An upgrade to the monitoring system in the mastering studio at Maxe Axelsson’s PAMA Records in in Torsås, Sweden, has seen him install Genelec’s 8351B coaxial three-way monitor paired with the W371A adaptive woofer system. ‘We had never had this type of combined system in the studio before and, at first, we were a bit unsure about the idea,’ Axelsson confesses. ‘But, once it was installed, we were completely blown away…

‘The concept of combining the W371 woofer system with The Ones coaxial design of the 8351 allowed a free-standing, full-range system for us, and we are planning to install that type of hybrid more in the future – it completely fixes every last detail in the room and is therefore at the heart of our mastering process.

‘We originally had the Genelec 1038ACs as mains in the mastering room, and this was a great monitor to use for this,’ he continues. ‘We loved the sound of these three-way centre speakers in a stereo set-up and we were really happy with them, but then we had a problem with the bass that we couldn’t really fix. So we decided to get in the W371s, not really thinking it would be the final solution – but after the second calibration was set up and combined with the back wall reflections, it took care of exactly what we needed it to. We had never seen that type of installation work before. We are not disappointed, we love the system.’

To get the best out of the new set-up, Axelsson chose to use GLM loudspeaker manager software for both the studio’s final configuration as well as for its day-to-day operation: ‘I always use the GLM set-up,’ he explains. ‘It’s more than a good speaker calibration system, it’s great for comparing levels while we’re mastering as well as finalising little details. We also use it as a monitor controller, especially with the new GLM 4 version, and we always have the reference mic and GLM connected which creates a nice flow.’

This mastering suite is just one example of where Axelsson’s passion for Genelec can be seen. But Genelec monitoring is also seen everywhere throughout the building. In Studio 1, which is primarily used for EdTech’s e-learning projects, 8341 and 1037 three-way studio monitors combine with a 7071 subwoofer. While in Studio 3, PAMA’s music studios, Axelsson has opted for 8010, 8351 and 1234 monitoring solutions.

‘Genelec is the standard that we are happy to work around,’ Axelsson says. ‘It is our reference wherever we go. The technology surpasses all of our expectations every time, and we are working with an amazing set up at the moment which is by far the perfect solution for us.’

More: www.genelec.com