Combining the latest technologies with an eye for meticulous detail in its overall studio design, Digital Arts (www.digitalartsny.com) has brought the first 4K post-production studio to New York City, complete with a Dolby-approved 7.1 surround audio mixing theater.
While 4K is the newest thing to hit the digital film realm, Digital Arts owner Axel Ericson also wanted to install the latest audio gear to create a modern and unique post-production studio. The facility houses two 32-channel D-control ES Icon consoles with Quad Pro Tools HDX2, allowing sound mixing teams to work simultaneously on their projects.
Ericson explained that when designing the studio, he wanted to create a space that would inspire video and sound editors. The décor of the new studio sticks to his dedication to using the latest technologies, with a modern and open feel. “I worked to create something special for the film industry here in New York,” he said. “It’s this kind of detail that creates inspiration. The studio helps you to dig deeper into who you are and what you want to create.”
At the time of designing the facility, Ericson said he was looking for a speaker system that could bring a strong audio quality to the theater set up. As an active audio engineer, Ericson worked with Meyer Sound to install a customized EXP cinema series into the studio. “Meyer was just about to come out with this series, but they weren’t available at the time of the studio design” Ericson explained. “We worked with the company to make them work with the studio.”
Acoustically, Ericson worked with a number of acousticians to design the layout of the theater for maximum audio quality. The stadium seating allows sound to flow easier for all viewers in the studio, and Ericson said they chose to go with a mesh screen for the visuals to prevent any disruption. “We decided to go with the mesh screen because we won’t have to fight with the sound. We wanted the transparency for the Meyer speakers,” Ericson said.
The new Digital Arts post-production studio opened in Fall, 2012, and since then has catered to a number of projects, including the sound editing for Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine by Allen’s longtime sound mixer, Lee Dichter, who described his experience working in the new studio in a release: “During my career I have worked in environments where every detail has been tuned to perfection. To my delight, I discovered that Axel (Ericson) understands the art of sound mixing, and has designed a truly inspirational room.”
Ericson said the studio is open to new clients, and sound mixers are welcome to come in and rent out the studio for their projects. “As a facility, we’re very open. We want people to come in and see what we’re doing,” Ericson said.
