Taking The High Road To Glasgow’s Blazing Griffin

A BAFTA-winning games, post-production, film and TV production facility based in Glasgow has installed an Alcons pro ribbon system for its high-end film mixing room; the first Alcons mix room in Scotland and also the first installation of an Alcons CRMSC Compact Cinema Reference Monitor System in the United Kingdom.

Established in 2015, Blazing Griffin has brought together an array of talented sound and picture creatives, quickly becoming a major UK post-production house. The company added a 5.1 / 7.1.4 (Dolby Atmos) film mixing room, built to Dolby Features specification, and so needed a truly state-of-the-art loudspeaker system.
“The room was designed to accommodate theatrical film mixing as well as HETV drama and feature doc work, and sonically had to translate well to both commercial cinemas and home systems. Working closely with Dolby throughout the process, the installation had to hit specific requirements in terms of loudness and intelligibility, and naturally we wanted the best sounding system available to us,” says Paul Martin, Blazing Griffin’s Technical Operations Manager.

“We were aware that Alcons pro-ribbon systems are a go-to for higher end facilities and had known Laurence Claydon of consultancy and design service Mill Road Technology for many years. We trust his ears and were happy to listen to his vast experience and recommendations on the subject.”

“The reaction has been brilliant and the room sounds fantastic.(…), we’re now confident that the system can take on any project, no matter how technically or creatively challenging.”, Paul Martin,  Technical Operations Manager.

Despite briefly looking at other systems, Alcons was the only real choice for the audio quality that Blazing Griffin needed. The chosen system comprised three Alcons CRMSCompact three-way, 12″ compact cinema reference monitor system, 16 CRMSC-SRHV/90 two-way, 6.5″ compact horizontal/vertical reference surround and two CB211slFV 21” larger-format shallow subwoofer system, powered and controlled by three Sentinel3 amplified loudspeaker controllers.

The CRMSCompact Cinema Reference Monitor System is the ideal choice for high-end mix/screening rooms, post-production facilities, dubbing stages and quality-conscious home cinemas with a room depth less than 10 metres / 30 feet. Offering the most natural Digital Cinema and HD audio sound reproduction possible, it’s complemented by the CRMSC-SRHV, which is designed as a matching (height layer) surround system, utilising identical mid/high frequency components to perfectly match the voicing between screen and surround systems

Both systems feature the patented RBN202 pro-ribbon driver, which has up to 90% less distortion than any conventional mid/high transducer. Combining remarkable clarity and intelligibility with unusually high-headroom SPL and exceptional dynamic range, the system delivers an exceptionally wide and uniform sound stage throughout the entire listening area.

One challenge was the very tight timescale for the project, there only being three months between the start of construction of the new room and the deadline for its completion.
“We hadn’t installed Alcons products before, but it was a very straightforward, seamless process,” says Paul. “Laurence commissioned the system and it was ready just in time for the handover date.”

Laurence Claydon: “At Mill Road Technology we’re delighted that Blazing Griffin have chosen to join an increasing number of mixing facilities whose talent and clients are discovering the benefits of working on Alcons Pro Ribbon against traditional monitoring solutions. We receive consistent feedback that Alcons allows you to hear further into the mix and work more efficiently in making creative decisions”

The reaction to the new facility has been very positive, with the room, as Paul says, “solidly booked ever since.” He continues, “The reaction has been brilliant and the room sounds fantastic. We’re now working on the biggest shows we’ve ever done in that room, like The Tattooist of Auschwitz for Sky. After a period of bedding in, we’re now confident that the system can take on any project, no matter how technically or creatively challenging.”

For more information, visit www.blazinggriffin.com.

• Share
• Tweet
• Share
• WhatsApp
• E-mail