Light Year Studios, located in the UK, offers a full range of audio recording and post-production services for high-end and independent productions. Their services include track laying, mixing, spatial audio mixing, sound design, ADR, voiceover recording, and dubbing.
The studio employs a skilled team of audio professionals, including Re-recording Mixer Rob Ackerman and Sound Effects Editor Ryan Hatton, who regularly use NUGEN Audio plug-ins to support their workflows.
Key Tools for Workflow Solutions
Among the NUGEN Audio tools most commonly used by Ackerman and Hatton is the VisLM loudness meter. Ackerman emphasizes its versatility for various applications, including voiceovers, mixes, and video game sound production. He mentions that VisLM is crucial for tracking average loudness during recording and for monitoring overall loudness on the final master bus during mixing. Hatton also appreciates VisLM’s dialog-gated loudness feature, which he finds unique compared to other plug-ins in the same price range.
Halo Upmix for Immersive Audio
Hatton and Ackerman also rely on NUGEN’s Halo Upmix plug-in, especially for immersive audio and post-production tasks. Hatton highlights how the plug-in has simplified his workflow, particularly on projects like movie trailers and feature films such as Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey. He used Halo Upmix during the mixing process at Pinewood Studios, where it delivered accurate sound results. Ackerman adds that Halo Upmix has significantly improved efficiency by eliminating the need for manual adjustments when mixing audio for the rear channels.
Using ISL Limiter for Precision
The NUGEN ISL limiter is another essential tool at Light Year Studios. Ackerman praises the plug-in for its ability to maintain True Peak without compromising loudness or requiring manual gain correction. He explains that ISL saves time by ensuring audio stems stay within a specified threshold while maintaining quality.
Additional Tools and Successes
Other NUGEN Audio plug-ins, such as LM-Correct, are also frequently used at Light Year Studios. According to Hatton, their dialogue editor, Tom Sichel, successfully used LM-Correct to manage multiple loudness versions required for a deliverable list. This rendered the necessary deliverables effectively, proving the plug-in’s practical value in dialogue work.
Background of Key Team Members
Ryan Hatton, who joined Light Year Studios in September 2023 as a sound effects editor, has extensive experience in immersive audio. His credits include films like Fyre Rises and The Gardener, as well as TV mini-series Boy & Dragon. Hatton’s background in spatial audio will support the studio’s move into immersive audio for both post-production and music.
Rob Ackerman has been with Light Year Studios for over six years and has more than 12 years of experience in media. His work includes collaborating on major projects like Steve McQueen’s End Credits and the Porto Legends audio-visual experience. Ackerman has provided sound design and mixing services for theatrical and broadcast projects, working on over 1,000 short-form media projects throughout his career.
About NUGEN Audio
NUGEN Audio, founded in 2004 in Leeds, UK, develops software solutions for audio professionals in broadcast, post-production, and music. Their product range focuses on loudness metering, surround sound, and mixing/mastering tools. Their tools, such as VisLM for loudness metering, Halo Upmix for surround sound, and ISL for True Peak limiting, are used to improve workflow efficiency and ensure compliance with audio standards.
News source: NUGEN Audio
