Sydney’s Forbes Street Studios introduces Dolby Atmos

Forbes Street Studios (FSS) has introduced Dolby Atmos/spatial mixing capabilities as part of its suite of assets.

Located in the heart of Sydney in Woolloomooloo, FSS is part of a global network of recording studios owned by Universal Music Group.

The others include Abbey Road Studios in London, Capitol Studios housed within Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood, and the Interscope Recording Studio in Santa Monica.

FSS studio manager, Anthony Garvin, said the system is ready to take bookings and “sonically light up the ears of music lovers”.

“The investment in Dolby Atmos further establishes our commitment to delivering a truly comprehensive audio experience for musicians, producers, creators and fans.

“We’re excited to offer Dolby Atmos to the local music industry as well as visiting international musicians.”

Infinitely more immersive, Dolby Atmos takes sound and listening to a next-level experience for music fans.

Artists and producers can create three-dimensional soundscapes in an object-based mixing environment, allowing them to fill the room with instruments and vocals; lifting songs with space, clarity and depth as never before.

The set up accommodates mixes for new releases, catalogue or listening sessions of mixes recorded elsewhere for approvals.

FSS also has a selection of Apple, Sonos and Amazon products in house for anyone curious to hear Atmos on a range of devices.

Ocean Alley were one of the first scheduled to mix in Atmos at FFS.

Producer and mixer Callum Howell said it’s an exciting format to work in.

“Its ability to translate to so many different playback systems, as well as headphones, gives it far greater longevity than previous surround formats.

“Atmos allows me to create incredibly immersive mixes that literally hug the listener and I’m really enjoying trying new things and experimenting with the possibilities.”

Atmos Studio close up

FSS opened in October 2016, with Shawn Mendes performing an intimate Nova Red Room session at the studio.

Andre Rieu was scheduled to drop by during his Australian tour to officially open the room for classical opportunities.

Elton John came in January 2020 to record the vocals for a duet with Lady Gaga, engineered by Nick Rowse in Studio One, and assisted by James Raper.

The result, ‘Sine From Above’, was released on her album Chromatica.

Michael Franti visited the studio to talk to local kids from the Musicians Making A Difference charity about changes to their communities.

Gregory Porter performed an acoustic session there.

Others using its facilities have included Keith Urban, Dean Lewis, Flume, Briggs, G-Flip, Tove Lo, Flight Facilities, Masked Wolf and Chillinit.

FSS was designed by sonic architect and studio designer Michael Fronzek (Sound Spaces) to offer state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge technology, and now Dolby Atmos capabilities.

Wanting a low ceiling, Fronzek didn’t want to use a second slab.

He ended up floating a timber floor on pad, with a layer of kiln-dried sand to help maximise the isolation and dampen the slab down to minimise any low-frequency resonances from the carpark and tunnel below the building.

As well as the SSL Room, there’s the 45-square metre Live Room, the inspiration-ready Writing Room, the video-savvy Edit Suite, and the broadcast-friendly Interview Room.