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PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Clyne Media, Inc.
Tel: (615) 662-1616

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Glasgow School of Art turns to Genelec for new cutting-edge facility

NATICK, MA, August 18, 2026 — As a recognized center of excellence for the study of Sound for the Moving Image, The Glasgow School of Art’s (GSA) School of Information and Technology (SIT) has an enviable track record in producing highly employable graduates with a deep knowledge of film/TV sound production & post-production, immersive audio, electronic game audio and experimental sound practice. Now, having relocated to a brand-new campus location in central Glasgow, the GSA’s Genelec-powered sound studios are perfectly equipped to continue preparing future generations of audio professionals. Previously based at the GSA’s Pacific Quay Campus in Glasgow’s Digital Media Quarter, the relocation has now brought SIT much closer to the main campus but involved recreating Pacific Quay’s three main studios – a Dolby Atmos® Room, a Surround Sound Room and the spatial audio Soundlab – in a brand-new space.  To help execute the project, the GSA enlisted the invaluable expertise of local reseller and integrator Mediaspec. The principal aim of the new SIT facility was to create a flexible, future-facing teaching and production environment capable of supporting industry-standard Dolby Atmos workflows, traditional 5.1 surround mixing, and 3rd-order Ambisonics mixing, with support for voiceover and Foley recording too. Designed to provide students with access to industry-standard monitoring environments across multiple spatial audio formats, the decision was made for all studios to be integrated via a Dante network – which represented a major technical step forward from the previous campus location. To deliver on the vision for the new campus, new spaces – including a 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos studio and a 16-speaker Ambisonics Soundlab – were commissioned and integrated by Mediaspec, with network infrastructure provided by the GSA’s internal IT team. 11 Genelec 8030 two-way nearfield monitors were transferred across from the Pacific Quay campus to equip the Atmos room, complemented by a 7060 subwoofer, while 16 of the super-compact 8010 two-way nearfields were purchased for the Ambisonics room, supported by a 7050 subwoofer. The campus’s compact 5.1 surround sound studio utilizes the GSA’s existing 1029 two-way nearfield monitors, and a separate voiceover booth and Foley studio are also accessible via the Dante network. Of course, as with all major projects, there were some technical challenges to overcome, as Ronan Breslin, the GSA’s Programme Leader, MDes Sound for Moving Image, reveals: “Since Ambisonic sound does not have a low frequency enhancement channel as part of its defined characteristics, we found that initial playback testing with the 8010 monitor array in the Soundlab revealed very good immersion and localization characteristics, but the low end required reinforcement. Therefore, Mediaspec suggested that we deploy a 7050 subwoofer in the room – which we fed with summed 100 Hz LPF audio – and this did indeed remedy the issue, following some experimentation with positioning.” Implementation of the Dante network presented another challenge, but optimal results were achieved by collaborating closely with the GSA’s IT team. “By fine-tuning the network, establishing correct clocking and routing configurations, and carrying out comprehensive system-wide testing and validation, we were able to achieve a stable and reliable infrastructure,” explains Breslin. With the commissioning complete, staff and students have had plenty of time to get to grips with the new rooms – and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.    “All the studios sound incredibly clear,” comments Simon Weins, Sound Technician & Lecturer at the GSA. “The 8030s in the Atmos studio allow for a very detailed image of a mix, which is crucial for our students when making final decisions in their projects. Together with the rest of our system, this allows our students to work at the highest professional level. The stereo imaging is precise, and the low frequency detail is exceptional.” Meanwhile in the Soundlab studio, the Ambisonics system has been a genuine revelation. “The 8010s may look small but paired with the 7050 they produce a genuinely powerful, full-range sound. Despite the compact footprint, the imaging across the full sphere is remarkably stable and coherent,” enthuses Weins. Reflecting on the success of the move, Weins is quick to recognize the ability of Genelec monitors to provide a truthful sonic reference in any space: “Genelec's clarity and consistency have translated seamlessly from our studios at Pacific Quay to our new home at West Regent Street, minimizing the impact that the move had on the workflow of our students and allowing them to continue their work in a professional environment. Overall, the relocation has been a real success for us, with the new facilities being used more than ever.” For more information, please visit www.genelec.com.

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Photo file 1: GSA_PR_Image_1.JPG Photo caption 1: The 16-speaker Ambisonics Soundlab, equipped with Genelec 8010 nearfield monitors and a 7050 subwoofer. Photo file 2: GSA_PR_Image_2.JPG Photo caption 2: The GSA's new 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos studio, featuring 11 Genelec 8030 monitors and a 7060 subwoofer. Photo file 3: GSA_PR_Image_3.JPG Photo caption 3: GSA staff (L-R): Daniel Neil, Lecturer in Sound; Ronan Breslin, Programme Lead MDes Sound for Moving Image; Jessica Argo, Programme Lead BDes Sound. PDF file: 2026_Case_Study_GSA.PDF PDF caption: Genelec Glasgow School of Art case study Genelec, the pioneer in Active Monitoring technology, is celebrating over 45 years of designing and manufacturing active loudspeakers for true and accurate sound reproduction. Genelec is credited with promoting the concept of active transducer technology. Since its inception in 1978, Genelec has concentrated its efforts and resources into creating active monitors with unparalleled sonic integrity. The result is an active speaker system that has earned global acclaim for its accurate imaging, extremely high acoustic output from small enclosures, true high-fidelity with low distortion, and deep, rich bass. Genelec is also marking its 20th year of Smart Active Monitoring™ technology, which allows studio monitors to be connected, configured and calibrated for the user’s specific acoustic environment. Each Smart Active Monitor or subwoofer is equipped with advanced internal DSP circuitry, which tightly integrates with the GLM (Genelec Loudspeaker Manager) software application, running on Mac or PC. GLM’s reference microphone kit allows the user’s acoustic environment to be analyzed, after which GLM’s AutoCal feature optimizes each Smart Active Monitor for level, distance delay, subwoofer crossover phase and room response equalization, with the option of further fine tuning by the user. By minimizing the room’s influence on the sound, Smart Active Monitors deliver an unrivalled reference, with excellent translation between rooms. Visit Genelec on social media: https://www.facebook.com/Genelec https://www.linkedin.com/company/genelec-oy https://www.instagram.com/Genelec_oy/ https://x.com/Genelec https://www.tiktok.com/@genelec_oy Other brand and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. —For more information on the complete range of Genelec Active Monitoring Systems, contact: Genelec Inc., 7 Tech Circle, Natick, MA 01760. Tel: (508) 652-0900; Fax: (508) 652-0909; Web: http://www.genelec.com/.