FAMA Studios: Studio D joins FAMA’s main A, B and C studios, offering expansive spaces for professional recording, mixing (including 5.1 for film) and artist development. Studio D is something entirely different, however...
Hidden behind a disguised library door and tucked beneath a staircase in a restored colonial building in Santo Domingo’s historic district, this intimate studio is a self-contained creative retreat tailored for vintage synth experimentation, analogue gear integration, and all-in-one recording sessions.
‘We had to reinforce the colonial-era structure from the inside out to support the technical requirements,’ explains WSDG Partner and Art Director, Silvia Molho. ‘It’s small, but it’s packed with technology and isolation. No one walking through the building suspects that a fully professional studio is hidden there.
‘FAMA understood that flawless acoustics are only half the story,’ she continues. ‘They wanted an inspiring environment that sparks creativity - and in Studio D, we delivered that in the most unexpected way.’
FAMA’s owners, a family with deep cultural and philanthropic roots in the Dominican Republic, originally approached WSDG in 2015 to design a professional studio to support their annual music festival and to offer high-end recording capabilities to regional and international artists. Over time, the project evolved into an entire complex, including multiple studios and a boutique hotel next door to host visiting creatives. Studio D is the culmination of that vision: a personal passion project for the studio’s owner and a creative hideaway for select clients
From a design perspective, Studio D breaks with many of traditional norms. The space is asymmetrical, compact and carefully engineered to maintain acoustic integrity while embracing aesthetic innovation. Wallpaper-grade wooden wall finishes, a multi-layered ceiling, and customized lighting transform the room into a visually striking cocoon. The studio integrates vintage keyboards, custom loudspeaker configurations, and a turntable-ready workstation, suiting it to experimentation and spontaneous composition.
Technically, the studio is centred on a Yamaha DM3-D digital mixing console with Dante and an iMac Studio workstation. Monitoring is handled by Genelec 8361A and Yamaha DXl1K loudspeaker systems. Outboard gear includes a rack of preamps from API, Manley, Rupert Neve Designs, RME, Universal Audio and others, bringing a broad range of tonal options to tracking and mixing. The studio also boasts a collection of vintage synthesisers.
WSDG oversaw every aspect of the design and build, from architectural consultation and structural modifications to acoustic tuning by David Molho, Acoustic Engineer, and A/V integration by Senior Systems Engineer Federico Páez, supported by the rest of the team.
According to Molho, Studio D reflects a rising demand for multifunctional, immersive studios that serve both technical and emotional needs. ‘More and more artists want to create in places that feel unique, intimate, and inspiring,’ she says. ‘Studio D proves you don’t need a massive space to achieve world-class results, just great design and a clear creative vision.’
‘FAMA is a perfect example of what we’ve always envisioned for WSDG as a business,’ concludes WSDG Founding Partner John Storyk. ‘They’ve been our clients since 2015, and in that time, we’ve supported them as they’ve grown from a single studio to a full creative campus with Studios A, B and C, and now Studio D. This industry runs on trust, service and relationships. When you support clients with care and creativity over the years, they keep coming back – and they bring others with them. That’s how we’ve grown, and it’s why collaborations like this one are so meaningful to us.’
More: www.wsdg.com