May 22nd 2026: Author: Greg Kovacs, Technical Sales Specialist.
From Lab Bench to Rehearsal Room: Field Testing the Dream-ADA with Greg Kovacs and Ross S-P
Prism Sound products undergo rigorous in-house testing; a process normally carried out under lab conditions, but as test engineers, Ross and I wanted to take the extent of testing one step further, pushing them into unpredictable, real-world environments.
There is an undeniable juxtaposition in taking a high-end converter that meets the full Dolby Atmos channel count to do a DIY style budget recording, however this exact situation provided us with a perfect environment to stress-test the Dream-ADA in the field.
Our aim was to focus on relevant features when the session itself became the test: fast setup, web-based control, Dante recording into two laptops, multiple clock domains, high channel-count capture through the new Mic/Line modules, extended thermal load, and most importantly, whether the system gave us an accurate picture of what was really happening in the room.
Armed with Prism Sound’s flagship converter, a well-thought-out plan, and a DIY mindset reminiscent of our early days in our local music scene, we entered local band, SUNMACHINE’s rehearsal space.
Turning a Rehearsal Room into a Test Lab
Rehearsal rooms are rarely acoustic sanctuaries which was something we were prepared to accept, but to our surprise, the room was well treated despite not being purpose built for recording.
The room itself was a typical 4×6 rectangle room with a low ceiling (about 2.5m). A small filing cabinet and table sat in the corner with various instruments, practice amps, and speakers. This décor imposed some limits, pushing us toward a predominantly close-mic setup. Thankfully, the Dream-ADA’s high channel count gave us the option of using additional microphones without having to commit to them.
The in-house drum kit was swiftly removed and replaced by our drummer Ethan’s own, freshly tuned kit which was positioned through a “manual-psychoacoustical process” (i.e. we walked around the room clapping and listening for the least problematic reflections).
The entire system was up in under an hour. Routing through Dante Virtual Soundcard into both laptops was smooth (after disabling third-party firewalls), and the low latency made monitoring reliable. Using the band’s in-ear monitoring system was perfect for our linear signal chain as it also provided hearing protection, reduced bleed, and gave Ethan the mobility he needed behind the kit.
Gain staging through the web-based UI was equally intuitive. We dialled everything in during warm-ups, saved our settings, and seamlessly recalled them the next day. We could plug in and get going with zero friction or troubleshooting detours.
Unexpected Wins & Practical Lessons
Though not designed as a mobile interface, the Dream-ADA held up impressively thanks to its portability and robust build, making it well suited to more chaotic environments.For producers and engineers who spend a lot of time on the road, or simply prefer capturing musicians in their natural environments, the Dream-ADA will transform any room into a practical and effective tracking space.
Clock Domains
Simultaneously recording into two laptops worked flawlessly and demonstrated the strength of multiple clock domains in one box. Our weekend raised new questions for future sessions though, particularly about exploring independent clock domains with multiple digital host connections at different frame rates.
Thermal Performance
Across two days of continuous recording, with active phantom power on 12 inputs and two Dante host modules, the Dream-ADA stayed well below the temperature threshold required for its cooling fans to engage. This came as a surprise considering the high channel count in a 2U chassis and further field-tests on the unit’s performance above this threshold could yield interesting results.
Sound and Monitoring Transparency
During the third or fourth take on day two we caught a faint click, completely buried under the cymbals and inaudible in the room but exposed clearly through the Dream-ADA. After reviewing the takes and isolating tracks, we discovered that the kick pedal had drifted off-centre and was gently tapping the back hoop of the drum.
This became a perfect demonstration of what the Dream ADA does: not embellish, correct or hide, but preserve. It exposed the flaw early enough to fix it at the source and delivered an uncoloured truth that kept our workflow creative rather than corrective.
As Ross put it: “The Dream-ADA was the best piece of gear we could have possibly had in that situation.”
The Takeaway
By the end of the weekend, our goals were met with room to spare. We recorded solid drum tracks, stress-tested multiple user features, and confirmed reliable performance in a non-traditional environment.
Importantly, the Dream-ADA didn’t magically fix the room by adding lush ambience or conjuring depth where none existed, what it did do was preserve the integrity of the input signal so faithfully that we were able to make rational decisions instead of firefighting artifacts. Its user-friendly features and easy setup helped us keep our momentum from the second we entered the room until the final take.
For more information about the Prism Sound Dream-ADA, click here.
To request a demo of the Prism Sound Dream-ADA or another interface, click here.
More information on SUNMACHINE can be found at beacons.ai/sunmachine Follow them on Instagram here: www.instagram.com/sunmachineband
