YRF Studios’ Dolby Atmos theatre equipped with all-Harman solution
Published: ASIA
INDIA: YRF (Yash Raj Films) Studios’ 116-seat film mixing theatre – the largest of its kind in Mumbai – was recently equipped with an all-Harman Professional sound reinforcement solution to complement its Dolby Atmos 3D multichannel audio processing technology.
YRF Studios features three sound stages, two recording theatres, a film mixing studio/theatre, dubbing, Foley and tracking suites, and a full complement of technical facilities and personal amenities.
The studio’s A/V equipment includes a JBL 6.1 surround sound loudspeaker system powered by Crown amplifiers, as well as a leading-edge digital projection system. JBL ScreenArray 4632 three-way bi-amplified loudspeakers were installed as the main front, centre and right speakers, complemented by 42 JBL 8340A and 8350 surround speakers. The 8340A and 8350 speakers are mounted along the sides and rear and from the ceiling, while four 4642A dual-18-inch subwoofers provide the low-frequency response. All speakers are driven by Crown DSi 4000, DSi 2000 and CTs2000 power amplifiers.
‘Sound and visuals are the two integral parts of cinema, that cannot be treated in isolation,’ said Anuj Mathur, chief Recording Engineer at YRF Studios. ‘Before we even broke ground on YRF Studios our mandate from Aditya Chopra was to build and equip it with the finest audio and video components available. We auditioned a number of products on the market and it was clear that Harman offered not only the best brands and best performance – they also provided the best customer and technical support. In fact, Ashish Barje, one of the Harman Professional engineers based in their Mumbai office, was a key collaborator in the design and installation of YRF Studios.’
‘At Dolby, it has been our constant endeavour to get the best cinematic experiences to the Indian audiences, and Harman has been an ideal partner in this ecosystem as it shares a common vision,’ added Pankaj Kedia, country manager, Dolby Laboratories India. ‘The association gave us an excellent opportunity to work with Harman equipping the renowned YRF Studios with Dolby Atmos.’
‘In order to deliver a truly immersive cinema experience, the audio soundtrack for a film has to be as compelling as the visuals,’ commented Prashant Govindan, director, India operations, Harman Professional. ‘It all starts in the production studio – the engineers need to have the right tools to know that what they’re hearing is accurate, and will be translated into what moviegoers will enjoy in the cinema. We are grateful that YRF Studios has recognised the superior performance of JBL and Crown in the highly critical application of film sound production, and that they have chosen these products as their sonic references.’