Sonic College Introduces Immersive Music Production with SSL

This university in Denmark has created a Dolby Atmos music production hall 7.1.4 which features a digital audio mixing console SSL System T.

Sonic College is part of the University College South Denmark offering bachelor's degrees in a variety of audio disciplines in the media and entertainment industry. Last year he moved to a multi-story building and took the opportunity to install a complete sound system, based on Solid State Logic (SSL), to introduce students to the future of immersive music production.

A digital audio mixing console SSL System T, Selected for both performance and educational value to students, is the centerpiece of an immersive music production room Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 Located on the third floor of the new building.

According to the audio technology specialist Lars Tirsbæk, Professor & Technical Consultant at Sonic College, Audio over IP, an immersive mix bus and the fact that System T is the console used throughout Denmark's media and entertainment industry were factors in the decision to install the new S500 console 32 Faders. "We decided to go with a digital desktop. Our job is to educate students for the future, and the future is digital".

Provide a AoIP infrastructure was a key factor in the. "We also decided that we wanted to have an audio over IP infrastructure in the new building. For studio constructions, Dante is the right thing to do right now; Audinate has the largest market share, point. We wanted a network-based desktop and our specification was that it should be able to do AES67, so we thought it was a good idea that it should be based on Dante.", Tirsbæk continues.

Sonic College's programs cover sound design, Sound for Picture, Music production, Gaming Audio & Podcasting. The university also conducts research on sound in wellness technology.

New Facility Focuses on Immersive Audio, from the central atrium equipped with 180 speakers and a live performance stage with a PA system 7.1.8 to the many Dolby Atmos mastering and mixing rooms.

The university made the decision to build its first Dolby Atmos music room several years ago while it was in its previous location, says Tirsbæk. "It was always the dream to have an Atmos music studio. But the biggest problem with monitoring in immersive mode is that, if you're using Pro Tools and the Atmos renderer, It will have latency. You can't use that for recording purposes. It was obvious that we needed something with a mix bus capable of doing 7.1.4".

SSL makes its mark in Denmark

Since the SSL T-System is very flexible, Tirsbæk and the university's technical team developed a basic template to help students start their sessions.

"We could evolve the template quite quickly to make it very, very complex, But it can also simply be a very simple online console.. If you connect a microphone to channel one in the live room, enter Pro Tools on channel one and return to channel one. You don't need to do anything, This is how it behaves. In the standard template, The CUE system is just a copy of the stereo mix you have in the control room, so if you can hear it in the control room, is sent to the CUE system. It's a totally simple way of working.".

They also added a split console template for students who need that workflow..

Eight months into this school year, Tirsbæk says he's already seeing results from students in the advanced recording course benefiting from working on the new System T. "I'd say they're between a 10 % and a 20 % better than last year, Because they've learned so much more from having a console in front of them. They are pushed much more to learn things.", Says. "It's amazing to see how they use all the possibilities in front of them with the System T. And they find it really easy. They don't think about it so much, they just do it.".

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