Project Description

Overview

A 4500 sq. foot, full-floor studio complex, Roc the Mic is highlighted by fully networked, spacious twin control rooms featuring SSL 9000 J and 4000 G+ consoles, plus a high-end Pro Tools production suite. All three rooms aim to set powerful new benchmarks in power and accuracy with custom Augspurger monitoring systems. Designed to meet Jay-Z’s standards for elegance, RTM is a study in 21st Century luxury and comfort. Centered on a massive communal lounge and flanked by private client areas, all ensconced in dark wood for a warm, rich environment, it quickly became one of the world’s hottest hip hop and R&B production studios. The WSDG team was committed to providing a great-sounding, extremely comfortable space totally conducive to a smooth workflow. WSDG principal architect/acoustician John Storyk has designed studios, for superstars ranging from Aerosmith to Alicia Keys’ “Roc the Mic co-owners Juan Perez and Jay-Z’s successful 40/40 Sports Club set the standard for their level of excellence here,” Storyk says. “It was clear from the first day that this studio had to pay equal attention to aesthetic and acoustics.” WSDG worked closely with Juan Perez to develop a design program focused on twin, creature-comfort-heavy, 500 sq. ft. control rooms. Custom ‘split-island’ producer desks and generous ‘hang space’ meet the rooms social requirements, while the oversized iso booths can accommodate sessions for vocals, horn, guitar, and drums.

Program

Supported by an extraordinary holistic technology package, wire management, and installation, overseen and coordinated by WSDG, Roc The Mic represents the ultimate creative environment for contemporary music production. The SSL 9080 J was procured from the Hit Factory’s Studio One, where it recorded hundreds of hit hip hop, R&B, rock and pop records. WSDG worked directly with George Augspurger to build and specify the main monitoring systems, the custom-fitted package consist of dual 15” drivers with horns per side, as well as dual 18” subs, all driven by thousands of watts of Bryston power and controlled by XTA digital speaker management.

Design

Roc the Mic’s J and G rooms, provide a speaker and sub combination that is accurate from 18 Hz – 20 kHz with SPL at 127 dB. Thanks to the meticulous tuning by WSDG’s Dirk Noy, these rooms deliver incredible impact and concussion: They are extremely loud, but balanced with deep bottom end and extreme accuracy throughout the frequency spectrum. These rooms deliver an amazing experience to producers, engineers and artists. Storyk and his team tapped their own deep experience to realize every aspect of Roc the Mic’s ambitious goals. “Site challenges such as low ceilings coupled with an extensive wish list for multiple lounges, fun spaces, absolute privacy, and an effortless flow between the G and J SSL rooms and the Pro Tools suites, all reflect the extended design and construction process,” Storyk concludes. . “4500 sq. feet sounds like a considerable chunk of NYC real estate, but we didn’t waste a square inch. Our goal was to meet every one of Jay-Z and Juan Perez’s requirements and to support them with world-class acoustics and technology. Roc The Mic is an aural as well as a visual showcase.”

Photo Credits

Cheryl Fleming Photography, NYC

Wes Bender Studio / NYC