Windmill Lane Pictures, a creative production hub in Dublin, Ireland that specializes in commercials, film, televisions and animation, recently opted for a studio and equipment upgrade that includes new consoles integrated in two mixing rooms designed to support post-production services and a Genelec 7.1.4 monitoring system for Dolby Atmos immersive mixing.
At the forefront of Windmill’s audio department is Mick Creedon, an engineer with more than 25 years of experience who has been instrumental in the company’s success, who explains, “We began fielding inquiries about immersive audio capabilities. Previously, when clients inquired about mixing audio in Atmos, we had to reluctantly decline. Now, with this setup, we’re fully equipped to meet all the needs of clients and streamers alike.”
Windmill moved to its current building in 2009, engaging the services of White Mark to design and build three Genelec-equipped 5.1 audio post-production studios, with local Genelec distributor Big Bear Sound supplying, installing and commissioning the monitoring systems. Studios One and Two were similar in size, both with VO booths, complemented by the slightly smaller Studio Three. Since then, the facility has expanded to include five post studios, five edit suites, two presentation rooms and a grading deploying more than 55 Genelec monitors.
When Windmill decided to upgrade Studio One from 5.1 to Dolby Atmos, it also took the opportunity to standardize the facilities in all five audio post studios, enabling a smoother transition for engineers moving between rooms. Studio One’s transformation involved significant changes, including a complete re-wire of the AV cable infrastructure, modification to the existing studio furniture and the replacement of the acoustic fabric. These efforts were supported by Big Bear which played a role in the installation and commissioning of the rooms. “It wasn’t an easy job transforming our studios, but the results really do speak for themselves,” Creedon confirms.
Studio One’s newly upgraded immersive system comprises the original 1038B three-way monitors in the LCR positions, with an additional two 8050A two-way models supplementing the original pair of 8050As in the side and rear positions. Four new 8030C compact two-way models have been deployed for the overhead channels, with low frequencies handled by the room’s original 7073A subwoofer.
Creedon describes the challenges of addressing each element of the studio: “A lot of hard work is needed to blend and mold everything together, and it can take a bit of trial and error – but that’s all part of the job. You’re always striving to get the best possible sound – and the accuracy and detail of Genelec monitoring helps us achieve that.
“If there are noises, clicks, or background sounds, we can easily clean them up with our plugins and tools. Genelec’s like having a built-in perfectionist, always nudging us to make things sound just right and when the final product leaves the room, you know it’s going to sound spot on.”
