BENoît VinCenT Creates Studio "2.0"With ADAM S3X-H Monitors

BENoît VinCenT is a composer, sound designer and mixer for feature films, TV, commercials, documentaries as well as VR (virtual reality).

In his studio, called “2.0”,  he is using a 5.1 surround setup consisting of ADAM S3X-H and ADAM A7X as monitors plus the ADAM Sub12 as the subwoofer. He has worked with many prominent brands such as Hermès, Azzaro, Total, Fashion Week, L’Oréal, EDF, UNDP, arte and the International Rescue Committee:

“I was lucky enough to compose music for some very famous brands in the Fashion and Luxury Goods Sectors as well as for the larger companies like Total and EDF. I also collaborated with Warner Bros. At the present time I am working on one of my first full-length feature films which is 100% produced and realized in VR. This matter is a real challenge because everything had to be built from scratch. It was necessary to completely re-think the audio component in order for one to be completely immersed in the film.”

In addition to being a songwriter, arranger and sound engineer for various artists and record companies, BENoît VinCenT is also working on his musical career both as a singer/songwriter and guitar player as well as a producer for his band-related projects. A new solo album will be appearing soon consisting of 12 original rock songs. These will include influences from electro, world music, sound design and other references from his work as a music composer.

“I’ve made music since I was a kid but it was only when I discovered the musical universe of rock and metal bands that I really started to learn the guitar in earnest and knew that I wanted to make it my profession. I was interested in all musical styles before starting to record my own groups and learning about music production. Music and creativity are vital to me. My current motivation is to make my next production even more accessible, to trigger emotions in people, and insure that it sounds better than the previous one. It’s sort of a perpetual quest…”

BENoît VinCenT opened his “2.0” in the beginning of 2017.  Based in Durste, France, his “creative oasis” was designed to provide a modern approach to the recording studio, optimizing it for the creation of original music and sound design. From composition to 5.1 and surround sound mixing, any project may be produced from A to Z, from its original idea to its release. However, one of the main activities remains the creation of music for movies but the studio was also built for the realization of his albums.

“For me, Studio 2.0 is more of a giant musical instrument that is at ease within all music styles, rather than a purely commercial studio. Everything is optimized to be at the service of creativity.”

“For me, Studio 2.0 is more of a giant musical instrument that is at ease within all music styles, rather than a purely commercial studio. Everything is optimized to be at the service of creativity.  Great attention has been focused on the study and the realization of the acoustics in the recording and control rooms. At the same time, (without going into details about all the equipment I piled up over the years), we are here to push the limits.”

The heart of the studio is a large “Pro Tools” system that allows him to work on different projects remotely since the studio is isolated in the Alsace countryside. The control room (with the 5.1 monitoring system) is complemented with a dedicated recording room. For creation, there are several computers equipped with “Vienna Ensemble Pro” integrated into the network to provide enough capacity to quickly produce synchronized music for film imagery. A work station, using “Logic Studio”, is also synched with the main system to achieve the best of both worlds. The idea is, to stay within Pro Tools and, therefore, to be able to mix and compose at the same time.

“Even after many hours of listening at high volumes, […] I don’t feel auditory fatigue as I have had with other systems. The stereo image, definition and frequency response across the entire spectrum [of the ADAM S3X-H] is simply magical!”

When it comes to monitoring,BENoît VinCenT’s watchword is detail and honesty:

“Before working with the ADAM S3X-H, it was a nightmare! Since, with my prior monitoring solutions, I could never rely 100% on what I was hearing in the studio as it sounded huge, but when we worked on it or checked the mix on another system, we were never happy with it, especially with the low end. I remember very well the day I received my pair of S3X-H’s … It was around 1:00 pm, I immediately plugged them in and started listening. When I did eventually stop, it was already 8:00 pm! Since using them, I have discovered a lot of details in records that I had never previously been aware of. Even after many hours of listening at high volumes, the ADAM monitors remain pleasant to hear and I don’t feel auditory fatigue as I have had with other systems. The stereo image, definition and frequency response across the entire spectrum is simply magical! Also, by re-listening to mixes that I was previously not satisfied with, any flaws were self-evident on this system and I would never have let those mixes pass. So, I asked myself: ‘Why did I wait so long to buy them?’ Today, I believe if I had to change my studio, I would be willing to sell everything except for the ADAMs!  Almost everything else is unnecessary because if you can’t hear what you’re doing, even the best peripherals in the world can’t help you!”