Stephen A. Tibbo, a three-time Emmy Award–winning sound mixer celebrated for his work on Modern Family and most recently Nobody Wants This, decided to expand his post-production capabilities with a dedicated Dolby Atmos mix room. Having worked across television, film, ADR and re-recording for decades, Tibbo teamed with designer Carl Yanchar and project manager Danny Fasold to design a control room that meets the precision, consistency and translation needs of high-end film and TV mixing.
The team built a 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos system featuring JBL Professional monitors, Crown amplification and BSS processing. JBL 708i loudspeakers are used for the front and surrounds, JBL 705i cabinets handle the height channels, and dual JBL Cinema Subwoofers provide low-frequency extension. The system is driven by Crown DCi amplifiers, while routing and networked I/O are handled via an Avid MTRX interface with Dante integration using BSS BLU-DAN.
Tibbo said, “The JBL 7 Series monitors translate really well and offer a ton of value for their cost and size … when Danny suggested we think about them, it was an easy decision.” Fasold added, “They work extremely well in Atmos environments. Combined with the Crown DCi amps, we were able to time-align and tune the system to meet Dolby’s exacting standards.”
For ADR sessions, Tibbo uses AKG K371 headphones, which he praised for offering excellent comfort, isolation and durability. “They let us focus completely on performance,” he said.
The finished mix room delivers accurate spatial imaging, strong low-end control, and consistent translation across all channels, providing Tibbo and his clients with a reliable and tuned Atmos monitoring environment. Since the studio’s completion, Tibbo has used the space for feature films and high-end episodic work, reinforcing his legacy in sound mixing. By combining the precision of JBL 7 Series monitors, the power of Crown DCi amplifiers, the routing flexibility of BSS technology, and the durability of AKG headphones, Tibbo has created a world-class facility that supports both his technical standards and creative ambitions.
