Pioneer Club renews its facilities with Genelec audio

This emblematic venue in the United Kingdom has an advanced immersive monitoring system Genelec 7.1.4, built around The Ones family of three-way coaxial monitors.

He Pioneer Club has long been a cornerstone of the cultural fabric of St. Albans. Originally founded as a charity in 1941 to support young people evacuated during World War II, quickly became a local beacon for the arts, with notable bands of the years 60 like The Zombies and Argent performing at the venue.

Nowadays, stands as the skate park oldest indoor venue in the UK and has hosted the first performances by modern music icons such as Enter Shikari and Gallows.

The Pioneer needed a contemporary renovation to ensure its relevance for future generations, and this is where Genelec's partnership with Headliner made the difference.

A collaboration between Headliner Spaces and Enter Shikari brought the club into the 21st century, with a Dolby Atmos studio as a central element. It was not just a technical improvement, but a declaration of commitment to the next wave of aspiring musicians, engineers and producers. Headliner contacted Genelec, whose dedication to sustainability, community and educational initiatives aligned with project objectives.

Genelec responded by proposing an advanced immersive monitoring 7.1.4 built around The Ones family of three-way coaxial monitors.

The system includes three 8351Bs paired with W371A woofer systems for L/C/R positions, complemented with 8341A and 8331A monitors additional surround and overhead channels, respectively. Low-end performance is complemented by a subwoofer 7380A, and the entire system has been configured and calibrated using Genelec GLM software.

This system ensures the studio delivers the pristine, immersive sound needed for Dolby Atmos productions., which allows everything, from music mixing to post-production and live recordings.

The renovated studio is proving to be more than a space for professionals; It is a resource for the entire community.. The Pioneer Club has always aimed to contribute to the community, and new Dolby Atmos facilities expand its potential to do just that. With an emphasis on accessibility and education, the studio is prepared to host workshops, masterclasses and recording sessions for young and aspiring artists in the area, helping them learn the trade.

“The new facility not only preserves the legacy of this legendary venue, but also improves your future, bringing cutting-edge technology to the local community and fostering the next generation of musicians and producers. It is exciting to be part of a project that aligns so closely with our values ​​of supporting education, culture and innovation in music”, explica Andy Bensley, Genelec regional business development director.

In addition to the usual use of the study, Future plans include launching two academies: one music for children ages five and up and another professional for students interested in careers in music production and professional audio. Both will use the Dolby Atmos studio as a central teaching tool, which will ensure that students not only acquire technical skills, but also gain practical experience in a professional environment.

Designed to be as versatile as possible, the Dante network integration in-studio allows for seamless live recording across the site's multiple performance spaces, enabling Dolby Atmos surround mixes of live events. This configuration makes The Pioneer a venue capable of hosting live concerts and capturing performances for future production work..