Soho-based sound design and audio facility Factory has expanded its offering to incorporate two new audio studios, including one of the first Dolby Atmos certified mix rooms for commercials and trailers. Acoustic consultancy White Mark handled the design of both rooms.
Established in 1997, Factory Family Group offers audio and visual production services to the film, television, radio, advertising and music industries. The Group comprises four divisions: Factory, which offers sound design and audio facilities; Siren, which offers music composition and supervision; Texture, handling design and video production, and Honey, which provides voice production and audio project management services.
“When we began planning our new studios, we initially thought that Texture would have to move to alternative premises,” explained Ben Firth, Factory’s head of technical support and sound engineer. “However, we discovered that the lease on the premises next to ours was available so we acquired it. This allowed us to expand whilst keeping Texture onsite. Our fourth floor now extends across two buildings – our original premises in Margaret Street and the new space in Great Portland Street.”
The studio that was originally on the fourth floor of Margaret Street has been refurbished into a much bigger space and renamed Studio 5. It is designed for 5.1 Surround Sound projects and incorporates a new live room. On the same floor, White Mark has designed Factory’s new Dolby Atmos Certified Studio 4.
“Since Dolby Atmos was premiered back in 2012, we have seen growing demand for the format in cinema theatres around the world,” Firth says. “It is rapidly becoming the standard mixing format for all major film releases and more cinemas are embracing the technology.”
“As sound design specialists, we have kept in touch with the capabilities of the technology, and by expanding our services to offer Dolby Atmos mixing, we continue to provide our clients with first class facilities working across all audio formats.” Firth says. “We have already won numerous awards for commercials mixed in 5.1 surround, so the fact that we can now offer mixes in Dolby Atmos, takes surround mixing at Factory to the next level. As well as offering expanded services to our existing clients, both of our new rooms will allow us to focus more on short films, feature films, trailers and television projects that are increasingly embracing Dolby technology.”
