A new home for artists: Soundfabrik Berlin collaborates with WSDG to create a cutting-edge recording space

March 13, 2025 – Located in Berlin-Charlottenburg, Soundfabrik Berlin, a premier recording studio, has long been a hub for musicians, producers, and audio professionals. Spanning 400 square metres on the top floor of a historic factory building, the studio has undergone a major renovation and expansion with the assistance of renowned architectural acoustic consulting, design, and media systems engineering firm, WSDG. The renovation, completed in the summer of 2024, includes the addition of a state-of-the-art Studio B, a compact yet sophisticated space optimised for immersive Dolby Atmos audio production.

Founded in 2013 as Blackbird Studios, the facility was acquired by musicians and entrepreneurs Guilherme Castelhano and Julia Selbherr Castelhano in 2022. Upon taking ownership, both envisioned transforming the space into a comprehensive creative environment for production, songwriting, and recording. With a reputation for offering professional services in recording, mixing, and mastering, Soundfabrik has since grown into a high-profile facility, attracting clients like Deutsche Grammophon, Sony Music, and Universal Music, as well as artists such as Snarky Puppy, Lena Meyer-Landrut, and Michael Wollny.

Recognising the potential for further expansion, the couple approached WSDG to assist with designing Studio B, an additional production space within Soundfabrik Berlin. WSDG’s role included providing expertise in structural acoustics, sound isolation, and room acoustics for the renovation, which was aimed at balancing artistic vision with technical precision.

The newly added Studio B features a room-within-room design, optimized for Dolby Atmos mixing and immersive audio production. With ATC main monitors and an EVE Audio Dolby Atmos system, the room delivers a high-fidelity audio experience that allows artists to create with unparalleled precision.

A major design goal was preserving the aesthetic integrity of the historic space, so translucent glass walls were retained, while advanced acoustic treatments and sound isolation techniques were meticulously integrated. The design also accounted for the compact size of the room, ensuring that every detail — from the decoupled gypsum structure to the custom acoustic panels — contributed to its acoustically superior performance.

Castelhano expresses his enthusiasm about the collaboration: “It was a pleasure working with WSDG,” he says. “Dirk Noy [Partner, General Manager Europe, WSDG] and his team understood my ideas right away. They are not only experts in acoustics, but they really listened to what I wanted to achieve. The acoustic design is precise, and the results speak for themselves. Studio B sounds incredible, and I couldn’t be more pleased with how the space turned out.”

He continues: “One of the things we focused on was making sure that every aspect of the space felt comfortable. As musicians ourselves, Julia and I know that an inspiring environment is crucial for creativity. Studio B offers an intimate, immersive space where artists can truly focus on their craft, and it’s been fantastic seeing the reactions from everyone who’s worked there.”

Despite challenges such as post-COVID material shortages and cost surges, the renovation progressed smoothly, thanks to the team’s careful planning and collaboration. Key team members from WSDG, including Gabriel Hauser, Partner and Director of Acoustics, and Tobias Behrens, Partner, Senior Consultant, Authorized Officer at ADA AMC, a WSDG company, played vital roles in ensuring the technical execution met the highest standards.

On top of the studio’s acoustic design, WSDG’s scope of work also included site supervision, overseeing construction and initial acoustic measurements. The project also benefited from the expertise of system integrator Florian Strucken, Owner and CEO at AVS Medientechnik, who contributed to the setup of the studio’s audio and networking infrastructure.

Soundfabrik Berlin’s newly renovated facility now includes two world-class production spaces. Studio A remains a versatile environment for live recording, featuring a 100 square metre live room, a Steinway D grand piano, and a Neve Genesys Black 32 console. Meanwhile, the addition of Studio B enhances the studio's ability to cater to modern audio production needs, making it a standout facility for both established and emerging talents.

“We are thrilled to have been part of the transformation of Soundfabrik Berlin,” exclaims Noy. “This project was an exciting challenge, balancing creative vision with technical precision. The studio now offers a unique environment where artists feel truly welcome, with acoustics that provide the perfect harmony between inspiration and production.”

Castelhano emphasizes the importance of creating a comfortable, inspiring environment for artists, saying: “Our goal is to make artists feel at home. People often tell us that the space feels cosy, and that’s something I’m very proud of. When musicians are comfortable, they can truly be creative. That's the essence of what we wanted to achieve with Soundfabrik. Our focus has always been on providing not just a top-tier professional environment, but also a place where musicians and producers feel at ease. The studio's success is a reflection of this — it’s a space that fosters creativity while delivering the highest audio quality.”

Artists who have recorded at Soundfabrik Berlin echo this sentiment:

“We felt very comfortable with you and are convinced that everything we have recorded so far has turned out well,” says Hannes Kraus, Category Lead Music at Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus.

“It was great working with you, we all had a wonderful time. Thank you for everything!” adds Swiss pianist and composer Jean-Paul Brodbeck.

Jazz musician Magnus Schriefl agrees: “It was a nice session with you, the studio is great.”

With a strong reputation for excellence, Soundfabrik Berlin continues to solidify its position as one of the leading creative hubs in the city - one that blends cutting-edge technology with the warmth and comfort artists need to thrive.

For high-quality images and the Word document, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/WSDG_SoundfabrikBerlin 

For more information about WSDG, please visit: http://www.wsdg.com/

ABOUT WSDG, LLC
​WSDG (Walters-Storyk Design Group) is an 13-time TEC award-winning international firm specializing in architectural acoustic consulting and media systems engineering. Pioneering architect/acoustician, John Storyk (AIA), founded the company in 1969 with the creation of Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios in New York City’s Greenwich Village. WSDG provides a wide portfolio of design and consulting services that support architectural projects throughout all phases of project development. Our international team of consultants have provided timely, detailed and cost-effective advice on highly sensitive and complex architectural construction and renovation projects, from small but critical retrofits to challenging ground up construction projects. WSDG has extensive experience with sensitive architectural issues including historical renovations, additions and new construction projects in media production, corporate, government, transportation, education, broadcasting and cultural / entertainment sectors. ​ 

Past clients include Jay-Z, Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, J Cole, and Jack Antonoff; corporate entities such as Spotify, Sony, CBS, Novartis, and IBM; global governmental AV installations as well as educational institutions, including Berklee College of Music, UCLA, NYU, Drexel, and USC.

Steve Bailey

Public Relations, Hummingbird Media

• steve@hummingbirdmedia.com

• www.hummingbirdmedia.com
• @hummingbirdbuzz