DSA Case Study:
Fonoprint | Bologna, Italy
Pioneering Italian Audio and Video Lab Masters Blu-ray with Help of NetBlender
7,000 Copies of Vasco Rossi “Il Mondo Che Vorrei” 2008 Live Tour BD sell out in a month
What does Fonoprint do?
Since 1976, Fonoprint has been THE audio recording and mixing studio for Italy’s biggest music stars across all music genres. At the behest of their clients, ten years ago Fonoprint became one of the first Italian audio studios to also offer complete Stereo and Surround audio mastering services. And five years ago, again at the urging of their customers, Alberto started the Fonoprint video department, initially providing concert video DVD authoring. Two years after launching their video offering, Fonoprint was producing many of the most important Italian music videos. Fonoprint’s customers have been so happy with their video offering that the company is adding a slew of additional services, including video post production, editing, color correction and is taking on video production projects as well.
The rise of Blu-ray popularity in Italy, especially with the trend-setting youth segment (30,000 PS3s have been sold in Italy as of Q1 2009), Fonoprint recently became the first Italian lab to author an Italian musical BD.
How do you use NetBlender?
Fonoprint has been working with Vasco Rossi, Italy’s most famous rock star, for most of his 20+ year career. In 2008, Rossi approached Fonoprint about 5.1 Audio Mastering and authoring a Blu-ray disc highlighting his 2008 live tour. Fonoprint accepted the project and selected DoStudio as their authoring suite to complete the project.
How has NetBlender helped your business?
Alberto was attracted to DoStudio by the affordable price and also its superior ease-of-use. As he got into the project, Alberto uncovered a couple feature requirements, and NetBlender responded quickly and effectively to keep the project on track. Specifically, Alberto required double-layer and he also needed DoStudio’s PCM audio file size limit increased. NetBlender sent Fonoprint an advanced-copy of the double-layer functionality and NetBlender also adjusted the PCM file size limit in order to meet Fonoprint’s needs.
With the successful Vasco Rossi BD title under their belt, Fonoprint plans to leverage their Blu-ray lead in Italy to go beyond their core music market to also work with Italian movie and TV production houses to support their BD needs.
What results have you seen using NetBlender DSA?
“Prior to our Vasco Rossi title, the biggest-selling BD in Italy sold just 400 discs, so when they told me they were going to replicate 7,000 for Vasco Rossi, I thought they were a little crazy,” said Alberto Cerchierini. “Well, all 7,000 were sold in under a month, and now they are running another batch of 5,000.” The publication of this BD title followed a successful Cinema digital projection that took place in UCI Cinema’s network in five Italian cities (Bologna, Milan, Rome, Napoli and Messina), with Fonoprint supervising the Audio and Video performance of this event.
With this blockbuster success added to their long list of credits, Fonoprint looks forward to using their Blu-ray expertise to help other Italian artists, filmmakers, television producers and studios with their Blu-ray projects.
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