Project Description

Overview

Jota Quest is one of the most successful Brazilian pop rock bands.  The group began their career in Belo Horizonte (1995) and has performed throughout Brazil and various other countries around the world. With more than half a dozen albums and 3 hugely successful DVDs to their credit, JQ remains one of the Brazil’s top charting groups.

Their initial success enabled them to move from a small local studio and invest in a larger, in-house facility of their own.The studio was designed as a creative, comfortable environment where they could create their music on their own time, and also accommodate the recording projects of producers, and other artists in their circle of friends. WSDG was chosen to develop the architectural and acoustical design of the new facility, including all engineering requirements such as structural, electrical and air conditioning.

Program

The facility is divided in 4 distinct areas – The 2150 sq. ft. studio has753 sq.ft live room?, a 322 sq. ft. 5.1 Control Room, a 140 sq.ft. stereo Control Room with a spacious Iso Booth,  an equipment room and 2 sound locks. Outside the studio areas there is a lounge with a barbecue space, along with a renovated existing house for individual office spaces.

Architecture and Acoustics

To provide a flexible space for different recording applications, the Studio was equipped with variable acoustic panels, designed to mask the three large (reflective) windows, when the panels are opened, to enable the engineer to adjust the room acoustics to the desired time response required by the artists specific session.. The room also received a large custom diffuser wall that provides additional absorptive qualities when covered with a heavy velvet curtain.. Another creative solution was the installation of a parabolic shaped diffuser, suspended from the ceiling as a handsome acoustic cloud..

The 7 Adam Speakers (including 2x Sub24 subwoofers) are set in built-in acoustical panels. The equipment racks and speakers were precisely positioned and carefully adjusted for the best ergonomics and the ideal surround angle and distances to meet ITU standards and insure an ideal sound image for the mixing engineer.

Equipment

The facility is equipped with the latest ProTools HD3 system and numerous outboard processors, including SSL, Neve, Manley, and TC Electronics. The state-of-the-art also features an extensive selection of vintage microphones.