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New York, NY<\/p>\n
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Project Closeup: Criterion Acoustics Designs a Dual-Purpose Studio for Human Worldwide<\/strong><\/p>\n In New York City, nobody wants to waste a single square foot. Music company Human Worldwide is getting the most out of composer\/founder Andy Bloch\u2019s studio, owing to an innovative two-rooms-in-one design by Criterion Acoustics (CA).<\/p>\n Human has established itself as a top player, writing original music and sound design for advertising, film, TV and interactive media, sporting a client list that includes Nike, Diet Coke, Google, Adidas, Delta Airlines and many more global brands. When Bloch\u2019s original studio was ravaged by a fire, he seized the opportunity to quicken his workflow by combining his control room and live room into one space.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re seeing more and more demand for multipurpose rooms \u2013 in this case, it\u2019s for composing and recording,\u201d says Dave Kotch, Co-founder of Criterion Acoustics. \u201cPeople do it because it saves on space, so it saves on cost. Also, music creators don\u2019t always need a live room. There are fewer live instruments being used in sessions, so combining a control room with a live room makes sense.\u201d<\/p>\n Bloch chose Criterion Acoustics to execute an upgrade in the sound, functionality and aesthetics of his Union Square facility, where he routinely records multiple live instruments, then has to execute a quick mix. \u201cWe had a live room and production room, but they never sounded good,\u201d Bloch says. \u201cIt became more of a hassle to go get a drum mic then to dial up a sample, so the live space became a storage room and a mess. After the fire I said, \u2018Let\u2019s do it right.\u2019 It was now or never.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a laptop-based virtual industry, but to have a live room and record real music is the way that I came up. It\u2019s a great asset, and you ultimately make better music in that kind of environment.\u201d<\/p>\n Making it Multipurpose<\/strong><\/p>\n Criterion Acoustics designed a comprehensive program for the studio, including full internal room acoustics, sound isolation from the existing rooms and mechanical noise control.<\/p>\n The project\u2019s major challenge was to make one side of the room suitable for recording, while the other would be highly accurate for mixing. \u201cFor any kind of live room, especially when you\u2019re recording drums, you want a reverberant room sound,\u201d explains Sam Neff, Co-Founder of Criterion Acoustics. \u201cWhereas in a critical listening environment, you want it to be flat so you can get an accurate mix.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t want a real live mix room with any reflections, because then everything you mix is going to end up sounding dead. We made it flat on the side he mixes on with acoustical absorbers, and put more reflective surfaces on the other side.\u201d<\/p>\n Criterion Acoustics was selective about the acoustical materials that were used, specifying hardwood floors, high-quality carpet, and maple wood treatments throughout \u2013 even in the ceiling clouds \u2014 to create natural reverb tones that would best represent the piano and drums.<\/p>\n The firm also mastered a tricky HVAC system at Human. \u201cThe HVAC is the coolest thing,\u201d says Bloch.\u00a0\u201c<\/strong>Criterion Acoustics came up with a great solution. It\u2019s very quiet and comfortable, with beautiful baffles that they designed.\u201d<\/p>\n Better Faster<\/strong><\/p>\n For Andy Bloch, his new room at Human provides everything he needs to turn around a national spot in as little as a few hours \u2013 and look sharp doing it.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re actually going to put up a mic and capture a performance, the room has to sound good, and the performer has to get something back from the room,\u201d he states. \u201cAnd clients love to hang out in these places \u2014 that\u2019s important to keep in mind when you\u2019re creating a live room and acoustic environment.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you make music for advertising media, we don\u2019t have the luxury of sitting around for weeks and months, fine-tuning. Our tracks have to sound as good as records, and it has to happen immediately. A studio like this gives you an edge.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014 CA<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”35px|35px|35px|35px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n