Sunrise Productions
Studio InstallationCrafting World-Class Sound for Sunrise Productions in Cape Town
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Chapman’s Peak in Cape Town, a unique and inspiring project was brought to life for Sunrise Productions, a leading animation studio known for its high-quality, locally produced animated films. This particular facility was designed and built to accommodate the full range of professional audio needs for animation production—from dialogue recording and overdubs to Foley and surround mixing.
Commissioned by Benjamin Pro Audio, this project involved the complete cabling and technical infrastructure of the studio. Our team was tasked with transforming a raw architectural space into a fully functional and acoustically optimized recording environment. Working closely with both the client and acoustic specialists, we ensured that every detail contributed to a facility capable of delivering the highest standards in sound production.
Studio Design for the Unique Needs of Sunrise Productions
Unlike traditional music studios, an animation production facility like this one for Sunrise Productions requires a different kind of technical design. In addition to a standard live room for voice recordings, the studio includes two control rooms for parallel workflows and a specially built Foley room. The Foley room is critical for capturing the subtle and diverse sound effects used in animated features—from footsteps and fabric rustling to environmental textures like water splashes and breaking glass.
Each of these spaces needed to be seamlessly connected to allow engineers and sound designers to work efficiently and creatively. Microphone lines were run from the live room to both control rooms, allowing flexibility in session setups. The Foley room was given its own isolated feeds and returns, enabling real-time recording and monitoring from any control room within the facility.
The end goal was to support the complex and layered workflows of animated film production while maintaining optimal sound quality and technical reliability.
A Two-Stage Installation Process with Precision Planning
As with many of our studio installations, the build for Sunrise Productions was executed in two critical stages. The first stage focused on the installation of cable infrastructure, which needed to be perfectly planned before any finishing work could begin. This involved running all conduits and core lines through the facility before the interior walls were completed.
By working closely with the construction teams, we were able to coordinate the conduit paths for power, audio, video, and data cabling. This careful pre-planning ensured that the studio would remain both functional and future-proof—capable of handling upgrades or reconfigurations without the need for invasive structural changes.
Once the walls were up and the rooms were taking shape, the second phase began. This included the termination, labeling, and testing of all audio and data lines. Each line was verified for signal integrity, grounding, and noise rejection. This meticulous process is key to avoiding issues later on during production.
Acoustic Excellence
While our team focused on the technical infrastructure, acoustic treatment was handled by the specialists at TMB Acoustics, with whom we collaborated closely. Their role was to ensure that each room—especially the control rooms and the Foley suite—was acoustically treated for both sonic clarity and isolation.
Control rooms were optimized for flat frequency response, enabling engineers to make accurate mix decisions. Meanwhile, the Foley room was designed with adjustable acoustics to accommodate different recording needs. Whether the scene required a dead, muffled tone or a lively, reverberant texture, the space could be adapted accordingly.
This dual effort between infrastructure and acoustics created a cohesive audio environment tailored to the demands of animation post-production at Sunrise Productions.
Supporting Creative Storytelling at Sunrise Productions
The completed facility now stands as a vital part of Sunrise Productions’ creative pipeline. With high-quality audio routing, adaptable recording environments, and reliable system infrastructure, the studio supports every step of the animation process. From capturing the nuanced performances of voice actors to layering rich Foley effects, this space helps bring animated stories to life with depth and authenticity.
Working again on behalf of Benjamin Pro Audio, this project showcases what is possible when technical precision, creative vision, and seamless collaboration come together. The result is a studio environment that not only meets industry standards but also inspires creativity in everyone who walks through its doors.
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