Soularity Sound, Texas


The Opportunity

Based in Austin, Texas, Soularity Sound provides post-production audio services for film, television, streaming, commercials and web content in their local market as well as internationally. In addition to sound editing and sound design, Soularity Sound’s services include Foley, ADR, voiceover, mixing and production sound. Recognizing the growing industry trend of adopting the Dolby Atmos immersive audio format, Soularity Sound and its owner and creative director, Korey Pereira, needed to upgrade their studio with an immersive audio system that is equipped for creating Dolby Atmos content, built for the future of post-production and delivers high-quality results that translate to cinemas, home theatres and consumer devices.

The Solution

Previously using a 5.1 surround sound monitoring system, Soularity Sound and Pereira upgraded their studio with a sophisticated Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 three-dimensional, immersive audio setup featuring JBL 7 Series monitors, a JBL Intonato 24 monitor management and turning system and Crown amplification.

Creating a 7.1.4 three-dimsensional audio enviornment, the sysem builds on the traditional 7.1 surround-sound configuration—seven loudspeakers and one subwoofer—by adding four ceiling-mounted speakers, which add the height dimension necessary for Dolby Atmos. For the left, center and right channels, Pereira selected JBL 708P eight-inch powered monitors, which employ JBL’s patent-pending Image Control Waveguide technology to deliver detailed, uncolored response on- and off-axis. For the surround and overhead channels, Pereira chose JBL 705i five-inch passive monitors powered by a network-connected Crown DCi 8|300N amplifier. Featuring the same driver technologies and Image Control Waveguide as the 708P, the 705i provides full-range surround sound for Dolby Atmos while streamlining installation with a passive design and multiple mounting brackets. Finally, to provide ample low-frequency power for the system, Pereira installed a JBL ASB6115 high-power 15-inch subwoofer powered by a Crown CDi 2000 amplifier.

To control the 7.1.4 system, Soularity Sound relies on the JBL Intonato 24 and Intonato 24 Desktop Controller. Featuring 24 inputs and outputs, Intonato 24 provides easy setup, automated calibration and comprehensive control of professional multichannel monitoring systems, while the desktop controller allows Pereira to seamlessly control monitor levels, switch scenes, edit profiles and more.

In addition to equipping Soularity Sound with the tools to create Dolby Atmos content and keep up with industry trends and demands, the HARMAN Professional Solutions immersive audio system delivers trustworthy results that translate well to entertainment environments of all shapes and sizes.

The Impact

“Seeing the traction that Dolby has had on the consumer market was one of the big factors that pushed me into the decision,” said Pereira. “Now that iPhones, soundbars, Apple TVs and other devices are natively supporting Atmos, it seems like it’s definitely going to stick around. Especially with Netflix more or less adopting it as a native format, I expect to see more and more spec sheets asking for Atmos mixes. So for me, it kind of hit a tipping point where the technology seemed like it was going to be the industry leader, and more and more people are gravitating towards it in a way that made it worth jumping on board.”

“A number of larger dub stages, at least in the Austin market, use JBL speakers,” said Pereira. “So I like that what I hear on my speakers translates incredibly well in a larger room on JBL cinema speakers. Part of it comes down to reputation, as well. I’m a longtime JBL user and when I upgraded from stereo to 5.1, I ended up going with JBL. So for me, it was a logical progression. The 7 Series definitely stood out to me as the best product on the market right now for doing immersive media, especially for home theater.”

“One of the really nice things about going with the Intonato, as far as tuning and monitor controlling, is that I have the ability within a scene to toggle the bass management on and off,” added Pereira. “With Atmos being specified for full-range surrounds and overheads, I have a mode where I can run a full-range signal to the 705i and still get that approximation of lower frequencies coming from the surrounds. And with the desktop controller for the Intonato, I can toggle that on and off easily.”

“I’ve always had a really positive experience with JBL and HARMAN products,” Pereira concluded. “I think they have a reputation that precedes them. They make products that other professionals use, that you know are going to be up to a certain standard, and are also going to be compatible with each other. It all comes back to the idea that I can mix here and then go to a bigger dub stage, and if they’re both using JBL, I know they’re going to sound very similar, and also translate to the rest of the world.”

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