If you Looked at the 50,000-square-foot complex that is Metalworks, just west of downtown Toronto in Mississauga, it’s almost hard to imagine that it came from relatively modest roots. It started out as a private studio but has now grown into a multi-faceted operation that includes; a large commercial studio, production school, and live sound provider with a major investment in L-Acoustics loudspeaker systems, including its most recent addition of a full L-Acoustics K2 system.
In 2005, Metalworks Studios bought out a pair of live sound companies and launched Metalworks Production Group (MPG), a full-service production house. One of the companies that it purchased was already an L-Acoustics rental network partner, making MPG an L-Acoustics house from the very beginning. “We started with approximately 50 L-Acoustics V-DOSC and 100 L-Acoustics dV-DOSC right out of the gate,” said Metalworks Owner Gil Moore, who is perhaps better known as the drummer and co-lead singer for the Canadian rock band, Triumph.
As someone who has played on more than his share of tours, Moore has a unique take on running a sound company, as well as a keen appreciation for rider requirements. Moore said: “ L-Acoustics speakers are consistently one of the top choices on every rider we see. As a business owner, that’s one less stress because I know that I’m not going to have to worry about that top status changing.”
MPG’s inventory of L-Acoustics is extensive. “We have 120 L-Acoustics Kara, 32 L-Acoustics K2, and we’ve just added several L-Acoustics LA12X-equipped LA-RAK II amplified controller racks and 16 L-Acoustics KS28 subs, which will join our 42 L-Acoustics SB28 subs.” MPG General Manager, Mike Primeau said: “We also have 20 L-Acoustics Kiva II and eight L-Acoustics SB18 subs, plus 12 L-Acoustics ARCS Wides and 12 L-Acoustics X15 wedges. With newer systems like K2, you just feel like the sound is closer to you and even more intimate.”
L-Acoustics were chosen as Moore believed they have many “strategic advantages” over other systems, including their better rigging capabilities and consistent tone across the entire line. “Regardless of the cabinet size, from Kiva to K1, L-Acoustics enclosures all share a very similar sonic signature.” Moore added: “Even when I look back on V-DOSC and dV-DOSC, they spoke with a common voice and had a comparable tone—a very smooth top end and smooth bottom end as well.”
Metalworks Studios is the largest commercial studio in Ontario, and its associated school, Metalworks Institute of Sound & Music Production, which teaches recording as well as all aspects of live production, is the largest private career college in Ontario. “We have the largest number of media arts students in Ontario—over 200 full-time students.” Moore proudly shared, adding that Metalworks was also involved with a third-seed-round startup called AudioWorks, which is developing a cloud-based studio.
