About
At MDRN Acoustic Concepts, every project begins with one principle: acoustics IS architecture. We design environments that merge sound isolation, vibration control, and technical integration into a single, seamless system
Our expertise spans all areas of acoustic design and consultation, but our primary focus is the creation of custom recording studios — from mixing, mastering, and tracking rooms to dubbing and ADR stages, live performance spaces, and critical listening environments such as private cinemas and hi-fi rooms.
Whether it’s a full-service design scaled to your budget, or the integration of specialized technical systems, MDRN delivers a space where acoustic precision and workflow exist in balance.
What are the fundamental pillars of a properly designed acoustic environment?
There are many things to consider across the aggregate of any given project. But to put it simply – our designs focus on balancing 3 critical areas:
Adequate Isolation
Noise intrusion compromises the value of any recording or listening environment. MDRN can conduct transmission loss testing before finalizing design details, ensuring that each space is engineered to manage the specific disturbances — internal and external — unique to its location.
Naturally Weighted Acoustic Response
Every detail should be experienced as the artist, producer, or filmmaker intended. Through objective design criteria and precise material placement, MDRN achieves an acoustic response that is balanced, immersive, and – most importantly – true to the source.
Optimized Technical Design
From patch-bay layouts and zero-loop wiring plans to the integration of I/O systems of any type, MDRN designs maximize technical capabilities while streamlining workflow. The result is a facility that is as efficient as it is accurate.
John Ryan Sullivan
Acoustic Designer/Builder, Owner/Operator
I began my career in the music industry in 2002 at The Farm Studios in Gibsons, British Columbia, working with producer GGGarth Richardson and his team. Over nearly a decade, I was involved in every aspect of the record-making process, day-to-day studio operations, and several facility builds under the design guidance of Vancouver studio designer John Vrtacic. This experience set me on the path toward designing and building recording studios and acoustically focused spaces.
While I remain active in music through composition for film and television and ongoing songwriting, since 2010 my focus has been on the design and construction of recording facilities, critical listening environments, sound isolation solutions, and custom acoustic treatment plans across a variety of applications.
Over the years I’ve had the privilege of learning from and collaborating with respected designers, including Vancouver’s Ron O. Vrmulin, who co-designed The Warehouse Studio and Armoury Studios, as well as personal studios for Mutt Lange, Bryan Adams, Devin Townsend, Brian Howes, Josh Ramsay, and others — many of which I contributed to in various capacities.
In 2015 I developed a working relationship with acoustic designer John H. Brandt, who has mentored me in design methodologies refined over decades in the field. While I’ve since shaped my own process in ways I find most effective, much of my current approach is rooted in the knowledge I gained working under John’s consult and design framework.
What drives me is the challenge of translating the unique conditions of any space into a solution that is functional, acoustically precise, and visually resonant. I believe every project deserves an identity that aligns with its purpose and character.
As a lifelong student of both music and acoustics, I feel fortunate to have built a career at their intersection — and I look forward to helping bring your next project to life.
Nygel Asselin
Technical Designs, Project Assistant
My name is Nygel Asselin, and my focus at MDRN is studio systems design — from technical layouts and patch-bay architecture to complete wiring solutions. I specialize in building workflows that make every piece of gear accessible and intuitive, so creativity flows without interruption.
Alongside my technical work, I remain active as a producer, engineer, songwriter and studio owner. That dual perspective allows me to approach design not only as a systems specialist, but as someone who understands firsthand the importance of a streamlined creative environment.
Over the past decade, I’ve designed recording setups, patch bays, wiring infrastructure, and technical workflows for dozens of clients, including Dan Mangan, Half Moon Run, Pomo, Ryan Guldemond (Mother Mother), and GGGarth Richardson. My goal in every project is simple: remove the technical hurdles so artists and producers can stay focused on the work that matters most — making music.
