ABBA's Benny Andersson Studio Revamped with Pro Tools
The iconic Skeppsholmen studio is a unique hub of creativity and innovation. Benny Andersson and Bernard Löhr have worked together here since the 90s. The studio is also used by a number of external clients.
ABBA legend Benny Andersson is a composer and musician who needs no introduction. He has left his mark on the history of music, and also created a unique place for creativity in the heart of Stockholm - his own studio on Skeppsholmen. In a building of cultural and historical significance, Benny and his engineer, mixer Bernard Löhr, have been creating musical masterpieces since the 1990s. In recent years, the studio has undergone a thorough renovation and upgrade from an analogue studio to a Dolby Atmos room for immersive audio work with Pro Tools.
The Voyage Album as a Starting Point for the Renovation
As ABBA prepared to release their long-awaited Voyage album in 2021, Benny Andersson faced a new and exciting challenge. Universal Music and Apple Music demanded that the album would be mixed in the immersive Dolby Atmos format. This required an extensive renovation of the entire Skeppsholmen studio.
The culturally significant studio building is owned by the Swedish state, which meant that the renovation required careful planning and execution. The renovation project was extensive - for example, the original studio was moved from downstairs to upstairs. "The studio is now much smaller than before, but way more cosy," says Bernard Löhr.
Bernard has been Benny Andersson's engineer since the early 90s. He records and mixes all of Benny’s projects.
The Tech Behind Dolby Atmos Mixing: Avid S6 & MTRX
In an industry where technology rapidly evolves, the tools used in music production must not only keep pace but anticipate future trends. At the heart of Skeppsholmen's studio transformation lies a commitment to harnessing the latest in audio technology—ensuring Benny Andersson’s facility remains at the cutting edge of sound innovation. This commitment is embodied in the adoption of the Avid S6 control surface and MTRX Studio, which are pivotal in the studio's transition from analog to immersive Dolby Atmos audio.
Avid S6
The original studio, equipped with an analog mixing console, could no longer meet the demands of modern mixing, particularly the need for rapid transitions between multiple projects throughout the day. Analog setups require extensive manual adjustments for each new session, significantly slowing down the workflow. In response, Benny Andersson's studio upgraded to the Avid S6 control surface, which features 32 faders and the ability to recall session data and plugin settings without the cumbersome recalibrations required by analog systems from one session to another. This setup helped facilitate a more efficient and flexible workflow for Benny and Bernard, enabling them to focus more on the creative aspects of their projects, enhancing productivity and reducing setup time.
"The Avid S6 control surface is the right size and easy to use. For example, we can access all the reverbs in a way that suits Benny." says Bernard.
Avid MTRX
Bernard says he still prefers Avid Pro Tools | HDX because of its low latency, but the audio interface was upgraded to an Avid Pro Tools | MTRX Studio, which supports Dolby Atmos monitoring, as well as allowing versatile processing of the speaker alignment and bass management. MTRX Studio is controlled directly from the Avid S6 surface, providing a seamless workflow. To add more inputs and outputs, the MTRX Studio was further extended with an Avid Pro Tools | Carbon PRE audio production hybrid system.
For an impressive sound experience, Genelec 7.2.4 “The Ones” speakers with two subwoofers were selected for the studio. This speaker set-up provides excellent sound for the entire Dolby Atmos system.
"The Dolby Atmos format sounds great - not just to me, but also to Benny and our external customers. We have already been able to use Dolby Atmos successfully in a number of projects", Bernard adds.
Bernard Löhr says he is very happy with the new control surface. "The best thing about Avid Pro Tools S6 is its flexibility," he says.
Optimizing Dolby Atmos: External RMU Integration
To lighten the load of heavy Dolby Atmos mixes, the studio also uses an external Dolby Atmos RMU. This device lightens the Pro Tools machine's processor and ensures smooth and efficient sound production.
Integration of the Composition System into Pro Tools
The Synclavier synthesiser is an important part of Benny's compositional and creative process. It is integrated directly from the composition room downstairs into the Pro Tools system upstairs. The integration allows for a seamless transition from composing to mixing, and allows Benny to work with his team to realise his musical vision to the best of his ability.
Sound Experiences far Into the Future
The renovation of the studio started in spring 2022 and continued until almost the turn of the year. The technical installation was completed at the end of 2022 and the new studio was opened in spring of 2023.
Benny Andersson's studio in Skeppsholmen has undergone an impressive transformation into a state-of-the-art studio offering unrivalled audio experiences in Dolby Atmos. With the latest technology and precision engineering, the studio will remain a center of musical innovation and creativity well into the future.
msonic Oy is a DOLBY CERTIFIED SERVICE PARTNER in Finland and Sweden. Dolby has authorised msonic to market, consult and support Dolby Atmos studios. msonic provides official Dolby Atmos calibration, design of Atmos studios, as well as consulting and sales of the necessary equipment.