Five-time Grammy winner Chris Lord-Alge recently implemented an Ocean Way Audio 9.1.4 monitoring array at Mix LA studio in Tarzana, CA for his increasing work with Dolby Atmos streams both with newer artist releases as well as back catalogs.
The new Atmos monitoring system now co-exists with his Ocean Way Audio main loudspeaker system, installed two years ago and designed by Ocean Way Audio CEO and engineer/producer Allen Sides. “We had already installed one of our large monitor systems is his studio and Chris was so thrilled with their accuracy and performance that he asked if we could provide an 9.1.4 Atmos mixing system that could deliver the definition and punch of his large monitors,” says Sides, who has five decades of experience designing loudspeakers. “It was a tight fit but our efforts yielded a very impressive, yet compact monitor system.”
Specifically, the new system incorporates three Ocean Way HR4S monitors at left, center, right, each with 100- by 40-degree dispersion, along with a subwoofer for each HR4 under the console “We also added one extra subwoofer for the LFE, and the LFE is also fed to the other three subs, which means each of the LCR monitors are full range to 25 Hz with no bass management,” sSdes explains. Other loudspeakers in Lord-Alge’s new Atmos mix array include 10 new Ocean Way PRO2A-S for surrounds as well as two Ocean Way Audio S12 subs in the rear of the control room for surround bass management.
The first album Lord-Alge remixed for the Dolby Atmos format in his new room was Green Day’s American Idiot, recorded at Ocean Way Studio B in Hollywood. That album, originally released in 2004, went on to be certified six times platinum and won The Grammy for Record of the Year.
“I have known Allen for many years and of course have mixed many projects on his monitors at Ocean Way as well as in my own facility,” says Lord-Alge. “When I needed an Atmos mix environment at my own studio, Allen was my first call because his products are uniquely designed and engineered, and he knows what a truly great speaker is supposed to sound like. Not only is the speaker performance highly accurate across the frequency range, but they get really fun when you play them loud.”
Independent systems tech Art Kelm handled the Mix LA Atmos system installation. “Art Is a great friend and was brought in to engineer and implement the Atmos upgrade infrastructure,” Lord-Alge says. “This was a significant aspect as the speaker placement, trusses, electronics and system wiring had to be managed with my staff while I was away. Art’s experience with Capitol Studios Atmos system upgrade made Art the perfect choice as he is familiar with all of the various technologies employed.”
Mix LA’s Studio A control room is centered on Lord-Alge’s favored Solid State Logic SL4064E Series console installed in 1986. The Atmos system retrofit leverages three separate Pro Tools rigs, all networked within a Dante AoIP infrastructure by a 10-piece Focusrite RedNet networked audio system tying into an Avid Matrix Studio with DAD MOM monitor controller which sits on the console.
“This room sounds amazing and is really inspiring to work in,” he concludes. “Immersive audio provides me with an entirely new palette of sonic possibilities, and Ocean Way Audio has delivered a no-compromise system that outperforms anything I’ve heard. it is an exciting time to be working on new material, as well as taking my older mixes to a whole new level.”
