Evergreen Studios Transforms Dolby Atmos Dub Stage with ASG
For creators looking to produce high-quality, immersive audio content, Evergreen Studios and campus in Burbank, California stands out as a top choice. Originally opened in 1940 as The Magnolia Theatre, the building was transformed into Evergreen Studios in 1979. Known as a premier recording environment, it has hosted legendary artists like Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney, and Pink, as well as iconic film and TV projects including The Blues Brothers, Friends, among others.
Today, it is known for its rich history in the entertainment industry, blending its notable legacy with cutting-edge technology. It has recently been revitalized under the stewardship of Harvey Mason, Jr., an accomplished record producer, songwriter, and CEO of the Recording Academy with a vision to create a hub of music, creativity, and entertainment. Evergreen Studios has evolved into a campus with a 3,000-square-foot scoring stage/live room, multiple studios, mix rooms, writing rooms, editing suites/post-production rooms, a theater, and a TV/Film dub stage.
Enhancing the Immersive Experience
The existing Evergreen Studios Dolby Atmos stage included a single-operator console that was not sufficient for the increased demand and the complexity of larger projects. Evergreen Studios was looking to expand the functionality of its Dolby Atmos mix stage to cater to a broader range of projects and attract more clientele in its Atmos space. The goal was to enhance the room’s capacity to handle larger format work and offer a wider array of Dolby HE (Home Entertainment) and pre-dub stage services, especially for television and home entertainment productions. The expanded room can now support any format from stereo to Dolby Atmos.
“The Dolby Atmos stage is a versatile space for a wide range of projects, designed to support both music and audio post-production. We wanted to support the most recent standards, offer a greater immersive and natural sound environment, and continue to provide cutting-edge audio production facilities for our clients,” said Laurence.
An upgraded system would ensure that Evergreen Studio’s dub stage could handle the increasing demand for creative flexibility, including compatibility with new content delivery standards and technological advancements.
A Systems Integrator’s Approach
The project unfolded in three main phases of design and consultation, installation, and commissioning.
“At the start of every project, we begin by aligning with the client’s team and ascertaining their goals and current workflow challenges. We like to approach each project as a partnership. We have found end user involvement is key to a successful outcome. This approach, keeping in mind budget constraints and timelines, best supports our client’s success,” explained Gadget Hopkins of ASG.
What resulted was converting the Avid S6 single-operator console into a dual-operator system to handle the more complex workflows. By moving to this expanded configuration, the room’s capacity is now suitable for a larger client base and more complex projects. The ASG audio team (a Dolby-certified partner) also completely redesigned and rewired the machine room to integrate both new and existing equipment to support a wider workflow.
“Audio standards continue to evolve, and by scaling Evergreen Studio’s dubbing stage to a dual operator setup, its facility can now accommodate larger, more complex productions. Clients and collaborators can work together during the process. Engineers can work simultaneously on the mix for different aspects like dialogue, sound effects, and music. It meets all the requirements set by Dolby for Atmos mixing providing confidence to clients that the studio can deliver Atmos content to industry deliverable standards,” continued Gadget.
A Transformation for Viewers and Listeners
“We feel like we have a pretty special space here at Evergreen Studios, uniquely designed for creating and mastering sound in Dolby Atmos’ advanced surround sound technology. The room’s transformation offers our clients even more tools to enhance the realism of their content to deliver an emotionally engaging experience for viewers and listeners,” said Laurence. “Gadget and the ASG audio team just got it. They’re professional, on time, with a great attitude. They’re so easy to work with. And most importantly, they listen.”
The success of the Dolby Atmos upgrade reflects ASG’s commitment to meeting Evergreen Studio’s needs with innovative, competitively priced solutions that enhance their service offerings. ASG’s expertise in audio and studio design ensured that the technical infrastructure aligned with Evergreen Studio’s creative and operational goals – providing next-level sound mixing capabilities that allow sound engineers to craft highly detailed immersive audio experiences for audiences.
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