Veteran engineer Masahito Tobisawa transforms his studio into a spatial powerhouse with Genelec Smart Active Monitors.
Veteran Japanese engineer Masahito Tobisawa has reimagined Tokyo’s Pentangle Studio as a 7.1.4 immersive audio environment, purpose-built for precision and creative freedom. Featuring Genelec Smart Active Monitors, GLM calibration software and the 9320A Reference Controller, the new setup brings seamless switching between stereo, immersive and headphone workflows — all within a compact but highly controlled acoustic space.
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A Future-Proof Monitoring System
Originally founded in 2017, Pentangle Studio was designed as a place to both mix and explore. With the surge of spatial formats like Apple Music and Sony 360 Reality Audio, Tobisawa knew it was time to upgrade. His new monitoring system includes eleven 8330As, two 8341As, a 7350A subwoofer, and full digital routing via the 9301B interface. Initially sceptical of powered monitors, Tobisawa changed his mind after trialling Genelec’s 8020s and later the 8341A: “It sounded like a direct line to the sound I had in mind.”
Keeping the Creative Flow Alive
Central to the new setup is the 9320A controller, which allows instant switching between monitoring paths. “Switching with a single action keeps the creative flow alive,” Tobisawa explains. The system also offers seamless speaker muting when working on headphones — a subtle but essential detail that prevents the body from responding to active speakers.
Calibration That Reveals the Truth
The final piece of the puzzle was Genelec’s GLM software, which calibrated alignment across the entire space. With some monitors wall-mounted in non-ideal positions, GLM’s ability to adjust phase, level and delay was crucial. “I thought it sounded fine before calibration. But when I looked at the graph, I was shocked,” Tobisawa admits. After tuning, he experienced immersive sound as it should be: blended, natural, and spatially coherent.
For Tobisawa — whose career spans four decades, including the development of 8Way Reflection (now Sharp’s 8Way Audio engine) — the upgrade marks a new chapter. “I’m building sound in different dimensions, and everything flows. I can already see how this will shape my next ideas.”
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