In a unique arrangement, the studio serves both the school and a separate production company, so the monitoring had to be reliable, accurate, musical and multi-functional

Products from Genelec, the world’s pioneer in active monitoring, were recently chosen by Bradenton, Florida-based Crown Design Group to serve the new state-of-the-art Updog recording studio at Inspiration Academy, a Christian college preparatory academy serving grades 6-12. Notably, the studio serves both the school’s needs (classes, A/V applications, athletics, etc.) and those of the Updog Studios production company, which operates independently of the school. This unique arrangement required some creative planning in terms of equipment and studio configuration, but Crown more than rose to the challenge, working with all parties involved to select a gear complement that is robust, multi-functional and musical.

Garrett Walker, Crown Design Group co-founder, states, “When we started the Crown Design Group, we made it a mission to put our best foot forward and do what’s best for the project, even if it’s spec’ing something beyond what the client thinks they need. We came in with a blank canvas, and they let us dream big. They weren’t necessarily thinking in terms of the quality of gear we were ready to recommend, but we got them on board. We were able to educate them on what really might be needed for the project. We really wanted to do things with excellence, and Genelec has always represented excellence in studio monitoring to us. And considering that we have been an authorized Genelec dealer for only about four months, being able to deliver a large complement of Genelec gear to the client’s satisfaction is something we are very proud of.”

For monitors, Walker and his fellow co-founder Ben Graham recommended an LCR system consisting of Genelec 1037C Tri-amplified Monitors, as well as a 6.2 surround system consisting of six 8050A Bi-Amplified Monitors and two 7070A Active Subwoofers. Other gear includes an Avid S6 control surface with Pro Tools rig, Symetrix DSP, power sequencer control units from Furman and much more.

Walker adds, “Obviously, we needed a gear setup that could do a lot of things, on account of the fact that this would be used for classes, extracurriculars and independent production. They asked for a space where they could have walk-in turnkey solutions for students to be able to use the gear without too much fumbling, but also a professional, world-class room that they could use for themselves for editing movies and audio. What we ended up with is the perfect blend of state-of-the-art technology and user-friendliness. And the sound is amazing. Those Genelec monitors do not tell a lie! With the custom programming in the Symetrix touch panel, the students can click a ‘simulated surround’ button, plug in a stereo mix from their device, and hear it in a newly-created surround mix. They just love that.”

Graham remarks, “I’ve been in the music industry for 12 years, and I’ve recorded and worked in a number of studios across the country, and this one sounds the best! I love watching people walk in for the first time. Their jaws drop – it can be overwhelming. And then we press ‘play’! Their eyes get big and they hold their chest as the sound hits them. They can’t help but smile. The client was blown away with the sound quality right way, even before anything had been fine-tuned yet. We can’t wait to do our next project – we’re definitely going Genelec!”

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