Discover the fascinating journey of studio designer Jim Keller and his expertise in creating studio spaces for renowned artists. From optimizing sound quality in recording rooms to the evolution of creative studios, explore the importance of room acoustics, speaker positioning, and innovative acoustic designs for a better sound experience.
Creating acoustic spaces involves intricate planning for optimal audio quality and user experience.
Transition to Connecticut facilitated growth in studio design projects with enhanced efficiency and capabilities.
Future audio design trends include motorized acoustic structures and software-driven innovations for optimal sound quality.
Deep dives
Innovative Workflow Design for Martin Gore's Studio
Martin Gore's studio project focused on workflow design and custom solutions. The room included Euro rack enclosures, tuned membrane treatments, and a unique busing system to streamline signal routing. With 1100 modules and custom power supplies, the build required specialized furniture design and technical infrastructure for efficient operation.
Transition from New York to Connecticut and Project Expansion
The transition from New York to Connecticut allowed for significant growth, equipped with a state-of-the-art shop with CNC machinery. The move facilitated larger scale projects, enhancing efficiency and capabilities. Challenges arose in remote project management, balancing logistics and costs of out-of-state installations.
Juilliard School Studio Renovation: A Complex and Rewarding Project
The renovation project at Juilliard School's recording studios involved resolving acoustics, aesthetic, workflow, and construction administration challenges. The design process included addressing acoustic deficiencies, constructing a live room with unique diffusion systems, and optimizing HVAC ductwork for enhanced performance.
Designing Acoustic Spaces for Dynamic Audio
Creating acoustic spaces for optimal audio involves intricate planning, like the scatter system designed to add density and randomize reflections for a dense, short reverb character. Integration of visual aesthetics, like adding a large window between the control and live rooms, plays a crucial role in transforming the space from claustrophobic to open, enhancing user experience. The podcast highlights the importance of meticulous design in acoustic projects, emphasizing the visual and auditory impact of well-crafted spaces.
Future Trends in Audio Design and Room Acoustics
The conversation delves into the future of audio design, envisioning motorized acoustic structures and DSP solutions as potential game-changers in altering room characteristics. The discussion spans from the evolution of physical acoustics to the role of AI in modeling room environments, hinting at a shift towards software-driven innovations in acoustics. Despite technological advancements, the significance of tuning speaker and mix positions for optimal sound quality remains a cost-effective solution for enhancing audio experiences.
I met Jim thanks to the wonderful master of mastering Heba Kadry who's based in New York (whi btw that just finished mastering my new LP!)
She used him to assist in the making of her room and that set me on a journey to get my place into shape too. Him and his team at Sondhus did an excellent job and I've been loving my light and airy attic so much!
I've talked about my space a little on the show and I've shared a few pics and videos from the spot so there's evidence of it out there.
I look forward to being in here every day.
Jim's story is really interesting and it's an angle that's not been covered thus far on the pod.
He has knowledge and passion on all manner of issues relating to studio spaces, from the flow to the sound and the minimal aesthetic that is a through line in his work.
He's made rooms for Martin Gore, Laurie Anderson, Heba Kadry, Philip Weinrobe, the Juliard School in New York to name but a few.
Wild !
In this show I demonstrate the sound of my rooms and why using a binaural head for interviews and voice over is a terrible idea :) ha
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