Mix with the Masters (MTWM), which provides a platform that teaches the art of recording and mixing music by curating a blend of top talent [Tchad Blake, Timbaland, Jack Antonoff, Chris Lord Alge, Bob Clearmountain, Alan Meyerson, Finneas, Hans Zimmer, et al] and high-quality educational content, recently opened Rue Boyer, a new flagship recording studio, video production, and teaching complex in Paris.
MWTM co-heads Victory Lévy-Lasne and Maxime Le Guil sought out the expertise of Symphonic Acoustics and its Exclusively Licensed Authentic George Augspurger Designed monitors for Rue Boyer’s Studio A. It was designed by architectural acoustic design firm WSDG (Walters-Storyk Design Group), with Studio A made to serve as a multi-purpose facility that could be usable as a control room, live room, and conference room befitting the variety of operations that happen there on a daily basis.
Given that, Studio A had some unique monitoring needs to take into consideration from the onset. “The dual nature of it was intended from the beginning,” says Lévy-Lasne. “We wanted to be able to work at the highest quality production levels, while also being able to host seminars without any compromise. It was definitely a challenge to find a monitoring solution that could speak to all of that, while also offering a sound that would be inspiring to the engineers and producers that come from around the world to make music here.”
Lévy-Lasne and Le Guil recalled their experiences of touring noted American recording studios such as Electric Lady Studios and Jungle City that had inspired Rue Boyer. In addition to sharing the same studio designers, many of them had monitors designed by George Augspurger. Seeking that same classic sound but with the modern versatility, workmanship and precision that they required led them to Symphonic Acoustics.
“Symphonic Acoustics monitors were part of WSDG’s initial recommendations for the room,” Levy-Lasne explains. “We were very familiar with George Augspurger’s legacy and why his monitors are so well regarded. Knowing that Symphonic Acoustics is carrying on that legacy and pedigree in direct partnership with George made us very confident that this system would work perfectly for us.”
Symphonic Acoustics founder PK Pandey adds, “Collaborating with Mix with the Masters was so natural because they work with so many of the same engineers and producers that we do, Tchad Blake, Marcella Araica, Danja, Timbaland, Paul Epworth and countless others. There was a real opportunity to enhance what they wanted to accomplish with Rue Boyer and create a monitoring system that could cover all the bases of modern music creation and playback.”
The team utilized REDIacoustics NIRO process to determine the optimal loudspeaker compliment, locations, and listening position for Studio A. The final system consists of a pair of Symphonic Acoustics Dual 15V monitors, custom-designed 18-inch subwoofers and an array of multiple 12-inch subwoofers to adhere to the NIRO design. “Using NIRO in these room installations gives us an edge over other manufacturers because its iterative algorithms allow us to determine exactly what is needed with a level of precision and detail that simply wasn’t possible before,” Pandey notes. “You can have a complete detailed analysis of the room, granting necessary depth and insight to the monitor design.
“The Dual 15V’s are well-suited to the room because they can handle the versatility of material that will be made at Rue Boyer,” he continues. “They also benefit from our latest innovations in cabinet design, manufacturing processes, modern componentry & precision tuning which give them unparalleled performance.”
The combination of vibe and sound in the studio captured the desired feel while taking MWTM thoroughly into the future. “It was all about trying to combine the feel and quality of the old school with the best technology available,” Lévy-Lasne says. “We wanted the best quality environment for the studio, so we made no compromises when it came to the quality of materials and technology, we used to create it,” he said. “We found this was something we really had in common with Symphonic Acoustics — their commitment to the highest caliber of components, construction, and tuning made them the exact right choice for the studio. The fact that they are Genuine Augspurger designs is even better.”
