The historical scoring stage in Vienna, Austria offers cutting-edge recording technology and superior acoustics for a wide variety of ensembles and styles - from chamber music to big symphony orchestras and choirs, from rock bands to big bands and jazz artists, from film and TV music to video games and commercials, from classic and modern symphonies to opera recordings.
Vienna Synchron Stage is the only recording facility in the world that merges proprietary software innovations and revolutionary approaches with traditional recording technologies and procedures. The seamless integration of Vienna Symphonic Library’s MIR technology with the studio complex allows for unprecedented solutions for quicker workflows and outstanding sonic results. The premises cover an area of over 2,000 m2 (21,000 sq. ft.), offering ample space for several studios, control rooms, instruments storage, and regeneration areas.
The original facility was built between 1939 and 1941, adjacent to Rosenhügel-Filmstudios as part of "Film City Vienna" (Filmstadt Wien). Until the mid 1950s, numerous film scores were recorded in the legendary "Synchronhalle" with large orchestras - mainly for productions by Wien Film, the large Austrian film company and then owner of the studios. For example, the score of the legendary movie trilogy about the Austrian Empress Elisabeth ("Sisi") that launched Romy Schneider’s international career was originally recorded there in the years 1955-1957.
During the 1960s, eminent classical artists such as Karl Böhm, Herbert von Karajan, Yehudi Menuhin, Sviatoslav Richter and Mstislav Rostropovich chose the outstanding acoustics of the main hall for their now-legendary recordings.
By the beginning of the 21st century the hall had lost its importance and was mainly used as a rehearsal stage.
In 2009 the facility was listed as a landmark protected building, mainly because of the unique theatre organ that is the only one in the world that is still housed in its original scoring stage. It was built by Alfred Lenk and Emil Wilck, hence the name "Lenkwil-Orgel" and has three manuals. The instrument offers special registers such as trumpet, saxophone, xylophone, harmonica, harp, drums and sound effects (horse gallop, locomotive, car horn, thunder, cow bells, bird song, etc.).
The original "Lenkwil" theatre organ
Pedals with sound effects of the "Lenkwil-Orgel"
In summer 2013 the Vienna Symphonic Library took over the building. After two years of planning, the facility was renovated and equipped in collaboration with renowned Walters-Storyk Design Group and architects Schneider+Schumacher. Today, the revitalized Vienna Synchron Stage sets international standards, combining cutting-edge recording technology with proprietary software innovations.
Vienna Synchron Stage - Ground Level The facility’s ground floor offers the main hall Stage A, a second recording room (Stage B) with 80 m² (861 sq ft.), a break room for musicians, offices for clients and score preparation as well as two iso booths that share a collapsible glass wall, which allows them to function as one large iso booth. The upper level offers one of the largest and finest control rooms in the world, where up to 25 staff members, clients and guests enjoy a spacious and outstanding listening environment of 115 m² (1,238 sq. ft.) without stepping on each other's toes. The Executive Area right behind Control Room A includes the Producer’s Lounge, the Editor’s Lounge and the Composer’s Lounge. Both the editor and composer lounges are acoustically treated to double as iso booths. Optionally, both rooms together may also function as an additional studio with a recording room (Composer’s Lounge) and a control room (Editor’s Lounge). Every room in the building is connected and accessible to every other room in the building via the high-speed audio network.
The basement comprises storage rooms for pianos and percussion instruments. The integrated system for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) is absolutely noise-free and connects all rooms to the same air flow that moves through the recording stages.
Percussion Storage Room
Piano Storage Room
Basement with integrated HVAC
The facility’s 540 m2 (5,813 sq.ft.) main Stage A has a trapezoidal floor plan and a height of 10.5 - 12 m (34.5 - 40 ft.). The massive room-in-room construction is based on a huge concrete foundation and features a gap of up to three-meters all the way around the main hall. The combination of the building’s sound insulation with the special design of the air condition results in an exceptionally low noise-floor of 16 dBA (with the air conditioner running). The hall boasts exceptional acoustic properties for recording orchestras and choirs for film music as well as classical works.
Vienna Synchron Stage - Stage A
Stage A features a reverb time of 1.6 to 1.8 seconds, and in contrast to some other scoring stages, there is no masking effect on the low frequencies. It is characterized by a lush and warm sound, while at the same time providing excellent localization, both in depth and in the stereo panorama.
Full Orchestra Stage A
"The sound translates so well into this space. It’s certainly one of the best rooms in the world, there’s no question." -Dennis Sands, Grammy Award winning recording and mixing engineer (Abyss, American Beauty, Back to the Future, Finding Nemo, Forrest Gump, Men in Black, etc.)
Vienna MIR Pro and MIR Pro 24 represent this wonderful, vibrant hall from two different angles, providing two typical main microphone positions. All in all, 6,000 Impulse Responses (IRs) have been gathered to virtually recreate the exceptional acoustics of this magical venue.
The average reverb time is about 1.8 seconds. You may easily shape the length of the reverb tail with the Reverb Time Scaling feature of Vienna MIR Pro / MIR Pro 24.
Stage A in Vienna MIR Pro (Wide View)
On the following page you can find an overview of how VI Instruments can be positioned on the stage to make them compatible with our Synchron Stage Series.
Stage A in Vienna MIR Pro (Classical View)
- Area: 540 m² (5,813 sq. ft.)
- Average Room Depth: 18m
- Average Room Width: 30m
- Average Height: 11,2m
The team members of the Vienna Symphonic Library are known for their great team spirit, out-of-the-box thinking and their Austrian "Schmäh" (a specific sense of humour).
MIR Recording Team (left to right): Thomas Meitz, Martin Pauser, Dietmar "Dietz" Tinhof, Martin Weismayr, André Mueller
