Music Institution in Switzerland Enhances Facilities for Immersive Audio Experience
News Article: State-of-the-Art Dolby Atmos Control Room Unveiled at EMA in Geneva
In a significant development for contemporary music education and production, the École des Musiques Actuelles (EMA) in Geneva, Switzerland, has unveiled a brand-new Dolby Atmos control room. The control room, measuring 215 square feet, serves as the technical heart of EMA's comprehensive audio production facilities dedicated to immersive audio.
The new control room is part of a larger 3,000 square meter facility that also houses 45 classrooms, a 300-seat auditorium, and a 200-person club. This educational and performance complex has been enhanced with the addition of the Dolby Atmos control room, a significant step towards immersive audio capabilities.
The project was initiated by Ladislav Agabekov, CMA's sound engineer and technical director, with backing from EMA director Stefano Saccon. The focus of EMA is mainly on music production, and they aim to reproduce completely object-based live recordings in the auditorium for immediate immersive reproduction in the control room.
The control room is equipped with an Avid S4 controller and Pro Tools for system control. The main monitors in the Dolby Atmos control room are Genelec's flagship "The Ones" 8361s. The system integration and final calibrations were led by Eric Henry from ACR Pro, contributing expert technical support to realize the immersive audio capabilities.
WSDG, the acoustic consultant for the project, focused on exceptional acoustic treatment to optimize the space for Dolby Atmos immersive sound reproduction. The WSDG team for the project included Amin Nehmeh, Dirk Noy, Leandro Kirjner, Silvia Molho, and the company's Miami office handled the design aspects, determining geometry, colors, and materials.
The Dolby Atmos control room at EMA interfaces with their 300-seat main auditorium, which is equipped with a d&b audiotechnik Soundscape system. The auditorium features 64 loudspeakers for immersive live sound reinforcement projects and performances. Smaller POE-powered surround speakers are also part of the Dolby Atmos control room setup at EMA.
The entire audio system in the Dolby Atmos control room is networked, utilizing Dante protocol. The control room also features Genelec W371A subwoofers. The project was part of EMA's 38 million Swiss Franc renovation of the facility, starting in January 2024, with completion and system calibration by early 2025.
The collaboration with Valentin Cattel from Reynaud Gaillard Architects ensured proper building integration and installation. The control room is a state-of-the-art immersive audio environment tailored to advanced training and production needs in pop, rock, jazz, and other modern music genres, reflecting a high level of acoustic precision, technical integration, and architectural coordination.
[1] WSDG Press Release [2] EMA Website [4] ACR Pro Website
- The unveiling of the new Dolby Atmos control room at EMA in Geneva signifies a significant leap in contemporary music education and production, catering to immersive audio techniques.
- The state-of-the-art control room, equipped with the Avid S4 controller and Pro Tools, is designed to reproduce live sound recordings for immediate immersive reproduction.
- Genelec's flagship "The Ones" 8361s serve as the main monitors in the Dolby Atmos control room, offering exceptional sound quality.
- The control room's immersive audio capabilities were realized through the technical expertise of Eric Henry from ACR Pro and the acoustic optimization provided by WSDG.
- The introduction of the d&b audiotechnik Soundscape system in EMA's 300-seat auditorium completes the setup, allowing for 64 loudspeakers to reinforce immersive live sound projects.
- The entire audio system in the Dolby Atmos control room utilizes Dante protocol and features Genelec W371A subwoofers, ensuring seamless networking and a powerful yet precise sound production environment in the realm of pop, rock, jazz, and other modern music genres.
