Studio veteran Chris Freels, head engineer, producer and co-owner of Edmond, Oklahoma’s The Music Group recording complex, recently chose to have Carl Tatz Design, TEC Award-winning studio design firm install a Dual version of its PhantomFocus monitoring system in the studio A control room. Utilizing Yamaha NS10 near-fields and Dynaudio AIR 25 mid-fields, the two sets of monitors share the same laser-optimized and tuned sweet spot.
“To be honest, we were a little skeptical as to whether or not we were going to hear much of a difference” was the general pre-installation consensus of the staff of this very busy and client-diverse facility.
Alongside Freels, staff includes producer/engineer/co-owner LG Hamilton, staff engineer and chief tech Bryce Zabric and studio manager Addie Rice.
Freels first experienced a PhantomFocus System (PFS) at Upstairs Productions in Oklahoma City (operated by Ted Curtis, who had invited him over for a listen); Freels quickly realized something was up. “The first time I listened to the PFS I felt like I was in a recording studio for the first time,” he remarks.
Once The Music Group installed their new Neve Genesys console, Freels knew it was time to bump up the monitoring.
“Now that The Music Group has its own Dual PFS, which includes the new PhantomFocus eChair, the songs that I’ve been listening to for 30 years feel like I’m listening to them for the first time. Listening to music is new and fresh again, and mixing music is easier than ever. I hear width and depth like never before, so getting a mix right is a much quicker process. I never want to work without the PFS – thanks Carl.”
