The evolution of Blackbird Studio C

Abstract

Starting in 2002 John and Martina McBride set out to create several small rooms, each one unique in design and technology. George Massenburg (GM) was asked to coordinate the design of one of the rooms and given the mandate to make it the most advanced room imaginable. GM specified that the room should offer an accurate monitoring environment for more than one listener, a reasonable presentation of how materials will sound in multiple circumstances outside of the space, a flexible environment that doesn’t compromise musical and artistic contexts, an accurate representation of virtual sources (sources spread across one or more loudspeakers) to more than one listener, a room with linear, supportive ambience, which as much as possible, has near-equal decay rates across as much of the frequency spectrum as possible. In June 2004, GM contacted Peter D’Antonio with a proposal to collaborate on a new surround music monitoring/control/recording room, which became Studio C. The resulting diffusor design covering all four walls and ceiling, with corner bass absorption, will be presented. Since opening the room has been used successfully and has recently installed a Dolby Atmos system. The presentation will also present user perceptions from 2005 to the present.