Sound advice: rock stars, churches entrust music to Audio Analysts.

• Author: Peterson, Eric

Rock 'n' roll concerts and church services don't typically have a lot in common. But both rock stars and preachers deliver messages. It follows that both also need good sound.

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Which is where Colorado Springs-based Audio Analysts Inc. fits into the picture. In the '70s and '80s, the company made a name for itself doing the sound for the tours of big rock acts like Jackson Browne, Pat Benatar and Poison. Today it's got a booming installation division putting together sound systems for venues large and small, including a good number of churches.

"As (churches) were getting more sophisticated musical performers, they found themselves needing technical expertise for performance audio," says Albert Leccesi, Audio Analysts' vice president of engineering and co-owner. "This wasn't just an organ in the corner--they had the same problems rock bands would have."

Audio Analysts consolidated its operations in Colorado Springs in 1990 after three separate offices--one each in Montreal, New York and Los Angeles--grew too unwieldy. "Real estate-wise, it made sense," says Leccesi, who owns the company with President Bert Pare. "And there was a good pool of technical people."

Fifteen years later, what's the final verdict? "We should have moved here 25 years ago," says Leccesi, a native of Quebec but now an American citizen. "We love Colorado."

Audio Analysts currently employs about 50 people, roughly split between the Colorado Springs shop (where the install division is based) and the road, touring with such big names as Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel.

Founded in Montreal in 1968, Audio Analysts' first big break was a contract to do sound at the 1976...