Downtown Dubai is home to a new recording facility that aspires to being ‘the go-to space for young artists to experiment’. At the heart of Soul Sound Music Art Production is a Genelec Smart Active Monitoring system, selected for its audio quality and accuracy.
Behind Soul Sound is Lebanese singer and songwriter Aziz Abdo: ‘I wanted to create a professional studio set-up in a space that will allow me to further my skills and talent – and take my musical career to the next level,’ he explains. ‘I wanted to give a facelift to today’s typical music studio in Dubai, since most of them are located in remote areas or have an old, worn-out feel.
‘I want to provide an experience, making it an “Instagrammable” space that can inspire musical artists and influencers, and turn it into the most visited and travel-worthy destination. Having a passion for both musical technique and powerful technology, I wanted to democratize the creative process – allowing anyone to have access to everything that they would need to create music.’
Abdo turned to audio engineer Hosni Abu Zahra, has a thorough understanding of acoustics and technical expertise, which produced an exacting standard being set for the recording set-up.
‘I chose high-quality audio equipment, including microphones, preamps, compressors, EQs and monitors to meet the specific needs of the project, and combined this with a proper wiring and cabling infrastructure to minimise signal degradation and interference,’ Abu Zahra says. ‘I designed the studio with appropriate dimensions to avoid standing waves and resonances that can affect sound quality. I also ensured proper sound isolation and minimized unwanted reflections through the use of materials like diffusers, absorbers and bass traps.
‘Genelec monitors are known for their exceptional audio quality and accuracy,’ he continues. ‘They deliver transparency and accuracy and have a wide frequency response. They are also reliable, with a fantastic build quality, and their performance can be adapted to the room with GLM software. On top of all of this, they have an established reputation as the best studio monitors available.’
The system installed by Abu Zahra features a pair of 1234s as main studio monitors complemented by a pair of 1032 close-fields. LF is handled by a 7382 subwoofer, with a supplementary pair of 8030s employed as close-field monitors at a secondary listening position for guests away from the main mix position.
‘Having both 1234s and 1032s in the studio provides several benefits,’ reasons Abu Zahra. ‘They provide excellent frequency response and balance, as well as transparency of the reproduced sounds when recording and mixing. The two solutions also provide different listening perspectives for artists and engineers, and I positioned the 1234s and 1032s in an optimal configuration to achieve accurate and balanced audio reproduction.’
With the control room used as a single space to handle mixing, recording and mastering, the use of GLM calibration software has been key: ‘GLM changed my life by fixing the frequency curve where needed,’ Abu Zahra explains.
‘I’m extremely happy, as I have personally planned each and every corner of the studio,’ reflects Abdo. ‘Being a music artist myself, I kept in mind what would create a positive working environment to help musicians feel at ease in the studio and keep the mood upbeat. This helps to keep momentum, and keep the artists focused. Plus working in a high-quality studio that has the latest technology allows musicians to be innovative and experimental.’
More: www.genelec.com
