China’s Dolby Atmos YFY Studio invests in Prism Sound Dream ADA-128 Modular AD/DA Convertor

YFY Studio in Chengdu, China has recently been certified as a Dolby Atmos Music Studio. Musician and producer Hu Xiaohai tells Headliner how he carefully assembled a series of high end equipment in this recently upgraded music production studio.

Hu Xiaohai has deep roots and extensive experience in the music field. In 1990, he co-founded several renowned Chinese rock and jazz bands in Chengdu and Beijing. While playing bass with these acts, he participated in the creation and recording of over 10 albums and performed at dozens of large-scale concerts.

Since establishing the YFY Music Studio in Chengdu in October 2002, he has produced arrangements and recordings for more than 100 albums, and composed or produced over 3,000 musical works including individual songs, dance music, film scores, and TVC jingles.

He recently invested in a Prism Sound Dream ADA-128 Modular AD/DA Convertor, which now plays a key role in the studio, guaranteeing exceptional performance for audio signal conversion and processing.

“During comparative tests with other similar products, the ADA-128 demonstrated unmatched advantages in both functionality and sound quality,” enthuses Hu Xiaohai. “Its extensive channel throughput capacity (up to 128 analogue channels) and precise 32-bit A-D/D-A signal conversion, supported by a high-end precision word clock, ensure every sound detail is faithfully reproduced. 

"Whether it’s soft string music or intense drum beats, the ADA-128 captures and processes sound in its purest form. This tool is indispensable for our pursuit of high-quality music production.”

The Dream ADA-128’s chassis, with its multiple expansion interface cards, offers flexibility, boasting 16 I/O slots and four host slots in a 2U rack space, with four independent word clock domains. Currently, it includes 32-channel analogue input and output cards connected to the analogue mixing console, two eight-channel AES cards linked to the multi-channel digital effects processor, and an immersive sound monitoring speaker system with ample expansion room remaining.

Routing between I/O interfaces and the mini DigiLink host card is straightforward and flexible: once set up, it’s a one-time effort. Additionally, configuring and monitoring operational status can be done via a web browser GUI anytime.

Previously, Hu Xiaohai used a Solid State Logic Matrix SuperAnalogue DAW control mixer, but these days he’s using an SSL Origin ‘In-Line’ console for the new studio for multitrack recording and mixing.

The control room in the upgraded studio is much larger than the previous one, and his stereo speakers have expanded in line with this, upgrading his original Genelec 1237As to the 1234A studio monitors with dual 12-inch woofers. 

This system complements Hu Xiaoha’s 7.1.4 immersive monitoring system, comprising Genelec three-way coaxial 8341As, smart active two-way 8340As, and a 15-inch low-frequency 7380A DSP subwoofer, which provide a powerful, all-round and immersive accurate auditory experience for music production.

“Whether making stereo music or immersive sound works, they ensure that the final audio effect meets our artistic pursuit and professional standards,” notes Hu Xiaohai.

With the support of DMT (Digital Media Technology Co., Ltd.,) a Prism Sound distributor, Dolby-certified partner and pro-audio system integrator in China, YFY Studio was recently certified as a Dolby Atmos Music Studio.

“Obtaining this certification is a recognition of our team’s efforts and also proves our advantages in equipment selection and technical strength,” says Hu Xiaohai. “This not only provides strong support for us to attract more excellent music projects, but also adds new vitality to the development of Chengdu’s music industry.

“We recently completed a Tibetan-style world music album, Jidu,” he uses as an example. “With the help of the Prism Sound Dream ADA-128, we successfully captured the brilliant performances of each band member. During the mixing process, we achieved a wide and deep auditory experience, earning high praise from both the band and the production team. The Dolby Atmos version is currently in the mixing stage, and we believe it will deliver an astonishingly spatial and amazing result,” he concludes.