P H M is a consultancy providing expertise in broadcast and audio systems. The person behind it is Melanie Harrison who began her professional career in audio engineering over 30 years ago as a sound engineer and occasional relief cameraman in UK commercial television, after leaving university with a degree in Electronic Engineering. This time in ITV built on earlier semi-professional experience from student years and provided a firm background in audio operational techniques on a variety of light entertainment, news and current affairs programmes as well as in audio dubbing for film and video.
After a few years in ITV having risen to Sound Supervisor grade, the engineering degree was applied more specifically by addressing the technical issues of audio consoles and the career advanced by joining the original Neve company then located near Cambridge (not to be confused with today's AMS-Neve), working as Senior Engineer (Tech. Services) on audio console commissioning and on system installations. This gave great experience of working in audio and broadcast studios in all parts of the world.
In the mid 1980s, the time seemed right to move the emphasis from purely technical issues and to broaden the experience by encompassing the commercial side of the industry. The job of "Broadcast Product Manager" with Amek meant a move back to the North of England. At this time, they were completing design of their first true broadcast mixer and needed someone to take this product and introduce it to appropriate people in the market. This challenge was undertaken most successfully and the new Broadcast Division of Amek grew from zero to a turnover of £3.9M in just over three years. As Amek's needs changed in the early 90's, the role became increasingly technical, eventually becoming the Engineering Director and managing a number of roles including the technical support and publications departments as well as the company's computer networks.
Having a background in audio operations was a good one from which to construct and conduct the training programmes that increasingly customers, particularly in the Middle and Far East, were demanding as part of the supply of new equipment. Whilst these courses were intended to focus on the new equipment being supplied, the background of the students often meant wide ranging preliminary sessions in basic audio operations were needed.
During all this time with mixers, the "hands on" side of also using the equipment was maintained through the company P H Music, at that time a part time activity fitted around full time work. P H Music, also trading as PHM, provides location music recording services both for private and commercial release as well as location sound facilities for radio and television. PHM is also the channel for consultancy work and authoring activities which have included writing for many of the leading broadcast journals and for major manufacturers.
After 12 years at Amek a new challenge was needed and in 1997 Canford Audio, the UK's largest specialist distributor of professional audio products asked for help to develop their links with customers in mainland Europe, particularly those in Scandinavia, Switzerland, the Benelux area and some Eastern European countries. As Canford's needs changed, it was necessary to relocate on a weekday basis to their Tyne & Wear headquarters and take on the role of Director of Engineering, selecting catalogue products, editing and arranging production of the catalogue and also heading the R&D department. However living away from home every week was not something that could continue indefinitely and the PHM consultancy and broadcast engineering resource has emerged following time in Canford and now draws on her wide experience of all aspects of the broadcast and audio world.
In late 2004 came an opportunity to join Calrec Audio Ltd. as one of their regional sales managers, working initially in the USA and later in the UK and Ireland.
A new contract began in 2009 to provide DK-Technologies A/S with sales services in the USA and Far East and Melanie's relationship with DK continues as a provider of product documentation and related services. As a background to her professional work, a major outside interest is music and details of Melanie's music career are found by clicking on the "music" button below.
All material is copyright PHM © 2010.
P H M (P H Music) : PO Box 383
Bury : BL8 4WX : GB
UK tel: +44 (0)1204 887161 / +44 (0)7799 621954
email: info@phmusic.co.uk
