Genelec powers the future of sound at Ritsumeikan University
Ritsumeikan University, one of Japan’s leading private institutions, has taken a bold step in redefining media education with the installation of Genelec’s monitoring solutions. With a focus on immersive audio and hands-on learning, the university’s School of Film and Media Studies now features multiple high-spec facilities equipped with Genelec’s The Ones coaxial monitors and GLM calibration software, providing students with a professional-grade sound environment.
Recently relocating to the innovative “Try Field” Building H, the school has embraced an interdisciplinary philosophy, allowing students to explore sound design, game development and visual storytelling in an integrated setting. The facility includes six advanced rooms, including an MA room, an ADR dubbing suite and sound design studios, all designed to reflect the demands of modern audio production.
Highly acclaimed sound engineer and two-time Japanese Academy Award winner, Professor Nobuhiko Matsukage, played a pivotal role in shaping the university’s audio capabilities. “The goal is to develop students with a producer’s mindset, not just technicians,” Matsukage explains. “Understanding sound is critical to creative decision-making and Genelec’s monitors provide the precision and reliability needed for this.”
With Genelec, the sense of positioning is amazing – this really shows the benefits of the coaxial design.
Professor Matsukage pictured in Sound Design Room 2 of Ritsumeikan University.
Equipped with Genelec’s The Ones coaxial monitors, the MA (Multi Audio) Room, Sound Design Room and Foley Room ensure precise and immersive listening experiences to meet the demands of modern sound production. MA Room 1 features a 5.1 system with 8361 monitors and dual 7380 subwoofers, while MA Room 2 adopts a 7.1.4 immersive setup with 8351 monitors and a single 7380 sub. The Sound Design Rooms follow a similar pattern: Room 1 is equipped with a 5.1 system using 8341 monitors and a 7370 subwoofer, whereas Room 2 hosts a 7.1.4 system comprising 8341 monitors with a 7370 sub.
One of the key challenges in implementing a system of this scale was ensuring consistency across multiple rooms. Students frequently move between different workspaces, making it essential that each environment provides an accurate and uniform listening experience. The university’s previous calibrations had been performed with screens raised, meaning that new calibrations were required with screens lowered to account for their influence on the acoustics.
Once you try GLM, there’s no going back.
MA (Multi Audio) Room 2 of Ritsumeikan University.
The introduction of Genelec’s GLM calibration software was instrumental in addressing these challenges, ensuring that every room met the highest standards of precision. “The good thing about GLM is that it makes corrections to suit the room all at once,” explains Matsukage. “It saves you the trouble of trial and error in a limited time. Once you try GLM, there’s no going back.”
Matsukage also highlights how the new system enhances the Dolby Atmos experience. “To let students experience Atmos, we watched the battle scenes from Top Gun: Maverick here. You can hear that the sound resolution is overwhelmingly higher than in a movie theatre and the details of the sound are reproduced properly.”
The university’s commitment to advanced technology gives students hands-on experience in professional-grade audio environments, preparing them for careers in film, television, gaming and beyond. “If you have the desire to create something on your own, this is the place to be,” concludes Matsukage.
