When Manolito Galea (aka Lito) set out to build his dream studio, he was thinking years ahead. Fast forward to today, Lito’s Place has officially become Malta’s first Dolby Atmos Music Studio.
With a 7.1.4 setup built around Audient’s ORIA audio interface & monitor controller, and a clear vision for immersive audio, Manolito is pushing boundaries and redefining what’s possible in his corner of the world.
With 35 years in the audio industry and a tireless work ethic, he has everything he needs to create the perfect setup.
We were keen to hear about his first foray into immersive mixing and find out how his workflow has evolved – and more about his future plans. Fortunately, he was happy to share.
Over to you, Manolito…
Three Years. One Dream. And a Whole New Dimension of Sound
Three years ago, I finished building Lito’s Place – a project that came to life during COVID. Two years later, I set my sights on creating an Atmos setup, and now it’s finally a reality!
Housed in a separate room from my control room, the system runs in a 7.1.4 configuration, with the flexibility to upgrade to 9.1.6 when the time’s right. When the Audient ORIA launched, I ordered it straight away. It actually sat boxed in my studio for about a year, waiting for the right moment in the Atmos build. Once I finally set it up, I was blown away. The integration with Sonarworks has been seamless, and I’m really pleased with the overall performance. It just fits perfectly into my workflow.
Sounds Great
For monitors, I went with EVE Audio Berlin, choosing specific sizes to match the room and my needs. I also designed a custom cable management system and installed speaker grids throughout the space for a clean, efficient setup. The room itself is fully treated with Artnovion acoustic panels, which really help bring everything together sonically.
Right now, I’m really focused on diving deeper into immersive mixing. I’ve been spending time learning, experimenting and refining my approach. At the same time, I’m researching new hardware, controllers, and plugins to improve my workflow and make the mixing process more efficient and intuitive. It’s all about building a setup that supports creativity while keeping everything flexible and future-proof.
Surround Mixing At Lito’s Place
Starting this October, I’m offering Dolby Atmos mixing services to my clients. I’ll also be doing in-person demonstrations at Lito’s Place, so clients can experience the system firsthand. It’s a great way for them to understand the full potential of immersive audio and get a clear vision of this whole new dimension of sound.
Finally, I’d like to thank the teams at Audient, EVE Audio, and Dolby UK for their incredible support throughout this journey. This truly feels like the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Lito’s Place. I’m especially proud to say that this is the first Dolby Atmos Music Studio on the island of Malta – something that means a lot to me – both personally and professionally.
Audient is proud to be part of it! We wish you every success.
