PROCOPY HISTORY 1988-2009
As we celebrate our 21st year at ProCopy I’ve spent sometime reflecting on the changes in the industry that I have witnessed. Without doubt the major challenge has been finding the way to maintain a viable media oriented business in the most isolated capital city in the world. Our nearest major city (although smaller) is Adelaide and is approximately 1600kms away and Melbourne is another 800Kms away, it’s closer to Singapore than Sydney! We still have to remind our suppliers that there is no overnight freight to Perth unless they want to pay for Air freight and they must allow a week via road. Despite the distance and difference in market conditions (for example a replication facility on this side of the country will never be viable) and the constant evolution in the industry that has kept us on our toes after 21 years we are proud to still be here!
Start of ProCopy
ProCopy was established in 1988 by owner Mark Whitehouse after finding a need for high quality cassette tape duplication in Perth, Western Australia from his time at Planet Recording Studios (the premier recording facility in Perth at the time).
His career in the music industry started some 10 years before after leaving University of WA, when he accepted an apprenticeship at Kosmic Sound a music retailer and concert PA system provider in Perth. He progressed to become service manager and owned and operated a PA System in many of Perth’s venues including the Perth Entertainment Centre, including large productions such as Evita and The Miss Universe Pageant (a globally broadcast programme). A natural progression of this work was Music Recording and study in San Francisco for 18 months in the early 80’s resulted in a Diploma from the College of Recording Arts.
This overseas study enabled many contacts to be made in the recording, concert and duplication industry. It was at this time that a good relationship was forged with KABA R&D a manufacturer of high quality real time duplication systems. This system was to become the main focus of the ProCopy business in years to come. Setting a benchmark for high quality duplication that had not happened in Australia before this time. Over the next 15 years ProCopy produced an estimated 2.5 million cassettes for the local music and business community with a local population base of only 1 million people.
Duplication of Audio tape led in 1990 to manufacturing our own cassette stock to increase profit margins and maintain quality control. On tape print technology was used to increase the professional look of the product. Computerised audio editing was introduced in 1990 (the first facility in Perth to do this).
Technology changes:
In 1991 the first CD Recorder was used at ProCopy (An Apex machine at a cost of $17,000 and $48 per blank CD!) and was used to produce innovative promotional material for the local music industry, advertising industry as well as masters for bulk Cd replication.
Client demand led to expansion in to Video cassette duplication and tape manufacture in the mid 90s and the introduction of broadcast quality video editing and DVD authoring in the late 90s and early 2000. Over the next few years the business evolved its CD in house production and then DVD duplication as they both replaced the older formats of analogue Audio & Video Tapes. Business premises increased over this time from approximately 10 square metres at start up to a facility of 950 sq metres in 2001.
The Future:
In the last few years it has become evident that the change in retail business models has resulted in a vast amount of valuable content being restored from old catalogues and libraries.
It is the commitment to quality that has progressed the Procopy business model to this day and the reason behind the research and understanding of the need for the Audio Cassette Digitiser that is being developed at this time. Procopy continues to apply and research a number of products in its own right and offers a creative approach when working with clients.
After starting the Cassette Duplication business in 1988, ProCopy has evolved in to a multifaceted Media company that now embraces Audio and Video Recording, CD and DVD duplication, has studio audio and filming facilities and develops Websites for a number of clients throughout Australia and Internationally. Work such as film to dvd transfer and forensic audio enhancement are specialist areas that have developed over the years and Procopy has clients from across Australia that use these services. Media distribution through portable media is currently being researched as marketing trends are changing rapidly.
Variety of clients
The Procopy client base now includes Domestic clients, Musicians, Education and Training Companies, Small businesses, Local & State Government Departments, National and International Corporates such as R.A.C, Asgaard Wealth, St George Bank, Synergy, W.A. Police and DPP. And Library Services WA,
Having a close working relationship with many of clients means that we have a great deal of feedback as to what is required in the market and it’s from some of these clients that we have continued to understand the enormity of the problem with digitising the vast amount of programme material that is contained on pre existing audiotapes.
A interesting future:
There’s no doubt that there are other issues now facing the audio,video and media industry including, particularly for a many music clients, changing buying patterns, technology evolution, intellectual property management and maintaining the motivation for artists to produce new product. However Procopy will continue to evolve as media formats change, and now expects to develop more and more technology to cater for transferring older and redundant legacy media formats for the consumer.
Our website presence appeals to potential clients from all over Australia and New Zealand and will continue to be a cost effective promotional medium that solves what was once our biggest problem – that is, finding a bigger client base. We can now service clients “remotely” and our commitment to quality has seen these areas expand across the country.
We look forward to helping you bring your next project to fruition.
regards
Mark Whitehouse
Manager
© Copyright 2009 Procopy