live broadcasts, proving its adaptability and reliability while accumulating valuable experience for future online productions. The NCPA recording team commented: “The introduction of the SSL System T TCA digital console has enabled fully IP-based audio routing and cross-platform interoperability while maintaining studio-grade sound quality, marking a qualitative leap in our production capabilities.”

Looking Ahead
Building a New Ecosystem for Cultural Communication

From the Duality system in 2008 to the Trinity platform in 2025, the collaboration between DMTPro and the NCPA has consistently kept pace with the evolution of both art and technology. As technology continues to advance, the networked, digitalized, and immersive workflows enabled by the Trinity system are redefining professional audio standards and empowering innovative approaches to the dissemination of performing arts. DMTPro will continue to leverage Solid State Logic’s cutting-edge technologies to deliver forward-looking, professional audio solutions for cultural institutions, ensuring that technology serves the advancement of artistic expression.