Mixer Jeff Payne and the team at Eleven have unveiled a major expansion with the addition of two, brand-new, state-of-the-art, audio post-production mixing suites. The expansion marks the next phase of Eleven’s growth as Payne continues, since Eleven’s inception in 1999, to cater his audio services to an extensive national advertising client list and promote talents from within the company.
“This is my third time building studios, and I love the creative expression of designing and equipping a space where my clients and staff can be their most creative,” explains Payne. “I remember my first break in our industry very well, and this expansion was an opportunity for me to continue supporting the culture of my company and encouraging the incredibly talented staff at Eleven to expand into their own creative visions for themselves.”
Over the last 12 months, Payne and Eleven’s Executive Producer Suzanne Hollingshead oversaw the renovation of the upstairs floor in the Eleven facility, transforming it into a new mixing suite for Jeff (three times the size of his previous room), as well as an additional mixing suite, 2 large voice-over recording booths, an upstairs client lounge, and a gallery space for revolving art exhibits.
A self-described “advertising kid,” (Hollingshead’s father was a Creative at Leo Burnett/Chicago and Y&R), Suzanne came to Eleven with significant career success in the music and fashion industries, including as a designer of her own jewelry line. “When I started at Eleven as a consultant three summers ago, my single focus was on defining and refreshing Eleven as a brand,” she explains. “We zeroed in on what Eleven means to our clients, and focused sharply on service, environment, and energy.” For Hollingshead, the perfection of details is an essential part of the company in terms of providing the highest-quality experience. With her designer background, Hollingshead has refined the high-end service, akin to a boutique hotel, down to every artisanal, organic, local and handcrafted product detail. “Our clients can spend days or even weeks mixing their projects with us, and we want our stop on their journey to be an enjoyable experience in every possible way. They need to leave Eleven happier and more relaxed than when they walked in; and some good laughs are a must too!”
For the expansion, Payne chose Santa Monica-based architect Patrick Tighe, well-known for his diverse architectural projects from office/entertainment to mixed use to high-end, residential (www.tighearchitecture.com). “I wanted a stellar architect,” notes Payne, “not necessarily a studio architect. We wanted to give the new rooms, and the upstairs as a whole, a lot of architectural personality while bringing light and the essence of nature into the studio. Patrick was just the right talent for this project, because he does exactly that. He has a unique, clean, and stunning design sense.”
"We worked closely with Eleven Sound to create the state-of-the-art recording studios,” says architect Patrick Tighe, FAIA. “The studio combines technologically advanced recording capabilities with a warm and inviting sustainable interior.”
Furniture designer Paul Weiser of Hands On Design custom designed and built Payne’s maple wood console, producer table, and speaker stands. “Jeff had a very clear idea of what he wanted,” details Weiser. “It was very important to him that his clients would be comfortable and have good visibility. He had a lot of function expectations, so I merged that with form.”
On the technology side, Eleven collaborated once again with Ron Lagerlof of Hollywood-based Visioneering Design Co. “I have known and worked with Jeff Payne since before the inception of Eleven,” notes Lagerlof. “Over the past 15 years, Visioneering Design has provided tech services through various changes in technology and equipment. In building these new studios, we looked at the most current systems, recommending and installing the latest generation of digital systems. I’m so proud of Jeff, what he has built at Eleven and this expansion.”
Payne and Eleven have purchased Avid’s S6 M10. “The S6 offers moving from what has been a very mouse-driven mixing experience to using touch pad technology and touch sensitive knobs, which is far more intuitive,” explains Payne. Other technology purchases for the new mixing suites include: Genelec and Meyer monitors, BSS/Crestron touchscreen monitor control system, the Avid Artist Mix series console, as well as the Avid HD syncs & HD i/os in conjunction with Focusrite Rednet 5s over Ethernet.
While committed to providing the highest quality sound and top tier service for its clients, the Eleven team also has a collective passion for music and the creative process. Their famous LIVE@Eleven private music showcase series continues both on- and off-site, featuring established as well as up-and-coming music artists. Since 2008, Eleven has partnered with music houses and record labels, production and post-production companies, ad agencies and editorial companies alike to co-create and host stimulating social events that serve as both a platform for professional networking, and an opportunity to support and expose artists for potential music licensing relationships. Through LIVE@Eleven events, Eleven has featured incredible artists such as Capital Cities, Family of the Year, The Madden Brothers, Crash Kings, Andy Vargas and several others, while supporting various national and local non-profit organizations. Together, Eleven and its partners have raised awareness and funds for local and international charities such as The Rainforest Alliance, Kiva.org, Stand Up For Kids, m.a.m.a. earth, Meals On Wheels, among many others.
“Everyone in our industry works so hard every day; it is wonderful to bring everyone together under the guise of appreciating music,” concludes Payne. “The showcase series is a fabulous way to gather all of our people in one space, including with musicians we love, and magic always happens when you do that,” sums up Hollingshead. www.elevensound.com
