Genelec monitoring now underpins three specialist sound studios at the Glasgow School of Art’s (GSA) School of Information and Technology, following the relocation of its facilities from Pacific Quay in the city’s Digital Media Quarter to a new campus. The Dolby Atmos room, surround sound room and spatial audio Soundlab have all been recreated at the new site, with all studios integrated via a Dante network – a significant technical step forward from the previous campus in the Scottish city.
The 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos studio uses 11 Genelec 8030C two-way nearfield monitors, transferred from Pacific Quay, paired with a 7060B subwoofer. The 16-speaker Ambisonics Soundlab is equipped with Genelec 8010A nearfields and a 7050C subwoofer, while the 5.1 surround studio continues to run on the school’s existing Genelec 1029A monitors, some of which have been in service for almost 20 years.
Ronan Breslin, programme leader, MDes Sound for Moving Image at GSA, said: “Since Ambisonic sound does not have a low frequency enhancement channel as part of its defined characteristics, we found that initial playback testing with the 8010 monitor array in the Soundlab revealed very good immersion and localisation characteristics, but the low end required reinforcement. Therefore, [Mediaspec] suggested that we deploy a 7050 subwoofer in the room – which we fed with summed 100Hz LPF audio – and this did indeed remedy the issue, following some experimentation with positioning.”
Simon Weins, sound technician and lecturer at GSA, added: “The 8030s in the Atmos studio allow for a very detailed image of a mix, which is crucial for our students when making final decisions in their projects. Together with the rest of our system, this allows our students to work at the highest professional level. The stereo imaging is precise, and the low frequency detail is exceptional.”
Weins added: “The 1029s may look small but paired with the 7050 they produce a genuinely powerful, full-range sound. Despite the compact footprint, the imaging across the full sphere is remarkably stable and coherent.”
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