In a recent renovation, the Sydney campus of the JMC Academy has equipped two studios with Genelec Smart Active Monitoring systems – the multifunction Studio A and the adjacent Studio C now offer both surround and stereo monitoring.
The project saw both studios fully redesigned from the ground up by architect Shaun Carter and interior designer Julie Niass, from architectural firm Carter Williamson. Acoustic engineer Glenn Leembruggen, of Acoustic Directions, specified Genelec’s The Ones series for the studio redesign and, with the help of Australian distributor Studio Connections, provided a quality design solution.
Having previously relied on a pair of 20-year-old 1034As in Studio A, JMC was aware of Genelec’s longevity. Centred on a 48-channel SSL Duality console, the design team opted for 8361A monitors to be soffit-mounted into the wall in the LCR positions, with a pair of 8351Bs straddling the console bridge as stereo close-fields. Supporting these are 8340As for the rears and a 7360A subwoofer, resulting in a fully independent 5.1 surround system.
‘For students to work on postproduction video mixes or record a full band, Genelec monitors offer an amazing sonic performance,’ says Studio Connections Business Development Manager, Paul Newcomb.
Studio C is now fitted out with a pair of Genelec 8351Bs, also soffit-mounted into the wall. ‘The music seemed to float mid-air like a transparent three-dimensional puzzle,’ adds Newcomb. ‘Robust and durable, they were able to perform at their breathtaking best and sounded fantastic.’
Due to the diversity of mixes and applications in each studio, the design team calibrated the installation using Genelec’s GLM loudspeaker management software, optimising each monitor for the room and allowing users to switch between monitors and maintain control of listening levels in each studio.
‘GLM always plays a major role in the sound of the monitors,’ Newcomb explains. ‘Each space is different, and being able to automatically calibrate the monitor to sound neutral within any given room is a real benefit. The flexibility to set up and store groups, settings and listening positions is extraordinary – Genelec is definitely in a class of its own with this technology.’
The result has impressed the team at JMC as they’re now able to offer a space that audio engineers and producers are happy to work in. ‘For students, facilities like JMC Academy are often the first time they get to experience a professional recording environment,’ Newcomb concludes. ‘JMC has provided them with a great opportunity to learn their craft using monitors that tell the truth, sonically. We’re confident that their experience will be a positive one and that working with Genelec will become a partnership that they can trust in for many years to come.’
More: www.genelec.com
