Successful DJ Björn Torwellen founded the SINEE Institute, an educational institute for prospective electronic music producers. The dynamic curriculum encompasses both musical and technical aspects in equal measures and offers students the chance to learn from big names like Hannes Bieger, Robert Babicz or Florian Meindl. The institute’s own studio is equipped with analogue sound processors, a modular system – and a pair of PSI Audio A17-M for perfect monitoring.
The contents of this press release
SINEE Institute trusts in PSI Audio
“Dark, melancholic, with lots of atmosphere”: Björn Torwellen
Rooms filled with stories: Björn Torwellen on electronic music
The SINEE Institute: top-quality self-production
Best sound in a restricted space: Analog Lab with PSI Audio
Between musician and engineer: the approach of SINEE Institute
PSI Audio A17-M: availability and price
Yverdon-les-Bains, 26th November 2018 – Björn Torwellen is a man of many talents: musician, author, event organiser, label manager, lecturer. With SINEE Institute, the successful DJ offers newcomers a chance to learn the craft of electronic music from those who made it big already. The institute’s studio employs PSI Audio monitor speakers.
“Dark, melancholic, with lots of atmosphere”: Björn Torwellen
Music has been a part of Björn Torwellen’s life since his childhood. Obsessed with a cassette recorder as a child, he later started DJing and eventually began producing his own tracks, which have made him a household name in the world of electronic music. He does not want to commit to a specific genre though. “I just do what comes naturally,” Torwellen says. “Mostly it happens to be dark, melancholic, with a lot of atmosphere. My music did become less aggressive over the years. Much of it has a cineastic quality to it.” He is interested in the scene’s current developments, but does not let them affect his music. “I don’t like following trends. Just because everyone is jumping on a bandwagon, I don’t have to.”
Rooms filled with stories: Björn Torwellen on electronic music
Björn Torwellen’s music is reflective of his approach to music. “I try to open rooms in my tracks, to tell stories.” The DJ describes his creative process as a “conversation with the machines and the mood”, further philosophising on electronic music. “In most cases, electronic dance music is made to party.” It requires a certain reliability to allow for escaping the daily routine. The hypnotic monotony offers a very special experience. “It is all about the loop,” Torwellen says, “like a sustain pedal for the moment of happiness.”
The SINEE Institute: top-quality self-production
For more than ten years, Björn Torwellen also holds workshops, passing on the know-how he collected over the years. “After publishing a book on Ableton Live, people kept asking me for workshops”, the DJ explains his involvement with teaching, “which is why I held lectures time and again. The SINEE institute is the logical consequence.” Compared to other educational establishments in the audio sector, the emphasis at SINEE Institute is different. “We do not focus on recording others as much as we focus on producing yourself,” Torwellen summarises the concept. “Ableton and the workings of a compressor can be learned anywhere. But what then? We teach our students important production skills. Sound design, arrangement, composition. And how they can market their music.”
SINEE foregoes a traditional linear curriculum in favour of a dynamic learning structure. “We offer a different programme each month. We book lecturers, develop the courses. The students can learn according to their own interests and preferences.” They book their own schedule in the SINEE°cloud. This flexibility enables the institute to work with big names like Hannes Bieger, Robert Babicz and Florian Meindl.
Best sound in a restricted space: Analog Lab with PSI Audio
The SINEE Institute features five workstations for the students to work on. These workstations are equipped with computers and comprehensive software packages. At the heart of the institute is the Analog Lab, a small studio with lots of analogue instruments and a modular system. PSI Audio A17-M are employed for the perfect reproduction of the educative sound designs. “When I built the studio, the choice of monitors was a priority,” Torwellen comments his choice. “We have a very small room of only 13 square metres. Large eight-inch systems were never an option.”
Torwellen was looking for an all-rounder, meticulously reproducing all information while still being fun to work with and precisely featuring the bass frequencies. “When we had sorted out the room’s acoustic design, I began trying out speakers from various renowned manufacturers. But nothing quite convinced me.” When PSI Audio was suggested to him, Torwellen tried the precision speakers from Switzerland – and was won over immediately. “Despite the small size I get enough power out of them while still having an unbelievable spatial impression. I hardly need to listen to references, with the PSI Audio A17-M every mix works first time. Our students are just as impressed.”
Between musician and engineer: the approach of SINEE Institute
The precise sonic reproduction of the PSI Audio A17-M lets the students easily find that sweet spot between music and technology. A fact Björn Torwellen emphasises. “Music and technology are well balanced in our curriculum,” the institute’s founder claims. “Both are important.” SINEE is thus ready to expand. “Speaking of long-term development, I can see SINEE with a large number of subsidiaries.” And yet, when asked about what he wants to achieve with SINEE, his focus is very different. “The best thing would be if one of our students made it big.” They do have the best possible conditions at SINEE institute with the high-quality monitors by PSI Audio.
