Mumbai-based audio/mix engineer and pro audio solutions specialist for Avid, Sreejesh Nair has adopted Nugen Audio Halo Upmix plug-in for upmixing stereo tracks to5.1/7.1/9.1 surround.

With more than 250 film titles to his credit, Nair is a senior re-recording mixer for Rajkamal Studios (FutureWorks) in Mumbai, where most of his work is on Bollywood movies. He has also worked as a version mixer for Hollywood releases from Warner, Disney, Paramount, and other studios, and requires an upmixing tool that could deliver surround sound that sounds as close as possible to the original.

‘Advances in technology have given audio engineers more flexibility to deliver complex mixes, but the new efficiencies mean we’re expected to deliver much more in less time – while still reaching for inspiration and new ideas’ he says. ‘My colleagues and I discovered Halo Upmix and, I knew I had found the tool I was looking for when I heard the reverbs, pads, and instruments open up in a Halo-upmixed song to deliver a cohesive-sounding track.’

Prior to using Halo Upmix, his experience with upmixing tools and processes had given inconsistent results.

‘One of the most valuable features of Halo is its ability to upmix to Dolby 7.1, and now, 9.1 surround formats. This format flexibility, and the control Halo gives me over the finished sound, is absolutely essential in my work. Rather than simply performing a full programme upmix, I’m able to do things differently; for instance, I might add harmonic distortion and reverbs to an element and then upmix it as a parallel signal that could be blended with the original signal, creating a much more cohesive and opened-up tonality and spacing for the instrument. Since Halo reacts differently based on the harmonic content for blending sounds, the movement in the surround space is very analog and has an element of apparent randomness that I love.’

In addition to Halo Upmix, Nair other Nugen Audio tools, including the Seq-S equalizer, which allows him to apply a spectral mixing method, and the Monofilter and Stereoizer plug-ins. In combination with Halo, Nair is able to use these tools to create a sonic placement that is unique in texture and sound.

‘Sree is precisely the type of audio professional for whom we designed Halo Upmix,’ says Nugen Audio Creative Director, Jon Schorah. ‘He has seen many profound technology changes throughout his career, and he’s helped advance sound engineering in key ways – he was instrumental in setting up the world’s first Dolby Premier Atmos mix facility while at FutureWorks studios in Mumbai. With Halo, Sree has discovered new ways to mix and create soundscapes that are simply not possible using other methods. Halo enables engineers to break away from typical mix patterns to create a uniquely textured and nuanced result – and audiences are the real winners.’

More: www.nugenaudio.com