Munich-based opus-live studios was recently tasked with creating a soundtrack for an audio book based on the bestselling German novel Unheil, by Wolfgang Hohlbein. Soundtracks for audio books can often be rather complicated. Every bit of music and sound design must support and, ideally, elevate the emotions that the author intended. An engineer must be able to easily manipulate levels, effects and automation.

For this purpose, opus-live studios employed a full-on Mackie Control Universal Pro setup. A MCU Pro, two MCU XT Pros and a C4 Pro gave the team unparalleled control of the session. Working in Sony’s Acid Pro 6 was very easy, as the MCU Pro family is instantly recognized and all parameters are pre-mapped within the software.

HR624mk2 Studio Reference Monitors offered the necessary accuracy to ensure that the mix held up, regardless of the playback environment.

The end result conveys all the depth of the novel, but the imaginative score and sound design elements heighten the experience, bringing the written word to life. Click here to enjoy an extended version of the intro song.