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AUDIO SPECIAL SETTING UP A MIXING SUITE
KNOWING HOW TO PLAY TO THE STRENGTHS OF EACH SYSTEM IS REALLY IMPORTANT A SPACE FOR SOUND The whole project was accomplished through applying basic principles of acoustics and monitor placement and as a showcase for Genelec products. Lots of the company’s Smart Active Monitors are at the heart of the set up. However, the principles on show here could equally be applied to any well thought-through audio environment. For a start it’s crucial for any editor to listen to the audio track through monitors that are close in terms of output to those that the client will be using, and you could well need more than one set of monitors in a typical set up. “Being able to confidently tailor the audio for the device or environment it will eventually be reproduced in is vital,” confirms Andy. “Be it ear buds, in- built TV speakers or a larger theatre, knowing how to play to the strengths of each system is really important. “A good starting point is to have a pair of monitors calibrated to your environment. Through correct placement, level matching and adjusting the low frequency response of the monitor, you can then create a
system that allows you to make mix decisions that aren’t influenced by your working environment.” Among the online resources offered by Genelec is a monitor set-up guide, which offers general advice on best practice when positioning and calibrating speaker systems. It’s also worth noting that a second monitor set-up can be useful as an additional quality control, allowing you to switch between one and other as you look to judge how larger and smaller systems will sound. SOUND FOR SMALL BUSINESSES So what are the absolute essentials that the filmmaker looking to create their first audio suite, perhaps as part of a more overarching postproduction facility, should be looking to include?
“It makes sense to begin with the audio interface,” says Andy, “and then to chose something that has transparent, honest audio reproduction, consistent level control and overall fits your way of working. Meanwhile, investing in audio monitors that can adapt to the environment is critical. “You also need to think carefully about the space you’re working in. Having the ability to reduce the room’s influence on the audio playback has a huge effect on the ability to deliver content that sounds balanced on other systems. For example, mixing on a boomy bass- heavy system will invariably lead to content being stripped of low-end energy by the mixer, leaving the mix lacking and sounding thin when played on other rooms. “The relationship of the speaker and the listening environment is a marriage and if neither can adapt and compromise then there’s going to be disagreement. The way that Genelec tackles this is by offering the customer a number of tools including
IMAGES The basement of Genelec’s sales
office is transformed into an ideal editing environment.
DEFINITION JANUARY 2018
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