As consumer preferences shift and change, content localization demand has evolved significantly. As audiences around the world seek content in their own language and cultural context, the role of dubbing studios like Dubbing Brothers has become increasingly crucial. To meet this increased demand, Dubbing Brothers has continued to grow. Its latest expansion has added a raft of Genelec monitors to its Paris facility.
Founded in 1989, Dubbing Brothers started its journey in a small basement studio in France, dubbing the American TV series The Young and the Restless. Over time, the company earned the trust of major clients such as Sony, Disney, Warner and Universal. Today, Dubbing Brothers operates across multiple countries, with facilities in the USA, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Spain.
Reflecting on the company’s journey, its CTO, Jérôme Malaize, says, “Little by little, major clients have supported us in our international development. Today, we work with all the majors and all the streaming platforms.”
Dubbing Brothers faces opportunities and challenges as the content localization business evolves. The company has invested heavily in equipment, technology and talent development to stay ahead. Additionally, the company’s expertise in handling Home Atmos projects has positioned it as a leader in delivering immersive audio experiences. “With the arrival of the newer platforms, we have gone from around 100 studios to 150 today in nine countries,” Malaize confirms.
The Paris setup
In Paris, Dubbing Brothers operates 19 studios in its primary building and another 17 in a second facility 7km away. Four specialized recording studios are outfitted with dedicated equipment, and many of their mixing studios are also equipped for recording, allowing for simultaneous room use. Across its facilities, the company offers 28 Atmos studios to meet evolving industry demands.
As demand grew, it recently expanded its Paris facilities, adding five extensive recording and mixing studios, five smaller mixing rooms and two editing rooms. Acousticians Camille Hamel and Jean-Marc Vernaudon accompanied Malaize throughout the project, procuring equipment from CTM, Videlio, AKA Design and Screen Excellence.
Malaize says his years of experience with Genelec monitors made them the natural choice to deploy in most new rooms. “I have complete confidence in them as a brand,” he confirms. “Our mixing staff move from studio to studio and quickly know how to find their way when mixing on these monitors. Our studios have been equipped with Genelec since the beginning, and today, we have nearly 450 Genelec monitors in the group.”
The monitor mix
Three of the new mixing and recording rooms have deployed the same 7.1.4 Genelec system comprising S360s for L-C-R, 8340s for surrounds and overheads, and a 7382 subwoofer handling the LFE. The four smaller 7.1.4 mixing rooms each have a slightly different Genelec setup. Stage 107 features 8350s for L-C-R, 8040s for surrounds, 8030s for overheads and a 7380 sub. Stage 108 is equipped with 8351s for L-C-R, with 8040s delivering both surround and overheads and the 7380 handling the low end again. Stage 109 sees 8050s combined with 8030s and a 7380 sub, while Stage 110 offers 8050s for L-C-R, 8040s for surrounds, 8030s for overheads and a 7380. Finally, two 5.0 editing suites feature identical designs, relying on 8030 and 8020 monitors.
The company also incorporated GLM software to calibrate each monitoring system to the room. “I installed a GLM kit in all the studios, permanently connected, so it saves me a lot of time when I need to check the calibration — I don’t have to bring all the extra equipment which is helpful,” Malaize adds. “GLM allows me to do a fine calibration of the system very efficiently while keeping my hands on all the loudspeaker parameters.”
As Dubbing Brothers celebrates the completion of the expanded Paris facility, Malaize is pleased with the overall outcome. “I’m so proud of the way we’ve worked with our contractors, suppliers and colleagues,” he states. “It was such a great experience — an ambitious project, delivered in record time.”
