Headstart Records relies on WSDG acoustic design

This renowned Austrian classical music producer has transformed one of its rooms with the help of the acoustic consultancy WSDG, for optimal and reliable recording.

The acoustics and multimedia systems engineering consultancy WSDG has completed a complex project to Headstart Records, a major classical music producer, based in Vienna, through whose studies the Philharmonic of this city or the Chamber Orchestra of Europe have passed, among many others.

As its founders explain, Benedict David e I'm Nikolow, “There are many different formations in terms of genres and instrumentation in our field, y music only truly comes to life in proper acoustics. That's why we take our recording equipment to places that perfectly suit the ensemble and its musical vision., whether it's a concert hall, a church or a theater and, of course, without compromising technical quality”.

David and Nikolow's workflow is intricate and demanding. One day of recording requires several days of post-production, which implies a edition, mixing and mastering meticulous. For this work “we needed a control room that we could really trust, since what we hear as a reference is what the record company publishes at the end of the process”.

Meeting these requirements requires both a excellent acoustics as well as an optimal and reliable speaker configuration. Unlike hi-fi equipment, who usually prioritize a pleasant sound, reference monitors must offer precision, uncompromising neutrality and detail.

In this sense, los modelos A25-M of PSI Audio have proven to be suitable, since they reproduce effortlessly sound sources of any scale, from solo instruments to large symphony orchestras.

“The stereo image and spatial depth are extraordinarily three-dimensional, with great clarity and realism - adds David -. What stood out the most was the fatigue-free listening experience they offered.. Even during long sessions, “We are able to stay fully focused and make critical decisions with confidence”.

When they were looking for the perfect acoustic solution, Headstart Records turned to WSDG, a company they knew for their designs and consulting in other studios in Vienna, Although this project presented unique challenges.

Located in a residential apartment, the room required a specialized acoustic treatment that would maintain the structural conditions of the historic building. “We needed a comfortable space from an acoustic and aesthetic point of view”, explica Nikolow.

The WSDG team based in Vienna, formed by Dirk Noy, partner and general director for Europe; Gabriel Hauser, partner and director of acoustics; Collin Killenberger, project engineer, y Mario Reithofer, business development, approached the project with precision and creativity.

“From the first meeting with WSDG, we had the feeling that they really understood what we do and what we need for our work. This is always important from the customer's point of view, because the moment you commission a company to plan your control room, you don't know what the result will be. The trust we created from the beginning reassured us and formed the basis of a constructive process”, remember david.

The studio has warm materials, con wooden diffusers on walls that are both acoustically functional and visually attractive. one second floating roof reduces first order sound reflections, while behind walls and diffusers, both in front and behind the mixing console, they hide clever storage solutions.

This is how David explains it: “we had to store a lot of equipment and documents; That was perhaps the most difficult aspect.: making the acoustic treatment effective and beautiful and, at the same time, have a lot of storage space integrated into the design and that acoustics had to be the priority”.

Acoustic treatment focuses on critical listening parameters for classical music production, providing precise spatial evaluation of the soundstage and exact depth placement of sound sources, key requirements for David and Nikolow's work.

The transformation has been spectacular. “The improvement has been much greater than we expected,” they say.. The spatial sound reproduction It is now much more detailed. Now I can detect elements that I didn't notice before. The reaction of the artists has been very positive”.