Applications – Sound Architecture

HOLOPLOT X1 in high-performance applications

Transforming sound experiences

Lightroom - London's latest immersive arts venue

Read the new case study

Africa’s largest mosque

Cairo, Egypt

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Delivering on Egypt Vision 2030

To alleviate pressure on public infrastructure in Cairo, the Egyptian government made the bold decision to move all municipal activity and official governing institutions to a newly created administrative capital, 50km outside of the city.

The Misr Cultural Islamic Centre (MCIC) is one of a variety of sites in the new capital including entertainment venues, stadiums, parliament, a presidential palace and other cultural entities.

HOLOPLOT has provided the audio solution for the Majrid Misr, situated in the heart of the MCIC complex.

The venue

The mosque covers an impressive area of 10,000 m2 with most of the surfaces exposed to sound made from highly reverberant marble. The central dome is 60m high and the interior worship space broken up by a number of pillars, also made from marble

The results

50%

reduction in acoustic treatment

70%

reduction in hardware installation points

0.6 average STI measurement

100%

uncompromised interior design

Download the case study for a technical deep dive to learn more about this project:

Unmatched intelligibility in an acoustically challenging worship environment
Uniform coverage across a venue of incredible scale
Preservation of the architectural vision of the mosque through a dramatic reduction in hardware installation and discrete system positioning
Deliver an intelligent, flexible system design without the requirement for preset switching or adjustment

Look inside

Misr Mosque - 10,000 m2 marble Mosque

The soundscapes of Illuminarium

Illuminarium Experiences – Atlanta, 2021

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The soundscapes of Illuminarium

Illuminarium Experiences - Atlanta, 2021

Illuminarium venues are transporting visitors to places they can only dream of experiencing. With Wild: A Safari Experience, the guests experience strobe effects, gentle floor vibration, immersive, authentic sounds and scents, and realistic & responsive projection. Through the two rooms of the Atlanta’s Illuminarium, the visitors are immersed in Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa without leaving Atlanta’s BeltLine.

The Illuminarium team chose HOLOPLOT and the X1 System to realise their vision, introducing a new kind of immersive experience for their audiences. The complete audio system, including all audio modules are concealed. The room is mapped with authentic audio objects, that together with the visual content, build up a rich and compelling story. The sound perfectly matches with the visual projections – fully immersing visitors in a new world, easily able to ignore the sound technology behind.

“Audio will increase the power of the experience by 50%. I did not really know what it meant until I went to Berlin and listened to the HOLOPLOT system and it just blew all of us away.” – Allan Greenberg, CEO of Illuminarium

Illuminarium Atlanta opened in June 2021 and is the first of multiple Illuminarium venues planned internationally. Illuminarium Las Vegas is scheduled to open in 2022 and HOLOPLOT is proud to have been named as the exclusive audio technology partner once again.

To learn more, download the case study covering:

The system design of the Illuminarium venue in Atlanta
The immersive integration of the HOLOPLOT X1
The challenges faced during the project
The performance of X1 in terms of coverage, sound control and localization

The sound of GRID

DARK MATTER – Berlin, 2021

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The sound of GRID

DARK MATTER, Berlin 2021

DARK MATTER is a parallel cosmos of expansive light installations in which the boundaries between the real and the digital worlds become blurred. Within the pitch-black rooms of a converted factory, the visitor embarks on a journey through seven partly interactive works. Light, movement, and sound fuse into emotional choreographies of luminous shapes and colors.

As an exclusive partner, HOLOPLOT equips the central exhibition, called GRID, with X1. The innovative 3D sound system brings true immersion to the installation; its sound control and spatial audio capabilities ensure matchless sound quality and authenticity of audio content in perfect synchronicity with the stunning visual show elements.

Christopher Bauder, the creator of DARK MATTER: “For me working with the HOLOPLOT X1 system was a kind of out-of-this-world experience (…) I had the feeling for the first time that we could modify the audio in a way as material, completely free of any constraints of the system.“

To learn more, download the case study covering:

Designing an immersive system for a moving audience
Challenges faced in the venue
Performance results
Feedback from the creators

Photos by Ralph Larmann

Performing arts venues

Make every seat the best seat

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Performing arts venues

Make every seat the best seat

The venue

Whether a philharmonic hall, opera house, or theater, performing arts centers are made for live art. These venues are ready for everything from orchestral music to dance and drama. They are acoustically optimized to provide up to 5,000 guests with first-class sound and the highest levels of speech intelligibility. The seats are typically distributed across the stalls, tiers, and balconies, designed to ensure that all audience members have the best possible view. And now, with HOLOPLOT X1 Matrix Arrays, all audience members can have the best possible listening experience as well.

The challenges

The large, open halls require sound to travel over long distances.
Just like the seats, the sound needs to be distributed homogeneously across the different levels and sections to prevent seat-dependent qualities of experience.
Audio fidelity is key, so brilliance of sound, clear separation of acoustic sources on stage, and excellent speech intelligibility are mandatory.

The solution

HOLOPLOT deploys two X1 Matrix Arrays in a left & right configuration (fig. 1) designed to optimize the electronically steerable frequency bandwidth, homogeneity of coverage, spectral uniformity, and sub-frequency integration.

Distance is not a downside

X1 Matrix Arrays deliver high direct sound pressure levels homogeneously (fig. 2) all the way from the front to the back of the performing arts center, with an audience zone coverage of 99.5%.

Sound is where the seats are

Generate one or multiple sound beams simultaneously and steer them three-dimensionally in space. Cater to the distributed audience areas in the stalls, tiers and balconies with their own dedicated sound beams, ensuring the same audio experience for all levels and sections (fig. 3).

Brilliant sound for all ears

Bring faithful and brilliant sound as well as supreme speech intelligibility to the whole audience, making every seat the best seat.

Figure 1: Left & right system configuration

Figure 2: Homogeneous sound level distribution with 99.54% coverage at 100±3 dBa (broadband, 25-20000Hz)

Figure 3: Horizontal audio content zoning with 99.73% coverage at 96±3 dBA (broadband, 25-20000Hz)

Immersive spaces

Blur the boundaries between real and digital

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Immersive spaces

Blur the boundaries between real and digital

The venue

There is no such thing as a typical “immersive space”. If they have one thing in common, it is this: they are packed with cutting-edge technology for the sole purpose of capturing people’s imagination, pulling them into a world of interactivity, and immersing them in environments that push the boundaries of reality.

The challenges

Audio content must be in perfect synchronicity with multiple moving visuals.
A moving audience must not experience a variable sound quality.
The technology should authentically map the visitors’ experiential journey as they freely move through space.
The technology may need to be concealed so it does not disturb the overall experience.

The solution

HOLOPLOT equips the venue with a surround and an environmental layer of Matrix Arrays for a full-on immersive experience (fig. 1). To allow limitless possibilities in terms of where you can place audio objects within the space, HOLOPLOT also optionally employs a large centralized Matrix Array (fig. 3).

Create multi-experiential spaces

Create multi-faceted, complex experiences in a single space by targeting specific areas or spots in the venue (fig. 2). With a centralized Matrix Array, virtual point sources can be placed anywhere (fig. 4), allowing sound to emanate even where there are no Audio Modules.

Perfectly synchronize audio and visual content

The X1 System’s extremely homogeneous coverage and optimized arrival times enable visitors to accurately localize audio objects (fig. 5) and their trajectory across the venue, in perfect synchronicity with the distinct visual show elements.

Allow a consistent immersive experience for a moving audience

3D Audio Beamforming improves the homogeneity of sound level distribution and spectral consistency across multiple audience areas of any shape and size (fig. 5). Give every single visitor an absolutely authentic experience – even when moving around.

Seamlessly conceal X1 behind screens

HOLOPLOT Audio Modules can be seamlessly concealed behind acoustically transparent screens (fig. 5 & 6), fully maintaining their coverage and spectral performance. Thus, they do not interfere with the video projection or mapping at all, enabling a whole new level of immersion by tying the audio content close to the visual.

Figure 1: Immersive system configuration

Figure 2: Focused sound spots with 41.60% coverage at 71±3 dBa (one octave, 2000Hz)

Figure 4: Snapshot of the synthesized wave field (at 250Hz) originating from a virtual source represented by the red dot. Sound pressure is expressed in Pascal.

Look inside

Figure 5: Homogeneous sound level distribution with 100% coverage at 97±3 dBA (A-weighting broadband, 25-20000Hz) without acoustically transparent screen

Figure 6: Homogeneous sound level distribution with 100% coverage 84±3 dBA (broadband, 25-20000Hz) with acoustically transparent screen

Conference and event hall

Brilliant intelligibility for every size venue

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Conference and event hall

Brilliant intelligibility for every size venue

The venue

No ifs, ands or buts: what counts in live events is crystal clear intelligibility of speech for every member of the audience. A flexible and scalable audio solution is a must for corporate/public meetings, conferences, and events, to deliver quality speech, video, and music for up to 5,000 guests.

The challenges

Open halls with bad acoustics mean reflections and echoes drown out intelligible audio.
Most audio systems have no way to zone a room, sending distinct audio content to each audience area, without interference.
Feedback from the stage is an issue, especially in the case of a thrust stage (as shown) – microphones in the crowd and on stage must be managed by a sound engineer.
Audio systems need to integrate simply into the house AV system

The solution

HOLOPLOT deploys one large, centralized X1 Matrix Array rigged above the stage (fig. 1). 3D Audio Beamforming allows for a precisely defined audience area and multiple content zones.

Crystal clear speech everywhere

Deliver high direct sound pressure levels and distributes sound homogeneously from the front to back row (fig. 2). This ensures top class speech intelligibility and audio fidelity across every single user-defined audience area.

Split the venue into multiple sound zones – each with its own audio content

Generate multiple sound beams simultaneously and steer them three-dimensionally in space. Split the venue into different audience areas, and cater to each with its own content – its own language, for example (fig. 3).

Eliminate microphone feedback

Achieve higher levels from microphones before feedback, thanks to the X1’s improved rejection of sound onto stage, improved directivity control, and sidelobe suppression algorithms (fig. 4). Reduce hotspots and remove no-go zones for microphones in the audience.

Easily integrate into house AV infrastructure

HOLOPLOT X1 is network enabled, Dante enabled, and cloud connected which makes it very simple to integrate X1 into a house AV infrastructure.

Figure 1: System configuration

Figure 2: Speech intelligibility with a Mean Average STI (Speech Transmission Index) Rating (Male) of 0.64 over entire audience area (NC35 background noise)

Figure 3: Audio content zoning with 45.8% coverage at 92±3 dBA (broadband, 25-20000Hz)

Figure 4: Stage rejection with 51.30% coverage at 91±3 dBA (broadband, 25-20000Hz)

Arenas

Live sporting events and concerts without missing a beat

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Arenas

Live sporting events and concerts without missing a beat

The venue

The multi-purpose arena is a staple of many urban downtowns, often located nearby to lively residential areas. Live music gigs are also shifting from pure concert halls to these spacious multi-purpose venues, used for live concerts and major sports events only hours after each other. These arenas are exceptionally large, seating up to 20,000.

The challenges

The very large, open halls are not acoustically optimized for concerts. Providing homogeneous coverage, excellent audio fidelity, and high SPLs for the entire audience area is challenging.
The complexity of live tours is continuously increasing. Visual technology is being used to heighten the experience, so sound needs to be integrated into the immersive visual applications to engage with audiences like never before.
The location of the venues close to residential areas requires effectively avoiding noise pollution.

The solution

HOLOPLOT employs its versatile X1 Matrix Arrays on the left and right of the stage opening with an additional downfill at the bottom of each main array. A central header array is mounted above the stage to allow for an LCR mix and the potential to pan audio sources across the stage opening. Three front fill arrays are placed across the front of the stage and smaller delay arrays cover the upper tier at the back of the venue.

Beat the built-in acoustics

HOLOPLOT 3D Audio-Beamforming accommodates for any shape and size venue with software defined audience zones, providing homogeneous sound level distribution and spectral consistency to every seat (fig. 2).

Make immersive sound part of the live audio visual experience

Enable visitors to accurately localize audio objects anywhere across the stage opening, allowing tracking of actors and audio sources on stage. The system can be expanded with additional distributed modules to increase the canvas for moving audio objects across the arena, opening up a whole new level of possibility for audio visual experiences.

Sound where you want it – and none where you don’t

Define sound rejection zones across the arena to avoid unwanted noise spills, for example on the court during live matches. 3D Audio Beamforming sends sound precisely where it needs to be, providing up to 20 dB down in rejected areas for happy athletes and happy performers (fig. 4).

Figure 1: System configuration

Figure 2: Optimized coverage solution with 92.80% coverage at 93±3 dBA (broadband, 25-20000Hz)

Figure 3: Optimized for high SPL solution with 81.90% coverage at 106±3 dBA (broadband, 25-20000Hz)

Figure 4: Audio content zoning with 55.60% coverage at 96±3 dBA (broadband, 25-20000Hz)