Nuage and Rivage enhance Studio 22
- Details
Stephan started as a professional IT networking specialist but, like so many who graduate to the audio industry, worked as a musician in his spare time. A small home studio and mixing local bands led to more audio work, including mixing musical theatre and events at the Kurhaus resort, casino and conference complex in Baden-Baden.
A request by cruise company Hapag-Lloyd for his IT skills led to Stephan being asked to assist with his entertainment technology knowledge, leading to the creation of Studio 22. Since then, his core business has been planning, service and installation of entertainment technology systems on luxury cruise liners. He has also developed the Digital Remote Entertainment And Media Solution (d.r.e.a.m.s) streaming server system for background music, with customers throughout the world.
Being married to singer and vocal coach Dunja Koppenhöfer, Stephan established a multi-function recording room at their Oestrich-Winkel home. Adding two more dedicated audio rooms in 2019, he has continued to expand both the live and studio mixing aspects of his business.
“We needed space for Dunia to teach acting and rehearsing, so recording ‘in house’ made sense. We also train my customers here,” he says. “Importantly, I need to be hands-on with audio for the good of my soul!”
Stephan started using Yamaha digital mixers at the beginning, with the ProMix 01 back in 1995. “I purchased two - one for live work and the other for automating MIDI sound modules and other outboard gear in the studio,” he says.
Since then he has used a range of Yamaha digital mixers, noting, “From the launch of the CL series, I have really liked the availability of different sizes of Yamaha console surface, depending on what you need to do.
“Another thing I like is how the workflow has basically stayed the same. Technology should not take your concentration away from the performance and, for me, it’s very useful that it doesn’t matter which Yamaha mixer you are in front of, you can work without thinking. Along with the stability, reliability and excellent support, this is why Yamaha offers the perfect tools for me.”
Stephan’s live and studio work ranges from mixing and recording orchestras, bands, speeches and conferences to music production, surround sound mixes, film synchronisation and corporate training videos. To stay up to date, he needs to keep investing in both live and studio technology.
In the summer he purchased one of the first Rivage PM5 digital mixing systems in Germany.
