Meyer Sound Bluehorn System Delivers World-Class Immersive Audio Post to LA Residential Studio
When choosing the monitoring system for his new Atmos dub stage in Los Angeles, Fred Paragano set forth two main criteria. First, since the home-based studio would be for his exclusive use as a Supervising Sound Editor & Re‑Recording Mixer, the loudspeakers had to satisfy his preferences for accuracy and musicality. Because many of his projects — feature films in particular — would be completed at various commercial dubbing stages, it was also critical that his pre-mixes translate seamlessly to different systems in larger rooms. On both counts, says Paragano, the Meyer Sound Bluehorn® System full bandwidth studio monitors have proven to be the ideal solution.
“The intent of building the studio was to do most of the heavy lifting on my part here, so it was critical that my mixes translate accurately when finishing elsewhere. And I’ve found that, with Bluehorn, when I go to a larger stage my mixes translate exactly as expected. I don’t have to spend any time fixing or compensating. We’re up and running right away, and we can start being creative.”
Fred Paragano
Paragano’s residential studio was completed late in 2022, a decade after relocating from the Nashville area, where he had owned and operated the highly successful Paragon Studios, a multi-room facility for music recording, mixing, and post-production. “Over the years my work had shifted predominantly to film and TV post, so it only made sense to relocate to Southern California since that’s where most of my business was coming from,” he says.
In the early months of the pandemic, Paragano decided to “bring it all back home” and invest in a world-class studio for his own use – a room that would work for anything from stereo music to full commercial cinema Atmos immersive mixes. Two spare bedrooms were gutted to open space for a main mixing room 21 feet long by 15 feet wide. The studio design was entrusted to the esteemed Russ Berger (rbdg.com), who had designed Paragano’s widely heralded Nashville facility.
“Being in Los Angeles, I have worked on many dub stages with different monitoring systems,” Paragano recalls. “Whenever I have worked on a Meyer Sound system, there was always a clear difference. So I decided that, for my own room, Meyer Sound would be the only option to consider.”
In his early discussions with Berger, Paragano had assumed loudspeakers for the main screen channels would be Meyer Sound’s Acheron® series. “But when I said I was going with Meyer Sound, Russ insisted I check out Bluehorn,” he says. “He thought that if I were going to build a facility of this caliber, I needed to complement it with monitors at the same level.”
Unique in the industry, Bluehorn System full-bandwidth monitors incorporate dedicated processing with a patented phase-correction algorithm that results in flat response from 20 Hz to 22 kHz.
Paragano had not previously heard of Bluehorn, but he made a point to audition systems at LA area facilities, including at the renowned Newman Scoring Stage at Fox Studios. What he heard cemented his decision to go follow Berger’s recommendation.
“It was a leap of faith since there are still relatively few systems out there,” Paragano admits. “However, everyone who comes in here is immediately blown away by what they hear, just as I was. The whole system just breathes. It never feels like it is working hard.’”
Currently, the room is a 7.1.4 configuration with prewiring for 9.1.6 expansion if required. The three full-range Bluehorn Systems anchor the front channels mounted over three additional X-400C™ cinema subwoofers dedicated to the LFE channel. The lateral and overhead surround channels each employ four ULTRA‑X23™ compact loudspeakers, with two USW-210P™ compact narrow subwoofers in the ceiling for surround bass management. All loudspeakers are concealed behind the acoustic fabric. The Bluehorn System has its own dedicated GALAXY processor, with a secondary Galileo® GALAXY 816 Network Platform handling all the surround processing.
“The cool thing about GALAXY is that I can have multiple setups,” notes Paragano. “I can have one for theatrical Atmos, one for home Atmos and one for music mixing. I can easily call up what I need with the touch of a button.”
The studio is reserved exclusively for Paragano’s own projects, though clients and colleagues often come in to listen to his work — and to experience the Bluehorn System monitors. “It’s fascinating to see the expressions on their faces,” Paragano says. “They immediately get excited about what they are hearing. Many times, they will sit back, close their eyes, and just listen. I feel fortunate to have worked with Russ and the team at Meyer Sound. We brought the best together and created something that I believe is truly extraordinary.”
Other equipment in the studio is also top-notch in every respect. Five computers are online, with three dedicated to Pro Tools | HD, a fourth for Atmos rendering, and a Mac Mini solely dedicated to I/O routing for the entire system. Also included are three Avid MTRX interfaces, three Avid Sync Xs synced to an Antelope OCX clock, and a Brainstorm DXD-8 multi-format reference generator.
A sampling of Paragano’s Film/TV credits includes Amsterdam, The Addams Family, Westworld, and Patsy & Loretta. His music credits include albums by Livingston Taylor, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, and Kenny Loggins.
ApexPro is the sole distributor of Meyer Sound solutions in sub-Saharan Africa. Contact us to find out how to access Meyer Sound solutions in the region.
Brand’s 4006 Omnidirectional Condenser Mic Offers Balance and Clarity for Recording Engineer Duo George and Geoff Hazelrigg.
Recording Engineer Duo George and Geoff Hazelrigg
Having grown up as musicians, it’s no wonder that George and Geoff Hazelrigg fully immersed themselves in the industry and every new opportunity it provides. Between being two-thirds of the Hazelrigg Brothers jazz trio, manufacturing the D.W. Fearn line of circuits and co-founding Hazelrigg Industries, the duo is familiar with every step of the musical process: from creation to production to performance. With 30 years of production experience and 15 years of high-definition recording knowledge under their belts, the Hazelrigg brothers are now tackling the newest force to take the music world by storm―immersive audio recording.
For these recording projects, the duo relies on DPA Microphones’ 4006A Omnidirectional Condenser Microphones and accompanying nose cones.
“These mics are just so quiet, when we record in DSD, an extremely high-detailed recording format, the DPAs are so quiet and capture the total dynamic. All the little nuances of the room are picked up without having excess noise getting in the way of anything.”
Geoff Hazelrigg
George agrees, adding, “the nose cones make the mics absolutely flat from top to bottom. There are no hotspots anywhere in any frequency range. These mics are sort of magical.”
When it comes to tackling an immersive project, George says, “the entire industry is thinking about how to remix tracks to fit an immersive format, but we start from the ground up and build tracks specifically for immersive. The 4006s are the standard of excellence for this.” The duo has implemented this concept for their recent co-production of LA-artist Tyler Smith’s new record. Produced in collaboration with Sweetwater Studios, George and Geoff worked alongside the iconic Mixing Engineer Mike Miller and Sweetwater Engineer Shawn Dealey.
“We hung six 4006s in the room ― corresponding with the right and left fronts, sides and rears ― to create a very realistic image,” George continues. “We even took the mics into different acoustic spaces and put single tracks through a speaker to capture the room reverb. This way, we weren’t relying on DSP reverb, but rather real acoustic spaces picked up by the DPAs.”
George also notes on the importance of audio quality in spatial audio as compared to in stereo. “In stereo, you can jigsaw puzzle things together if you’re working on a dense pop mix, but there’s no place to hide with spatial audio,” he explains. “The DPAs allowed us to record without phasing or sorting. They were easy and just worked. They also complement the close-source ribbon and tube mics that we use extremely well. The 4006s are just a higher quality. They’re more detailed and they offer a cleaner, quieter and better balance.”
The duo plans to continue implementing the 4006s into future immersive projects, including the Hazelrigg Brothers’ newest album, set to release this spring. “When you’re working in immersive, you can’t afford to go in and EQ or clean things up,” Geoff says. “The 4006s require absolutely no processing on the back end ― there’s no distortion, there’s head room for days and there’s no artifacts that come off it. We honestly believe that the 4006 is the best microphone for the job.”
ApexPro’s director of sales, Brendan Venter, will be attending ISE 2023 to cement existing relationships and create new opportunities to distribute world-class pro-AV products across Southern Africa.
Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) is the world’s largest exhibition for AV and systems integration professionals. Held annually, ISE attracts over 1,300 exhibitors and over 80,000 attendees from around the world.
ISE 2023 will open its doors on January 31 in Barcelona, Spain. The event will feature a wide range of technical presentations, workshops, demonstrations, and a large exhibition floor with the latest AV and systems integration products and technologies from the world’s leading technology innovators and solutions providers.
“The Southern African market is hungry for professional audio, visual, and integration solutions suitable for our unique environment. The event provides the perfect opportunity for us to find the manufacturers, solutions, and products that will fulfill the market’s diverse needs across verticals,” says ApexPro director Justin Acres.
ApexPro director Mark Malherbe concurs, stating, “With Brendan’s many years of industry experience and strong working relationships with our current suppliers, we are confident that he will use the opportunity presented at ISE 2023 to cement existing relationships and bring onboard new opportunities at this year’s event.”
Prosound, which will be celebrating 50 years in business this year, is the holding company of ApexPro. ApexPro was established in the early 2000s to serve as an independent distribution company for Southern Africa, allowing Prosound to focus on consulting and installation services to clients in the region.
“The Pro-AV market is emerging from a tumultuous time following the global Covid-19 pandemic. It’s a great opportunity to attend ISE at the start of 2023, as we see a strong surge in growth and investment from our client base in the post-pandemic economy. Business models have changed over the past two years, necessitated by the lockdowns and spurred on by the rapid expansion of connectivity infrastructure across the sub-Saharan region. People in the region are ready to adopt next-level technology, and we are excited to find and bring the products and solutions needed to drive these advancements forward,” says Brendan.
New Product Introductions and Interactive Tech Bars Highlight ISE Presence
At this year’s Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) show in Barcelona, Meyer Sound will introduce a new product expected to have a significant impact on portable touring and installed sound industries. Only a year ago, the company debuted the phenomenally successful PANTHER™ large-format linear line array loudspeaker, setting a new standard for the industry and a new direction for Meyer Sound technologies.
“At ISE, we will introduce a powerful new Milan-equipped loudspeaker that extends and complements the clear benefits that already have earned global acceptance in PANTHER.”
John McMahon, Meyer Sound Senior Vice President
Also featured at the Meyer Sound stand (Hall 5, 5F100) will be a single PANTHER cabinet, unattached and available for team lifting to demonstrate its light weight of 150 lb (68 kg) and compact size. The class-leading acoustical performance of PANTHER is already proven in the real world and backed up with the latest technology, including a Milan AVB endpoint as standard.
The always-popular Tech Bar has been doubled for ISE 2023. One tech bar will feature the Spacemap® Go spatial sound design and mixing tool using a range of compact IntelligentDC™ loudspeakers. The other Tech Bar will focus on the networked power and flexibility of new ULTRA-X20™ loudspeakers and USW-112P™ subwoofers, also with integrated Milan endpoints.
Both Tech Bars will demonstrate Meyer Sound’s new Nebra™ software platform, which provides fast and intuitive connection of Milan-based audio networks along with comprehensive system monitoring over the same network or, for backward compatibility with existing systems, via the RMServer™.
Meyer Sound also will introduce another new Nebra-compatible product that is optimized for installation applications.
“Meyer Sound experienced a record year in 2022 and we will build on that momentum in 2023 starting at ISE,” says McMahon. “Our team looks forward to meeting in person in Barcelona with customers from around the world.”
ISE 2023 will take place in Barcelona, Spain at Fira Barcelona from January 31 to February 3, 2023.
ApexPro, the sole distributor of Meyer Sound solutions and products in Southern Africa, will be represented by Brendan Venter at ISE 2023.
Genelec celebrates truthful sound and the passion that powers it.
Genelec – the global leader in professional loudspeaker systems – is marking its 45th anniversary this year by launching the Genelec 45 World Tour, which celebrates the truthful sound and the passion that powers it. The extensive tour combines demonstrations of Genelec studio monitors with a program of premium learning and listening experiences, complemented by a major global music collaboration. The Genelec 45 World Tour provides audio professionals, sonic creators, and audiophiles with a unique opportunity to experience the beauty and power of truthful sound wherever they might be located.
Central to the tour is the Genelec | Experience series of premium events, which includes face-to-face listening sessions at Genelec’s growing international network of Experience Centres, complemented by hybrid and virtual events, regional partner events, and traditional trade shows. The Genelec | Experience will not only provide an opportunity for customers to audition Genelec’s state-of-the-art studio monitors but will also allow customers to learn about and experience a wide range of Genelec stereo and immersive loudspeaker systems in a controlled, critical listening environment.
For those that can’t attend the Genelec | Experience in person, Genelec will also be making full use of its digital channels throughout 2023 to deliver a program of online masterclasses, tutorials, webinars, and informal knowledge-sharing sessions, while the new Genelec Virtual Showroom allows customers across the Professional Audio Monitoring, AV Installation and Home Audio segments to instantly access valuable Genelec information and resources in a unique and visually engaging interactive VR environment. Additionally, the Create With Genelec loan campaign will be run in selected territories to allow audio professionals, creatives and music educators to experience Genelec technology in the comfort of their own environment.
The final element of the tour is the Genelec | Harmony Tracks global music collaboration, which encourages even greater end user engagement in Genelec’s 45th celebrations. Genelec | Harmony Tracks invites participants to submit a piece of music using their own unique style, sound and local culture to create a new, powerful, and unifying patchwork of international musical harmony. The contest winner will receive a pair of Genelec 8330A studio monitors as a prize, and for every song entry submitted, Genelec will donate money to the charity Music Fund, which collects musical instruments, repairs them and gives them a second life by donating them to music schools and socio-artistic projects in Europe, developing countries and conflict zones around the world. Genelec will also be encouraging regional partners to get involved – with the goal of collecting and re-distributing 45 different types of instruments globally in a celebration of the world’s wonderfully diverse musical cultures.
“Over the last 45 years we’ve created quite a company legacy, but none of this would be possible without our customers,” comments Genelec Managing Director Siamäk Naghian. “So we want to use this anniversary year to look forward to the future, and empower and celebrate the people that create and love sound and music. Our passion for perfecting sound is shared by all the professionals and creatives who rely on Genelec technology every day. By inspiring each other, we’re consistently driving the industry forward – and that’s something truly worth celebrating!”
The LG Arts Center SEOUL is the new landmark of contemporary performing art which was recently relocated to Gangseo-gu of Seoul, the western part of the capital of Korea. The Center is the first venue in Asia to install the signature Eos Apex console. The venue also includes additional ETC products to provide best-in-class lighting solutions for the modern art centre. Products include Source Four LED Series 3 with XDLT lens tubes, Paradigm control and touchscreen stations, BluesSystem, and more.
With a total floor area of 40,000 m2, the leading cultural hub was designed by the world-famous Japanese architect Tadao Ando and successfully achieves the architectural philosophy of blending nature into architecture. There are two performance venues in the Center; one of them is the LG SIGNATURE Hall, which has a capacity of 1,335 seats, and U+ Stage, which is a transformable black box theatre capable of accommodating up to 365.
After several fruitful conversations and product demonstrations organized by ETC dealer C&C Lightway, the Center selected two Eos Apex 10 consoles with 24K outputs and an Eos Apex Processor for the LG SIGNATURE Hall, working as the main and backup control system of the performance. “Eos Apex is perfect for a full control system; it is powerful and reliable enabling my team to work confidently for every show,” the representative of LG Arts Center SEOUL commented.
Ten sets of Source Four LED Series 3 fixtures are installed for front lighting. The top-of-the-line Lustr X8 array brings nuanced color without sacrificing brightness which generates a perfect skin tone for full orchestra, operas, musicals, concerts, theatre, and ballet performances. “We paired XDLT lens tubes with Series 3 – they are perfect for our large performance hall making lighting up the stage from the farthest distances a piece of cake!” the lighting director of LG Arts Center SEOUL added. The crisp gobo projection and reduced light leak also impressed the client.
The Center not only emphasizes professional and high-quality lighting at the front stage but also backstage. TP (Theatre Projects) recommended BluesSystem which provides a set of dimmable blue running lights for the dark area in the halls. The award-winning line of low-voltage LEDs provides safe illumination during live productions. Besides, Irideon with Zoom lens and framing shutter features are installed in a technical gallery of the stage side area, a follow-spot room, and a control room, they can enhance the ambiance in the rooms with a theatre feel.
The client was looking for a comprehensive control system that would manage not only general lighting fixtures but also the house lighting in the audience seating area. C&C Lightway understood the challenge and proposed ETC’s Paradigm architectural control system with 7” Touchscreen stations installed on the sides of the stage. Users can set up “preset modes” with different combinations of lighting fixtures to accommodate various situations in the theatre. The Touchscreen station brings elegant and compact control in a customizable, intuitive interface.
Sensor3 Dimming is the sophisticated power control system proposed by C&C Lightway. Paired with the ThruPower Module, it powers up all of the lighting in the Center from conventional Source Four fixtures, and LED luminaires, to automated fixtures that generate stunning lighting effects for this world-class stage.
With the use of Response Mk2 DMX Gateways and the Response Opto-Splitters, all products in the ETC lighting ecosystem are connected in a single Ethernet network which enables seamless and reliable communication when managing all of the equipment from an integrated data distribution network.
The LG Arts Center SEOUL is operated by the LG Yonam Cultural Foundation with financial support from the LG Group. The Center is the pioneer in promoting art and culture by presenting world-class performances, ranging from classical and traditional music to popular music, ballet, musicals, and plays.
