A new visitor attraction at the Yebisu Brewery Tokyo offers a vibrant, multi-zone audio experience with beer tastings in the taproom, exhibitions and a shop for visitors to buy souvenirs. Once a quiet museum, this transformation is, in part, the result sound system overhaul and installation reliant upon Powersoft’s Mezzo amplifier platform and Dynamic Music Distribution (DMD) system.

The brewery’s audio revamp was driven by the need to shift its image from ‘classic’ into a lighter and more playful one, aligning with the changing taste of modern audiences. ‘We wanted to create a vibrant atmosphere that would change the Yebisu beer’s previous reputation,’ says Sapporo Breweries Marketing Division Deputy Manager, Takako Okii. ‘We also needed to get rid of the echo issues, and we believe that high-quality sound was crucial in delivering an exciting and memorable experience. This is why we needed a new music system.’

Mood Media Japan Inc undertook the audio overhaul in the entire area, including its three high-quality audio zones: ‘We installed the system in three zones, with each area playing a different sound,’ says Yamato Shibasaki, music designer from Mood Media Japan. ‘We designed it in a way that minimises the sound from overlapping.’

Stepping into the brewery itself, the visitors are welcomed by the Yebisu Beer theme song, ‘The Third Man Theme’ by Anton Karas, played from two different sources to draw attention to the centre of the facility and convey the message of brand’s diversity. Shibasaki explains that using two different music sources highlights the many ways a single piece of music can be experienced. In the museum area, soft background music allows visitors to focus on the exhibition and feel the atmosphere of Yebisu Beer. In contrast, the taproom features livelier music, creating a dynamic transition between the brewery’s history and its future.

‘It was a very interesting project for us,’ Shibasaki says. ‘The brewery’s open layout posed acoustic challenges, particularly with high ceilings and minimal partitions.’ To overcome this challenge, Mood Media Japan used the DSP capabilities of a Mezzo amplifier. The delay function on Mezzo synchronised audio across the entrance and the museum, eliminating any perception of sound lag between the zones.

‘Mezzo is designed for environments that require both flexibility and reliability in a compact form,’ says Powersoft Market Development Manager for Japan, Haruka Murayama. ‘It is perfect for a complex, space-constrained installation like Yebisu Brewery, delivering premium sound without overwhelming the spaces.’

In addition to Mezzo’s sound management, Powersoft’s Dynamic Music Distribution gave the system integrator the ability to scale inputs and zones conveniently with dynamic routing capabilities embedded in its amplifier platforms. This makes it simpler to share music between different zones independently from the source location without the need of a centralised DSP.

According to Shibasaki, DMD allowed him to conveniently design the sound system, as he was able to define the core equipment early in the process, simplifying budgeting and future adjustments: ‘We could modify the number of sources and zones without reworking the wiring or adding extra hardware,’ he says.

Ease of operation was also a key consideration, which is why Mood Media Japan adopted Powersoft’s WMTouch control panel, making the system highly intuitive. ‘Many systems can be intimidating to users with complex controls, but with WMTouch, the users are actively engaging with it.’ Okii agrees: ‘Our employees quickly understood how to use the system. The Scene recall functionality makes the adjustments seamless, ensuring anyone can manage the audio with ease.’

The compact design of Mezzo amplifiers also addressed practical concerns. ‘The rack room is small with limited airflow and Mezzo’s compact size, multichannel capabilities, and low heat emission made it the perfect solution,’ Shibasaki explains.

The impact of the new sound system has been positive: ‘We’re extremely satisfied with the audio quality and do not need to have any concerns about the reverberation. The spacious rooms are comfortable, allowing visitors to focus on their experience,’ Okii says. ‘Sound is now an integral part of our visitor experience and it’s something the visitors will remember long after they leave, connecting them emotionally to Yebisu beer.’

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