Invisible Speakers for a Photography Studio
In the world of professional photography, every detail of the studio environment contributes to the creative process, including the completely invisible. At Ludere Studios, a premium photography studio in Bournemouth, UK, the goal was to create an inspiring and relaxing environment for those in front of, and behind the camera. To make sure that was achieved in the fullest Fraser Mooney, Marine AV, embedded Amina Sapphire invisible speakers into the infinity coves in studio 1 and 2, and the results are picture perfect.
Two studios, two infinity coves
Ludere Studios is comprised of 2 studio spaces, Studio 1 is used primarily for family shoots, pet shoots, and various commercial fashion shoots. Studio 2 has the larger infinity cove that is 3m x 9m and is used primarily for car shoots, allowing Ludere to capture stunning images of client’s beloved vehicles in fully staged environments.
The studio is owned by Fraser Mooney and Sophie Dodd, with Fraser also owning Marine AV, a premium AV installation company working in marine and super prime residential installations. This expertise allowed Fraser to create an extremely robust technical solution for the business installing a vast security system, various electronic winch solutions, easy to use AV configurations in the lounge area beside Studio 1, and Install Amina Sapphire speakers in the walls of both infinity coves.
Why invisible speakers suit a flawless, moving studio
The 180 degree dispersion of audio from Amina Sapphire speakers made them an ideal candidate for the studio space as models and crew are constantly moving around the space as required, with no fixed listening position, DML delivers the ideal solution providing even coverage for all in the space, no matter where they are.
When shooting in a studio lit environment, using industry leading cameras with powerful sensors, any and all imperfections would be visible on the final shots. To ensure this is kept to a minimum the infinity coves must have as few imperfections as possible. The flush installation of the Sapphire range, and the fact that they can be finished using virtually any compound made them the ideal candidate. Once installed in the wooden frames, they were edge filled, plastered and meticulously checked for a smooth, uniform finish. Lastly, Fraser and the team set to work applying multiple coats of specialist ultra matte paint to create the infinite background effect required. The end result is quite magical, standing in the cove you can enjoy great sounding audio that seems to radiate from all around.
Unsurprisingly, the acoustics in both studio 1 and studio 2 are harsh and unforgiving. The industrial units have 2 storey high ceilings, solid concrete floors, and large expanses of solid wall. Conventional speakers in this type of environment would need to be driven quite hard, which in turn would likely create a lot of reflections and result in a quite unpleasant listening experience for the listener. The DML solution provides a much wider dispersion of sound energy, meaning the listener can enjoy clear audio without needing a very high SPL.
Simple control for every guest
As the studio would regularly have different guests in for the day, it was vital that practically connecting and selecting music was simple and fast. The speakers are connected back to a Ubiquiti back end, Fraser wanted to make it simple for guests to connect and browse their favourite artist or playlist and fill the studio with sound, even allowing airplay from their device to the studio they are in.
The goal was to deliver full spectrum sound to fill the studio, installed in a surface that, by definition, must be picture perfect. Fraser’s expertise and attention to detail made this possible, and the finished result is sublime.
FAQ’s
The infinity coves at Ludere Studios need to be completely smooth and free from any visible imperfections. Amina Sapphire invisible speakers could be fully integrated into the cove walls, then plastered and painted over, preserving the flawless finish required for professional photography while still delivering high-quality audio throughout the space.
Music plays an important role in creating a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere during shoots. The Amina Sapphire speakers provide even sound coverage throughout the studios, allowing models, clients, photographers, and crew to enjoy consistent audio no matter where they are positioned.
The studios are located within industrial units featuring high ceilings, concrete floors, and large hard surfaces that can create harsh reflections. Traditional loudspeakers would often need to be played at higher volumes, potentially worsening these reflections. Amina’s Distributed Mode Loudspeaker (DML) technology helps distribute sound more evenly, creating a more comfortable listening experience.
The speakers were installed within specially constructed wall frames before being edge-filled, plastered, and finished with specialist ultra-matte paint. This meticulous process ensured the speakers became completely invisible while maintaining the seamless appearance essential for professional photography.
Ease of use was an essential requirement. The audio system is connected to a simple-to-use Ubiquiti-based backend, allowing visiting photographers, clients, and production teams to quickly connect their devices, access their preferred playlists, and fill the studio with music without complicated setup procedures.
Their combination of invisible installation, wide 180-degree sound dispersion, and excellent sonic performance makes them ideal for environments where aesthetics are critical and people are constantly moving around the space rather than listening from a fixed position.
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