High Mountain Record Studios

Overview

In need of a dedicated project studio to support his growing recording artist client base and personal recording career, producer, engineer, drummer and recording artist, Lukas Gleich, reached out to the WSDG (Walters-Storyk Design Group) Switzerland office for help in designing and constructing a recording studio in a recently completed ground-up building which he acquired in the charming resort town of Erl, Austria. Initial meetings with WSDG Europe Principal, Dirk Noy, led to the development of a design program that would provide Gleich with a formidable state-of-the-art, Dolby Atmos-equipped studio geared for recording a wide range of popular, classical and remote music performances.

Program

Lukas Gleich was well-equipped to bring state-of-the-art recording to Erl, Austria.
One of the oldest villages in Austria’s Inntal Valley, Erl is widely celebrated for its extraordinary Tiroler Festspielhaus, an ultra-modern opera house. Famed for its dramatic, futuristic design, and for hosting the popular annual Festspiele (Winter) and Tyrol Music Festival (Summer), the Festspielhaus presents events featuring rich and varied programs of contemporary pop performances, chamber music concerts and operas.

Design

Having acquired the second floor of a two-story building with high ceilings, two exterior balconies, beautiful views to the surrounding mountains, and sufficient surface area, High Mountain Records consists of two sections: The Dolby Atmos-ready Studio A with a 50m² live room; and Studio B with a 20m² live room. Both are outfitted with geometrically identical control rooms of 33m². Control A features a custom designed “Ford Mustang tail light inspired” ceiling cloud. In keeping with the town of Erl’s deep history of music appreciation and its enviable reputation as an attraction to fine musicians, Lukas Gleich was committed to providing his clients with a world-class studio environment. WSDG maximized the utilization of available space to create flexible vocal and drum booths. Studio A is devoted to Gleich’s independent recording and mixing projects. Studio B is available for exclusive long and short-term “lockout” periods for third party clients. High Mountain’s lithe design program incorporates options for opening Studio B’s live room towards the C.R. to accommodate or broaden unique recording workflow possibilities. A Dante network expedites high-quality remote recording of live performances from the extraordinary Festspielhaus Concert Hall. Additional studio gear includes: an API 244832 Channel Console, and two ATCSCM-150PRO loudspeakers, each complemented with an ADAM SUB15 subwoofer.

The Atmos system is scheduled to go on-line in early 2024. The studio’s state-of-the-art outboard equipment and microphone collection will be available for review on the studio’s website shortly. WSDG’s superior innovative sound isolation design techniques were engaged to eliminate sound leakage between Live and Control Rooms throughout the complex and to prohibit exterior noise from encroaching within the building. High Mountain also offers complete video production and editing options for YouTube distribution. The immersive Dolby Atmos system clearly positions High Mountain Records as poised to provide a first tier recording option for virtually any musical format, be it rock, rap, soul, pop, classical or whatever new genre rises next from the bottomless mists of creative human artistry.

Photo credit: Dirk Noy — WSDG