Guy Sebastian selects Genelec for new studio

Singer/songwriter Guy Sebastian has chosen a pair of Genelec 8341A coaxial monitors to join the vintage recording set in his new home studio. The nearfield monitors were supplied by Genelec’s Australian distribution partner, Studio Connections, and take pride of place alongside his existing pair of 1034B main monitors.

Having won the first-ever Australian Idol TV show in 2003, Sebastian has notched up platinum record sales in the US and Australia, and sell-out tours around the world. He has recently created a purpose-built recording space in his new home, with architectural design by acoustic designer John Sayers, and Sebastian himself handling interiors. The studio is filled with vintage recording equipment, including a comprehensive mic collection and a fully restored Siemens Sitral console; the modern white Genelec 8341As providing a distinct contrast.

“It was great to be able to use the Genelec GLM technology to get them tuned perfectly,” said Sebastian of the manufacturer’s calibration software. “It didn’t do a lot to the monitors, just a few little frequency fixes, but it was good.”

By contrast, Sebastian’s 1034B main monitors were acquired a number of years ago. “I’ve had them for a while from Los Angeles, and they were sitting in storage while this place was getting built,” he said. “They cause me to not crank the speakers. When you are listening to big monitors, unless you’re listening loud, it’s hard to get the punch. These are super-punchy and still clear, even at low levels.

“The studio was an investment for me, but it’s sort of already paid off in the amount of time I’ve spent here and the amount I’ve used it on the road and in my recordings,” he said. “I’m the musical director in my band, so I’ll put all the tracks together and other elements for live. I do a lot of preproduction in the studio and I rehearse in here because everything is where you need it.”