Composer & music editor, Stephen Gallagher installed an ORIA in his studio last year, just in time to complete the score for the new anime feature, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.
It’s fair to say Stephen is fully on board when it comes to working in immersive audio, championing the arrival of Dolby Atmos which he says is “opening up a wealth of possibilities for composers.” You can hear more from Stephen talking about the storytelling potential of working in the spatial field in this video.
His studio is based in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, which despite being the third most populous urban area in the country, has a Native Bird ecosanctuary just out of the main city centre, just close to where Stephen lives. “My days and nights are threaded with native birdsong,” he says.
Audient was keen to find out more about Stephen’s setup so we started there..
My composing setup is fairly simple. I have computers, speakers, controller keyboards, my favourite synthesizers, microphones, guitars, guitar pedals, a large tea pot, an EVO 16 and now an Audient ORIA. Oh, and a cat named Cleo.
How long has ORIA been part of your setup?
I have had the ORIA since November last year. It has become an essential part of my studio. It integrated into my setup effortlessly.
“ORIA helps to streamline so much of the workflow”
How did you hear about ORIA?
Audient has had such a great reputation for many years. I remember clearly when my friend (and super composer) David Long purchased an ASP2802 when they first came out. I was very impressed with the sound and functions on that unit.
I didn’t end up getting my first Audient product until I was composing the score for The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim. Our music editor, Alana Janssen, purchased an EVO 16 for her rig. I was so knocked out by it that I went out and got one for my home setup. The ORIA came onto my radar around July last year when the reviews for the unit started to appear online in Sound On Sound and Production Expert.
Were you recording/mixing in immersive before ORIA? If so, how were you finding that?
I was mixing in immersive before I had an ORIA. I found the initial setups with other units to be a little more complex and involved. The ORIA helps to streamline so much of the workflow. It is very efficient. Very slick.
“I love the ORIA: sleek, elegant, efficient and economic“
What were your initial expectations of ORIA?
After reading the first stunning reviews of the ORIA online, my expectations were high. The hype was real.
How was the setting up process?
Shockingly (and welcomingly!) straightforward!
“The thought, design and execution that has gone into this machine is absolutely stunning”
How did it change your workflow?
ORIA introduces a simplified set up process, it allows me to effortlessly change between an immersive and a stereo monitoring profile with the monitoring app, the bundled Sonarworks software and mic mean that room / speaker calibration is a comparatively easy procedure.
How did you find the learning curve of working in immersive? Was it an easy transition?
I have to admit to still learning how to navigate in this environment. I am still on the curve. I am very excited about what the immersive expressive possibilities for music could be.
Does all your work tend to be released with an Atmos mix nowadays?
Ideally, yes. The market and audience for immersive listening certainly appears to be expanding.
What’s coming up next for you (that you can tell us about)?
I have just completed working on the score to an upcoming tv show called Secrets At Red Rocks. David Long and I wrote the score together. This was the first time that I have used the ORIA from start to finish on a project. I compose in Pro Tools and the unit seamlessly integrates with this software. I tracked all my parts and vocals through the ORIA’s lovely mic pres, I mixed my cues using the ORIA as the monitor controller.
Do you have any final thoughts you’d like to share about ORIA?
I love the ORIA: sleek, elegant, efficient and economic. The thought, design and execution that has gone into this machine is absolutely stunning.
