Making its public debut at a New Year´s Eve concert in 2018, the Amadeus Active Acoustics System in the Great Hall of the Congress Center Suhl (CCS), Germany, has dramatically improved the experience of the up to 2,352 audience, providing a very short reverberation time for concerts and other occasions. The installation places particular emphasis on enhancement of the acoustical envelopment and the perceived loudness during concerts.
With the touch of a fingertip, the acoustics can now be optimised according to the desired type of event.
To enhance the venue´s room acoustics, the regenerative operation of the Amadeus Core processor uses the acoustical signals of the whole hall. Thus the natural sound impression will persist even when the performance is over. The audience and the musicians experience the same room acoustics. To pick up the acoustical signals, seven Audio-Technica microphones were placed above the stage (for the use at concerts) and the audience each. After processing by the Amadeus Core, the signals are distributed through 74 already existing wide dispersion ceiling speakers and Renkus-Heinz CX61 loudspeakers at the side walls and rear of the hall. By reproducing the natural sound of the hall, the reverberant energy is increased. In addition, the stage sound is used to increase the amount of early reflections that determine the spatial impression and transparency during concerts. Ten Bittner 8X100 power amps are used for amplification.
The signals are transmitted via a newly installed Dante network, using an Attero Tech Synapse D16Mio interface with integrated microphone preamplifiers for D/A conversion and three unD32 breakout boxes for A/D conversion of the loudspeaker signals. All components except for the speakers and microphones are installed in an impressive half-open circular construction in the roof above the audience.
The acoustical parameters for the different venue types were tuned and stored in presets that are recalled under a number of options – Theater offers a mean reverberation time of 1.4-1.5s with no increase of the natural reverberation time of the hall, but denser reflection pattern; Chamber Music gives a mean reverberation time of about 1.7-1.8s seconds with higher density of reflections; Symphony Concert offers a mean reverberation time of about 2.0-2.2s, an appreciably longer reverberation time and higher density of reflections; and Cathedral delivers a mean reverberation time longer than 3s with an overlong reverberation time for demonstrations and special effects. The Acoustics Off option deactivates the system.
The responses to the new system have been positive throughout: ‘The CCS GmbH is very pleased with the result of the installation of the reverberation enhancement system’, reports Congress Center Suhl MD, Diana Schneider, MD. ‘This is reflected by the great number of feedback messages from our visitors, who speak about a special sound experience and perfect musical enjoyment.’
The system design was undertaken by Wolfgang Ahnert of ADA Acoustics & Media Consultants with system Components provided by MediasPro Medientechnik. Installation of the acoustics system and Dante network was handled by Elektroakustik Neuenhagen with system tuning and configuration of the presets by Amadeus Acoustics.
More: www.mediaspro.de
