Designed in tandem with the acoustic architectural firm WSDG (Walters-Storyk Design Group) — which is famous for its acoustic work on recording studios and performances spaces worldwide, the new facility catapults Gimlet’s podcasting operations from a modest studio operation to a commercial-grade, custom-built space which promises to take its content to the next level — from both a quality and efficiency perspective.
For Gimlet Technical Director Austin Thompson, this is a realization of what Gimlet has always strived to achieve: “The mission here is to be the best in class in podcasting,” Thompson says. “So when we outgrew our previous facility, I knew we had to get the best people we could get our hands on to design our new home.”
World Class Podcasting in Brooklyn
The new Brooklyn facility features no less than 12 podcast studios, custom designed for different production needs, with each aligning to a consistent sonic signature. The studios fit together in a honeycomb fashion, maximizing the use of the available space while providing supreme comfort and an abundance of natural light. “Gimlet’s needs grew very quickly,” says WSDG Project Manager Romina Larregina, who spearheaded the design. “When they started they had 30 people, and now they have over 100. Therefore, they required a space that not only allowed them to keep growing but remain on the cutting edge of what they wanted to accomplish.”
Each studio is outfitted with top of the line microphones and recording equipment, and all of the sound is routed digitally through a customized Q-SYS Platform, designed specifically for Gimlet’s unique needs by Thompson and Matt Gajowniczek of Chicago-based integrator SPL. This provides podcast producers with the ability to work in rooms specifically designed for their needs, taking advantage of state-of-the-art technological advances in soundproofing, digital recording, mixing, and monitoring.
License to thrill
In addition to the specially designed podcast spaces, the production facility also boasts a traditional recording studio with additional soundproofing and a 375 square foot live room. The abundance of space allows ample room for unique needs – like Gimlet’s scripted fiction shows, while enabling in-house recording of music for their various podcasts. “Licensing music can get very expensive and good content is tough to find,” explains Thompson, “Having our own studio allows us to compose custom music at a larger scale.” Aside from efficiency and the embrace of a “self-op” approach to studio workflow, Thompson notes that the new technology allows producers to focus on telling great stories, while audio engineers focus on the creative sound design, mixing, and composition that takes the medium to the next level.
Gimlet’s new facility is a shining example of how podcasting has emerged into a mainstream media channel over the last two decades — a vast departure from its humble beginnings in the basements and garages around the U.S. With the new studios open since August and the recent coup of their podcast Homecoming being adapted to a television series on Amazon Prime, Gimlet has hit the ground running on new productions. “When you are able to work in a space like this, it’s hard not to get excited about what you are creating,” Thompson says.
For more information about Gimlet Media, please visit https://www.gimletmedia.com/
All photos credits to Cheryl Fleming Photography
