Outstanding Acoustics & Gear In An Exceptional Setting
SANTO DOMINGO: FAMA is a forward-thinking music company. A boutique record label with an emphasis on artist development from the ground up. Their main focus being the fostering of creative minds and talents across multiple genres and markets. One of the key pieces of their strategy involves a state-of-the-art recording complex available for creative retreats, songwriting camps, and all recording and mixing needs. To support this plan, they acquired a three-story luxury home in Santo Domingo’s historic, bohemian Colonial District. They then reached out to WSDG Latin for an acoustic and aesthetic studio design to meet their requirements.
“FAMA described their dream studio to us and WSDG Latin delivered,” says WSDG Partner/Project Manager, Sergio Molho. “They found a wonderful building with very sound bones and terrific views, and we helped them to create a showplace destination studio. Interestingly enough, their sister company owns a boutique hotel right next door to the studio, so there is every reason to expect it will attract an international clientele.”
Studio A on the first floor features spacious Control and Live Rooms, an ISO Booth, Sound Lock and, a charming outdoor patio for client breaks. The second floor offers two additional control rooms (B & C), a shared Live Room, ISO booth and CMR. The third floor is dedicated to a large apartment-like living room/kitchen/dining room client lounge with a panoramic view, and an expansive terrace with a shallow ‘ornamental’ pool.
WSDG Partner/Art Director Silvia Molho devised an inspired color and lighting scheme for the FAMA complex. Control Room A is distinguished by handsome perforated wood wall and ceiling treatments, a Rupert Neve console, ADAM SD3 stereo monitoring, an arsenal of outboard gear and views into the Live Room. Two Sound locks, one offering a unique custom-designed acoustic wooden wall, and a delightful patio complete the 1st floor configuration.
FAMA Studios Control Room B
On the second floor, Control Room B is outfitted with a SSL Duality 48 Console, ADAM and Focal speakers for 5.1 feature film audio mixing. The compact CR C, AVID-based project studio is equipped with Neumann Speakers. Both CR’s share the 2nd floor Live Room, which is graced by graduating, multi-color custom ‘ribbed’ acoustic wall and ceiling treatments created by Ms. Molho.
Second floor staircase leading to client lounge
A bold wooden staircase leads to the surprising third floor lounge. “FAMA understood the importance of complimenting flawless acoustics with an inspirational aesthetic environment to stimulate clients’ composing and performing creativity,” Ms. Molho says. To accomplish that goal she developed a vibrant color palette of tropical greens and sky & sea blues, She also suggested a ‘tunable’ LED lighting scheme be installed at key ceiling and floor points to provide colorful mood enhancements. WSDG engineer David Molho acoustically tuned all recording and production rooms.
“FAMA Studios is a true gem,” Sergio Molho concludes. “It is beautiful, outfitted with an impeccable array of world-class technology, and it is owned and operated by audio professionals committed to providing their clients with the best possible recording experience. WSDG is extremely proud to have contributed our skills to this remarkable studio.”
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ABOUT WSDG, LLC
For over 50 years, acoustic consulting and A/V integration firm WSDG has designed nearly 3,500 media production facilities worldwide and counting. Projects range from Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studio and Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, to broadcast facilities for The Food Network, CBS and WNET, over 20 teaching studios for The Art Institutes, and corporate clients such as Sony, IBM and Novartis. Recent credits include Jungle City in New York, The Church Studios in London, private studios for Green Day, Jay-Z, Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, Jack Antonoff, J Cole, Harry Connick Jr., and Academy Award-nominated film composer Carter Burwell. WSDG has collaborated with such noted architects as Frank Gehry, Philippe Stark, Rafael Viñoly, Santiago Calatrava, Grimshaw, and Norman Foster. An 11-time winner of the prestigious pro audio NAMM TEC Award for outstanding achievement in Acoustics/Facility Design, WSDG maintains U.S. offices in New York, Washington, DC, San Francisco and Miami and global offices in Barcelona, Basel, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Guangzhou, Mexico City and Mumbai.
