What makes us a soundstage?
It’s a lot more than our cyc!
At Cobalt, we’re serious about sound. We’re so serious that our audio quality got a resounding “thumbs up” from the Metropolitan Opera – from the singers and technicians alike! We know all stages aren’t created equal, so we wanted to share the science behind the art of recording production-quality sound!
What is a soundstage?
A soundstage is a production facility that can be used to record production sound along with the images. There are some physical considerations, but the main differentiator is soundproofing. To create the East Coast’s first true Turnkey Soundstage, we invested in extensive sound-testing and soundproofing under the supervision of an expert audio engineer.
Stellar sound is all about control.
To keep outside sounds out and to prevent unwanted reverberation inside, we filled every nook and cranny with Mass Loaded Vinyl. Then we built an airlock between our production spaces and the stage, so people can gather around the Craft Service bar while shooting continues, onstage. To that, we added zoned electronics, so a random phone call won’t ever interrupt filming. And finally, we wrapped our plumbing in sound-absorbing foam and vinyl, boxed out our roof drains, draped vinyl strips in front of our gigantic sliding door to the garage, and applied six inches of sound insulation to the ceiling—the project’s biggest investment.
For optimal production sound, work with the Soundstage that’s Met Opera-Approved!
Let’s talk.
We are closer to Midtown than Brooklyn.
If you haven’t shot in NJ lately,
there’s a lot to catch up on.
Cobalt on the Road 2021: Making Magic, Coast to Coast.
Yup, we’re more than just a soundstage! We’ve deployed our expertise in all sorts of environments, Coast to Coast. Read on for a few examples of Creators making magic with Cobalt on the Road.
Chris Rock x Cobalt on the Road
When Chris Rock’s team calls with a production emergency, you don’t let it go to voicemail! We recently pulled off a near-miraculous TV gig in Chicago supporting Chris Rock’s comedy special with just 48 hours’ notice! Challenged with coordinating equipment and talent in three time zones, we devised a custom rig to fit in an extremely tight space. As true team effort, one of Cobalt’s Stage Managers even drove the rig overnight to Chicago, so our client wouldn’t miss a beat. Success!!
Albert Einstein, Live and on Location
PBS’s “Light Falls: Space, Time and an Obsession of Albert Einstein” brought Einstein’s work to life through a groundbreaking multimedia stage performance. The show’s narrator and actors performed live between two scrims, each with its own perfectly-synchronized projection, which we combined to create a dimensional live hologram effect. The whole performance was captured with seven cameras to produce 60 visually-stunning shots. To match the projections precisely with the performers and audio, we used Time Code Triggering to sync devices to great effect!
Back to School in Syracuse – recent Feature Film work
Team Cobalt packed up and headed Upstate just the other day! The project, a girl-powered coming of age story, was being shot on location in a decommissioned school in Syracuse, NY. Our challenging effect showed the scene’s protagonist interacting with classmates in a crowded high school hallway while everyone, except the lead, moving in reverse. Shooting the actor and different groups of extras, in separate passes required complex choreography. In the scene, she bumped into some extras while others passed in front and behind her. The star moving forward and extras moving in reverse gave us a lot to keep track of!
We’re here to provide world-class service and support in the studio and on location.
Let’s talk.
Hoboken is closer to Midtown than Brooklyn.
If you haven’t shot in NJ lately,
there’s a lot to catch up on.
Cobalt on the Road: Producing Projects, Coast to Coast
Got a project on the West Coast, or anywhere in the continental U.S.? We’ve also historically shot in Moscow, Beirut and Bucharest, too. Now, we’re delivering our signature support and cutting edge tools to a Los Angeles project where we’ve been asked to contribute our savvy know-how.
Sometimes all you need is a good beach.
We’re in LA now, working on a project with some pretty incredible time-travel cinematic tricks! While we love the control of working in the studio, we also LOVE jumping in an RV to support your exciting projects. In the past two months, we’ve done it twice. We can meet you wherever you are with trusted resources – both general production or VFX specific.
We deliver.
Relationships and experience are the keys to Cobalt’s success on the road. Clients often ask if we have accounts in LA, and the answer is yes! We’ve had active accounts set up for decades with reliable suppliers spanning camera rentals, lighting, grip, Motion Control, insurance, prop houses, VSet and more. We also nurture strong relationships with crew members on both coasts, so YES, we can also recommend a good gaffer or two!
We’re here to provide world-class service and support in the studio and on location— We produce, and help you produce,
Coast to Coast : )
Book our Turnkey Soundstage.
Hoboken is closer to Midtown than Brooklyn.
If you haven’t shot in NJ lately,
there’s a lot to catch up on.
Cobalt’s Guide to Post-Production
In our Soundstage for Creators series, we're talking about smart strategies for meeting the creative community's rapidly-evolving needs. Read on for our strategies to make Post-Production an efficient and uplifting experience.
Should You “Fix it in Post?”
Today’s incredible Post-Production tools make it tempting to push more effects work to the Post-Production phase. Should you?? Our in-house VFX maestro, Alex Fernbach, had this to say, “Some things are better handled In-Production while others are more expensive to do in Post. Cobalt is an effects supervisor’s best friend because we have the knowledge and resources on hand to elevate your image efficiently and cost-effectively. We offer Motion Control robotics, but if your effect can be achieved with a simple mirror, we’ll tell you. We’re client-centric and tool-agnostic.” As a by-producers, for-producers soundstage, we believe that nurturing our client relationships means more than renting out a piece of equipment.
Virtual Sets & Post-Production
When you’re working with Virtual Sets, Post-Production does take center stage - and many have lots of questions on the topic. Our Virtual Backlot is purpose-built to create the most efficient production path for our clients. Productions like “The Mandalorian” use the latest VSet technology to show a live composite, but outside of Hollywood, it’s untenable.
For most productions, having all your CG assets designed and approved before shooting begins is a tall order and an unreasonable stressor. The tried and true green screen production path gives you the slack you need, so you can work out the time consuming nuances in Post at a fraction of the cost (and risk). Trying to do this Live (like with the Unreal Engine), can bring production to an unnecessary halt - sometimes for the slightest thing. Post-Production resources for VSets are so well-distributed and so reasonably-priced, we can easily guide you toward the CG professionals you need to make the most of your budget and creativity.
Serving as a Post-Production Resource
We’re diligent about getting you your “day after actual” paperwork quickly, in a form that’s tidy and complete with no surprises. (And being Turnkey makes Cobalt’s invoices a lot shorter than most.) As a relationship-driven company, we’re happy to share our resources. And when you use our onsite production tools and support, our VFX technical notations are meticulous, so the editor isn’t guessing.
We're here to provide world-class support to Creators from Pre to Post Production, and everything else in between.
New Jersey leads the nation in safe shoots
and Hoboken is closer to midtown than Brooklyn.
If you haven't shot in NJ lately,
there’s a lot to catch up on.
Park your production with us.
Park your production with us.
We compared Hoboken’s on-street parking with NYC’s.
HOBOKEN
$1 per hour
Hoboken meter rates around
our facilities at all times of day.
NYC
Up to $7.50 per hour
NYC’s hourly parking rates
depending on time of day.
New Jersey leads the nation in safe shoots
and Hoboken is closer to midtown than Brooklyn.
If you haven’t shot in NJ lately,
there’s a lot to catch up on.
SOUNDSTAGE FOR CREATORS: How Cobalt Empowers Creators On Set
In Production
How Cobalt Empowers Creators On Set
In our Soundstage for Creators series, we're talking about smart strategies for meeting the creative community's rapidly-evolving needs. Cobalt’s turnkey creative solutions and safety nets ensure that you're always ready to solve problems and seize creative inspiration—even at the very last minute.
Your Creative Safety Net
You’re in the production phase and the wheels start turning. You’re always well-prepared, so what happens next depends on two things: fate and the facility. You wouldn’t perform a triple somersault from a trapeze without a safety net—you’d have to play it safe. The same is true for productions! When Jerry Seinfeld had a last-minute idea that featured a James Bond-style laser beam, our onsite Motion Control Robotics empowered him to create freely in the moment. Of course, it's not always as glamorous as that; sometimes production grinds to a halt for the need of a piece of Plexiglass. When you shoot at Cobalt, our experienced support people and comprehensive collection of “emergency expendables” means you’ll never be stuck for a solution.
The Biggest Opportunity Now
To elevate image quality and reduce costs, nothing compares to the value of virtual sets. Unlike practical sets, with virtual sets you’re blissfully unfettered by space, budget, and talent constraints. If you want a bigger set, draw a bigger rectangle. If you want ornamental woodwork worthy of a Russian Tsar, you can easily have it, because you’re carving pixels, not high-end exotic wood. With virtual sets, the only things that need to be practical are the things actors need to touch or sit on.
As you may have guessed, this streamlines lighting dramatically. Instead of building elaborate sets, trucking in loads of lights and devoting countless hours to installing and removing them, your DP can focus on lighting the actors and a few props. The rest is handled by moving virtual lights in virtual space. We love virtual sets because the crew time, set time, and equipment cost savings are stunning, and the sets are as big, detailed, and impressive as you like. If you haven’t demoed our Virtual Backlot yet, it’s definitely worth your time.
Cobalt’s Creative Incubator
Turnkey security and virtual sets value aren’t the only production game-changers we offer. To wrap your mind around all the possibilities, every Tri-State creator should get familiar with our ultra-configurable spaces, motion control robotics, world-class live streaming, wood shop, home-ec kitchen, and our massive inventory of production tools. Want to collaborate with creators in real-time across an unlimited number of locations? We’ve got your live streaming needs covered. Want to orchestrate complex camera moves to show a product in a compelling, new way? Leverage our unique motion control equipment inventory, along with our expertise for making the most of it. And, if you have a big idea and don’t know where to start, we’re always here to talk shop and offer support.
New Jersey leads the nation in safe shoots
and Hoboken is closer to midtown than Brooklyn.
If you haven't shot in NJ lately,
there’s a lot to catch up on.
Pre-Production
Your All-in-One Production Resource
Master Pre-Production Productivity
Yes, you know that we are a by-producers, for-producers soundstage, but how is this relevant to you in your ever important pre-production whirlwind? If you launch a project in an empty warehouse space, it’s sadly a DIY deal. In contrast, we at Cobalt already have most of what you need to achieve your goal. In addition, we are your enormous safety net to catch and cover everything from last-minute creative inspiration to unforeseen unknowns.
As we see it, you can rent space and time from another soundstage, but we provide something more: solutions and security. Need to build practical sets? Work in our woodshop. Need a production office? Work in our fully-equipped production suite the week before the shoot. Need more space for your production team?? Our Hobo House location is just 3 blocks away! TONS of space to spread out during your pre-production endeavor.
Our Virtual Backlot: Pre-Production Powerhouse
We’re committed to “pulling back the curtain” to reveal the truth behind our Virtual Backlot. Here’s what you need to know... At this point, the technology is no longer bleeding edge at all — it’s now well established with a well-worn path to success.
We’ve created a list of VSet/Virtual Backlot FAQs on our blog, but we can answer a few right here:
Q: How is the Virtual Environment designed?
A: The same as always - with the help of a designer who works in the 3-D workspace.
Q: Does it add significant cost?
A: Quite the contrary. You can build unimaginable production value into your environment, especially of you make use of the plentiful royalty free assets that can be found on the web, at a fraction of the cost of either set building or going on location.
Q: Does the Virtual Set need to be completed before production.
A: Absolutely not. Our system allows you to finish your CG AFTER principle photography, so you can shoot with only a wireframe of your set, and finish in the comfort of a post-suite.
The main difference in the Virtual Set production process is this: To access this image-elevating, pandemic-smart, cost-saving, sustainable set-creation tool, most of your to-do list is on the Pre-Production end.
We're here to provide world-class support for Creators that doesn't break the bank. All these things are in place and ready to kick into gear oh so easily at our Virtual Backlot.
New Jersey leads the nation in safe shoots
and Hoboken is closer to midtown than Brooklyn.
If you haven't shot in NJ lately,
there’s a lot to catch up on.
Soundstage for Creators
Your All-in-One Production Resource
Jerry Seinfeld’s “24 Hours to Kill” shoot at Cobalt.
See Alex on the Right as 'MoCo McGuyver'!!!
It’s Not Just About Time and Space.
Production life is always evolving, with new challenges and opportunities emerging every second. To serve you better, our “by-producers, for-producers” soundstage sees productions as dynamic puzzles, not by-the-pound commodities. Anybody can sell studio space and time, but we do what no other soundstage can. We provide premium production support, and we don’t just mean that we support your project. We support you.
The Future of Production is Personal.
“We don’t see our clients as the sum of their projects. Our approach is relationship-driven because we know we can help elevate your profile as a Creator,” said Prezz Kara Vedder. “For instance, a producer-client of ours recommended that Netflix book Cobalt for Jerry Seinfeld’s 24 Hours to Kill. When Jerry came up with an ambitious last minute creative idea, we were able to keep everything smooth. We used our onsite Robotics inventory and Motion Control expertise to deliver a working and fully-propped laser beam on the spot. They wouldn’t have been able to do this on the same day anywhere else. Our clients keep coming back because they know we have their backs.”
Production Expertise at Your Fingertips.
Our boutique-hotel hospitality and high-tech production playground are unique on the East Coast, but our consultative support is something you really can’t get anywhere else. We are seasoned production problem-solvers. We understand production life, and we want to make sure everyone looks good. So, from the first call to hold the space to the last-minute rescue when the unforeseen happens, we’re here to guide you through the most efficient, cost-effective strategies for production without compromising on creativity.
New Jersey leads the nation in safe shoots
and Hoboken is closer to midtown than Brooklyn.
If you haven't shot in NJ lately,
there’s a lot to catch up on.
The Cobalt Experience
Why Production Culture Matters
As a "by-producers, for-producers" turnkey soundstage, our next-level amenities and customer service have been compared to a boutique hotel experience. For us, that’s the ultimate compliment. We made a conscious decision to infuse that level of hospitality and attention-to-detail into our
company culture.
A Service-Obsessed Culture.
Decades of experience has proven this over and over. Making the soundstage experience as smooth and as streamlined as possible helps productions focus on what matters most: the work. From the moment you call us, we’re committed to delivering a full-on concierge experience. Planning your first pandemic-smart Safe Shoot with us? Need a consultation on Virtual Sets or Remote Camerawork Robotics? Whatever it is, we’ve got you covered.
Little Things That Mean a Lot.
We’ve done some heroic things to help our clients pull off projects, because well... that’s just what we do. But in some ways, the routine things that we do, really mean the most. For instance, it may sound boring, but we even give real-time accounting updates. We invoice within two days when a project wraps just because "we get it". When you’re on to the next project, you don’t want to wait around for paperwork from the last one. Right??
More.
We're also a “more-is-more” soundstage. We provide more private client breakout spaces, more smooth amenities, and more high-tech production tools than any other soundstage on the East Coast. We take pride in our Swiss Army Knife-style preparedness, and even in a poopie pandemic, we are committed to more. Yes, we have a Spa Trolley full of fresh slippers and robes, and YES... we honor the fact that streamlining complexity - even in accounting - is every producer’s love language. Come see what more feels like in production :)
New Jersey leads the nation in safe shoots
and Hoboken is closer to midtown than Brooklyn.
If you haven't shot in NJ lately,
there’s a lot to catch up on.
Why We ❤️ TurboSquid
And how it makes creators' dreams come true.
You've probably seen TurboSquid models like the one above hundreds of times, and didn't know it.
TurboSquid models are used by directors, agencies, architects, content studios, advertisers, and creative professionals around the world.
What is TurboSquid?
TurboSquid is our favorite place to find existing CG models! The TurboSquid website is a library of readymade CG environments created by independent CG artists around the globe. Chances are you've seen TurboSquid models hundreds of times in TV, films, and ads and didn't know it. That's because countless game developers, news agencies, architects, visual effects studios, advertisers, and creative professionals use TurboSquid's crowdsourced CG environments. And now you know!
Pull a set from a Castle. Or a Log Cabin.
A quick spin around the site reveals a small Japanese house for $164, complete with potted plants, a lamppost, and even a tasteful little trash can! Need to build a neighborhood? Add more homes from the same designer, and even a Tatami Store! At a glance, other options run the gamut from Medieval Monasteries to Modernist Mansions. There are even cartoon styles! In 2021, every production professional should be familiar with the infinite options these 3D environments deliver. It’s now easy to find affordable CG geometries for your beach house, commercial kitchen, opulent living room, working laboratory, Wall Street office space, or any other setting you can imagine.
Endless Possibilities for Creators
While some projects require custom CG geometries, many can be found royalty-free on sites like TurboSquid. There are other services like CGTrader, too, but the business model (self-service shopping for crowdsourced CG models)is the same. You can grab a few CG environments, and use a CG firm or freelance CG artist to combine, customize, and re-light them for your scene. Then, you're ready to roll. Virtual Sets are a big opportunity for pandemic-smart productions, and they’re environmentally-friendly, too! (Not to mention the extraordinary location fees you’re saving when you're charged to shoot somewhere like the NYC Subway System or the Soho Grand Hotel.) Keep reading about Virtual Sets, or call us for a virtual or in-person tour of our Virtual Backlot here at Cobalt.
New Jersey leads the nation in safe shoots
and Hoboken is closer to midtown than Brooklyn.
If you haven't shot in NJ lately,
there’s a lot to catch up on.