Benchmark Media Systems, Inc.

Biographical Sketch of Allen Burdick

Allen H. Burdick is Founder and President of Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. Allen has designed most of the analog circuitry for the company's products, which include:

  • The highly regarded MP-4 microphone preamplifier family
  • The SPM-220/320 meter systems
  • The System 1000™ modular DA and Processing Package
  • The MicroFrame™ 1RU modular amplifier system, originally a custom design for ABC-TV
  • The Interface Amplifier series

Numerous custom projects include:

  • A 24 input stereo teleproduction console for Continental Productions - Dallas
  • A 32 channel microphone pre-amp/distribution system for NBC-TV's Nightly News
  • Custom reporter's control stations for National Public Radio
  • A custom audio routing system for CNBC
  • A custom audio line and mic pre-amplifier system for ABC-TV

In addition to the numerous responsibilities he has as president of Benchmark Media, he also oversees new product development at Benchmark.

Allen brings to the audio world a unique blend of experience with both a broadcast engineering and an analog design background. Beginning with AM station operation while in high school, Allen's broadcast experience includes superpower medium and short wave transmitter operation, an FM network rebuild and TV station/mobile production vehicle audio system rebuilds.

Allen's design experience includes work; with the General Electric Color TV camera development group in the mid 1960s and Cable TV trunk and line extender amplifiers while with Magnavox broad band systems. He designed ultra high speed thick film operational amplifiers (SR > 3000 V/µ sec) and military electronic amplifier systems when with the M.S. Kennedy Co. He designed a capacitive fuel gage and was project manager for a digital encoding altimeter while with Leigh Systems.

Allen received his engineering education at John Brown University in Arkansas, is a member of the Audio Engineering Society, The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, and is a senior member of the Society of Broadcast Engineers. Allen has spoken to numerous SBE chapters and is the author of the well received  "A Clean Audio Installation Guide™,"  a Benchmark Media Systems application note.

The Clean Audio Installation Guide was an invited paper at the 87th Audio Engineering Society Convention in New York City.  Mr. Burdick's Clean Audio Installation Seminar has been presented to a joint meeting of the Washington DC chapters of the Audio Engineering Society, and The Society of Broadcast Engineers.  It has also been an invited seminar for the Georgia Society of Broadcasters at the University of Georgia at Athens.

©2007 Benchmark Media Systems, Inc.