Auralex Amps up Allusion Studios
Recording Studio Relies on Auralex to Complete Total Acoustical Upgrade
TUCSON, AZ, OCTOBER 25, 2011 - When Allusion Studios Head Engineer Jim Pavett made the decision to overhaul the acoustics and aesthetics of the studio, his first choice for both product and direction was Auralex® Acoustics, Inc., the industry leader in innovative sound control solutions. Pavett was looking for a way to improve the overall sonic quality of each of the rooms in his studio, as well as create isolated spaces for the production of individual sounds, such as drums, bass, guitar and vocals.
Known as one of the largest and most advanced recording and multimedia facilities in southern Arizona, Allusion Studios consists of a control room, a live/drum room, a vocal booth, several isolated spaces (a bass iso, guitar iso and vocal iso) and a lounge. The studio previously installed Auralex's best-selling Studiofoam® products throughout the entire building and later decided to add some Auralex ELiTE(TM) ProPanels® and additional diffusion by incorporating the company's new Sustain(TM) Bamboo Sound Diffusor Series. Pavett installed several Custom ELiTE ProPanels, offering him the luxury of choosing his own custom fabric color for the panels, in keeping with the unique aesthetic of the studio. The studio also used Auralex's Mineral Fiber Insulation, SonoFiber(TM) and installed additional SheetBlok(TM) to its existing doors to reduce sound transmission from room to room.
"We essentially wanted to revamp our entire studio, taking our sound to the next level in sonic clarity with our acoustical renovations, along with a full roster of new state-of-the-art equipment," says Pavett. "We stripped the walls of our control room down to the drywall and brought it back to life with a range of Auralex products. We also completely renovated the live room and iso booths. Basically, we upgraded our entire building."
The renovation began when Pavett utilized Auralex's Room Analysis Plus service. Room Analysis Plus is an off-site analysis service where users can download an audio file from the Auralex website (www.auralex.com), featuring a swept sine signal from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Pavett recorded the sweep with an omni-directional measurement microphone and forwarded it, with the Personalized Room Analysis Form, directly to Auralex for examination. Frequency response, impulse response, waterfall plots and reverberation time (RT) values can all be generated from this service without ever having an acoustician step foot in your room. A written report is presented back to the user within three to five business days outlining the acoustical issues and how to solve them.
Allusion Studios does not house your typical control room, as there is no main console. The system is based on several tube preamplifiers, compressors and high-end mic-pres - all directed through Lynx converters and Nuendo. For the 20 x 20 ft control room, Auralex suggested a range of its ELiTE ProPanels (B22 and C24), fabric-covered, acoustic absorptive panels, strategically placed at the front of the mix position and on both the side walls. Auralex's ELiTE(TM) CT45(TM) Bass Traps were placed in the corners, as these panels are specifically designed to fit into standard 90-degree corners. Auralex's SonoFiber was also installed on the ceiling above the mix position. For added diffusion, several Auralex WavePrisms(TM), part of the company's new Sustain Bamboo Sound Diffusor Series, were placed on the back wall.
The walls of the 22 x 18 ft live/drum room are made of drywall, so Pavett wanted to dampen the overall sound of the space while also giving it a warmer, more controlled sound. Auralex recommended a range of its ELiTE ProPanels and components from its Sustain Bamboo Sound Diffusor Series. The panels are placed throughout all four walls as well as the ceiling. For added diffusion, Auralex's bamboo QuadraTecs(TM), which provide excellent scattering properties, resulting in a warm, musical character to the dispersed sound, were also installed throughout the space. Auralex bamboo KeyPacs(TM) were fastened on top of several of the ProPanels to tune the absorption treatment to be more effective in the low- and mid-range while not killing off the higher frequencies - yielding a room that is well balanced across the frequency range.
The room also features Auralex's HoverDeck(TM) underneath the drum kit. The Auralex HoverDeck is designed to isolate drums from a stage, concrete floor or multi-level building, to keep an artist's sound consistent and clear. "We notice a lot more 'punchiness' on the drums, really a lot more clarity with everything; just a little bit more controlled and to the point, which is the type of sound that I like," adds Pavett.
Allusion Studios' 9 x 7 ft vocal booth is almost entirely treated with Auralex Studiofoam. The space features 4″ Studiofoam Wedges, Cornerfill Cubes(TM) as well as Auralex LENRD® (Low-End Node Reduction Device) Bass Traps. Studiofoam Wedges effectively kill standing waves and flutter echoes and, when used in conjunction with LENRD Bass Traps, can effectively tame the full frequency bandwidth in virtually any room.
"The control room is really acoustically dialed in, which makes mixing in the low-end just crystal clear," continues Pavett. "The latest acoustical upgrades have surpassed my expectations. We couldn't be happier with the level Auralex has taken us to."
The entire studio renovation was filmed for a two-part educational DVD called The Studio Edge: Pro Audio Recording Series. The first DVD delves into the physics of sound and overall studio concepts and the second DVD was focused on building a studio and acoustics, which involved all the renovations made at the studio. The DVD is expected to be released later this year.
Allusion Studios has had a variety of high-profile clients complete work on various acoustical projects at the studio, including promotional work, video production and album recording. Some clients include Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy), HBO, George Clooney and Barry Sparks (Yngwie Malmsteen, Dokken and Ted Nugent).
About Auralex Acoustics, Inc.
Located in Indianapolis, Auralex Acoustics was founded in 1977 with a mission to provide top-performing acoustical treatment products at the best value. Since then, thousands of satisfied Auralex customers have experienced improved acoustics, expert advice and exceptional customer service. Auralex products enjoy widespread use among prominent artists, producers, engineers, corporations, celebrities and government agencies.
Auralex Acoustics has become the industry leader in innovative sound control solutions and continues to enjoy rapid growth through an international network of authorized dealers. Visit the Auralex Web site at www.auralex.com. Auralex can be reached via email at auralexinfo@auralex.com or by calling 1.800.959.3343.
CONTACT:
Nicole Rosen
D. Pagan Communications
175 Pinelawn Road, Suite 215
Melville, NY 11747
631.659.2309
nicoler@dpagan.com
