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UK: Based in London’s West End, The Twist Museum is an immersive, interactive, multi-sensory attraction, set on a 15,000 sq. ft site.

Challenging the visitor to explore the world of illusion, Twist—which stands forThe Way I See Things—is a collaborative work of leading artists, psychologists, and neuroscientists.

The audio-visual integration was entrusted to London-based Crossover, who specified, installed, programmed and commissioned essential audio-visual equipment, for management and routing over a digital backbone.

Developed by multimedia artist Aristotle Roufanis, the Digital Mirror exhibit uses a camera and large format display to create an interactive ‘mirror’, distorting peoples’ reflections in real time. The Crossover team provided the displays, the audio system, and the back-end processing hardware, that manipulates the captured images to display the illusions and distortions to the viewer.

Crossover helped the Museum’s project team build another of Roufanis’ creations, the Digital Kaleidoscope, with audio looping in real time on Ableton Live. The Kaleidoscope is a mirrored hexagonal tube—people entering it immerse themselves in a stunning display of colours and patterns and their reflections which are influenced by their movements and interactions. Crossover supplied and installed the projection systems, camera, processing hardware and audio system for this interactive marvel.

Martin Audio loudspeakers were specified in the Audio Interactive Space and Mind Hub where distortion free, phase coherent output was paramount. The former is a large octagonal acoustically treated 360-degree surround-sound room that immerses the visitor in soundscapes created by artist and composer Antoine Bertin. Custom-programmed LED lighting synchronises with the audio to enhance the sensory impact, with LF rumble provided by a Martin Audio SX110 1 x 10in slimline subwoofer.

This was chosen “for its super compact form factor, and the fact it could be easily flown without taking up valuable floorspace,” according to Crossover Senior Systems Designer, Juan Garcia. “In addition, we are very familiar with Martin Audio and love the sound of their speakers and their reliability. The fact that the space was small, and the sub is so powerful, we only needed one SX110, to avoid hotspots and dips.” It was installed towards the side of the room—rather than the centre—in order to maximise bass coverage.

About halfway through the journey, the visitors enter the Mind Hub. Crossover installed the lighting and supplied the lighting control hardware and audio system for this spectacle, at the centre of which is a huge cube of 1,000 individually controllable LED spheres hanging from the ceiling, creating mesmerising patterns and shapes.

Here and in the events area, Crossover have specified eight Martin Audio ADORN A55T, focused on background music and small events within that space, chosen for their output within a discreet footprint. These are powered by a Martin Audio VIA2004 4-channel, 2000W Class D amplifier.

Elsewhere, the Upside-Down Room and the Ames Room provide further treats for visitors, the former featuring a further Martin Audio music system with the option for a DJ to play for parties and events.

A digital back end, with local touch panel interfaces allows staff to monitor the exhibits and to maintain uptime.

Crossover director, David Sacks, said: “This was a brilliant project to have worked on. It was particularly rewarding because of the close collaboration with international artists to bring their visions to life with some of the best audio-visual technology around.”

GERMANY: Vortex, the new electronic music festival, made its debut at Göppingen’s EWS Arena—pumping techno, trance and hardcore through the bodies of devotes, continuously over 12 hours, through Martin Audio’s flagship Wavefront Precision line array series. To quote the words of the organisers, “Vortexis not just a festival, it’s a transcendent experience, a sonic adventure that you won’t want to miss.“ Such was the challenge that the Martin Audio PA and its advance control software were set.

It was a far cry from EWS Arena’s normal sphere of activity, which is hosting the Bundesliga handball club FRISCH AUF! But since the venue is located in the centre of the town, surrounded by shops and flats, the requirements with regard to noise escape were predictably stringent. As a debut event, it was particularly important for the organisers not to provoke complaints from local residents in order to preserve the future of the event. With its legendary tight offsite control, the Martin Audio Wavefront Precision systems deployed absolutely met these high requirements.

Jürgen Schuster, from event technology specialist Skyeline Live, who provided the technical equipment for theVortexFestival, confirms: “There were no noise complaints and zero problems with the volume for the audience.”

“THERE WERE NO NOISE COMPLAINTS AND ZERO PROBLEMS WITH THE VOLUME FOR THE AUDIENCE.”

Martin Audio’s advanced DISPLAY software had been essential in controlling the WPS and WPC line arrays deployed. “It was a real blessing,” he explains. “I was able to calculate the entire system cleanly and deploy it accordingly. This made it possible to predict in advance exactly how the system would behave in terms of sound levels.” He added that during the event, a colleague checked the volume on the street, enabling him to confirm: “Ambient noise from the street was louder than the sound coming from the festival, while inside the venue the sound was characterised by the evenness of distribution across the entire event area.”

To achieve this Jürgen Schuster deployed 24 Martin Audio WPC as the main system (12 boxes a side), with eight WPS as front- and sidefill. The all-important sub frequencies were pumped out through six towers of three SX218, designed in cardioid (two front facing and a single rear facing), with a further four SX218 provided for DJ monitoring. The rig was powered by 12 of Martin Audio‘s iK42 multi-channel, process-controlled power amplifiers in three-box resolution.

Schuster attributed the success of the event to two key Martin Audio technologies: the scalable resolution of the Wavefront Precision loudspeakers and the acoustic optimisation using the DISPLAY simulation software. “The combination of these two aspects made it possible to calculate the sound solution for the event so precisely that sound emissions were minimised [offsite] while still providing uncompromising sound for the 4,000 dance fans.”

But the real success of the event, he emphasises, was the reaction of the artists themselves. “They didn’t want to leave at all,” he affirms. “It’s normal for an act to come, deliver their set and then go … but at the Vortex Festival, the acts enjoyed it so much that they stayed for hours after their performance and simply enjoyed it.”

This says much for the quality of the sound system, which had been subjected to an enormous continuous load. “The Vortex Festival runs for 12 hours through the night—from 7pm until 7am—and the system has to work reliably.” Fortunately, due to his many years of experience with Martin Audio systems he was confident this requirement would be absolutely fulfilled.

In conclusion he praises the sonic coherence across the different series and how easily they can be combined. “WPC and WPS are different size formats but they fit together perfectly in all technical respects—phase response and so on. With many manufacturers this provides problems as the speakers don’t fit together in terms of sound. This is certainly not an issue with Martin Audio, as the different series work wonderfully together.”

Watch the video:  https://youtu.be/2TkaSOfbxU0

MY: Based in the Malaysian state of Selangor, full-service provider Psychoacoustic Productions recently invested in a Martin Audio BlacklineX Powered loudspeaker system, comprising 16 XP12, eight XP15 and six XP118 subs.

Founded in 2006 by Haary Roshaahn Yograi, under the original name of Pyschoacoustics Sound & Lights the company has grown steadily from humble beginnings.

Stated the owner, “We were comparing several active point source systems in a similar price range, and among all that we tested, Martin Audio really stood out in terms of delivering a sweeter sound—particularly on the higher frequencies. It was the system that best suited our indoor venues.”

The portable BlacklineX Powered series integrates Martin Audio’s renowned engineering expertise into an easy-to-use, quick-to-deploy, high-powered solution for a range of professional applications, ranging from use by musicians and mobile DJ’s, to corporate AV, House of Worship installations and all types of music venue.

With optional Bluetooth control, streaming and a built-in three channel mixer, BlacklineX Powered was a logical move for the company. The equipment was supplied by Kuala Lumpur dealer, Wavefront Culture.

As they enter their second year of distributing the brand, managing director, Ahmad Syafiqbin Yaacob says that although Martin Audio was already well established in the AV market, with its rapidly increasing portfolio it has required an extended push to make the client base fully aware of its solutions. He confirmed that while Psychoacoustic Productions already knew about the brand, they had never previously listened to the product, adding that in comparative testing they preferredthe XP12 and XP118.

He says that as a result, Mr. Roshaahn is now keen to audition the TORUS series.

Martin Audio has announced the introduction of iK41, an advanced 4-channel power amplifier, to further strengthen the existing iKON series and portfolio offering.

The iK41 combines high power density with rich and accurate audio performance, state-of-the-art DSP and network control, and is designed as a dedicated controller amplifier for Martin Audio WPM optimised line arrays, TORUS 8 constant curvature loudspeakers, as well as multi-channel amplification for select Martin Audio loudspeakers.

This latest iKON amplifier can deliver a full 1500 watts per channel into 4 ohm, and its high efficiency reduces the energy drawn from the mains supply and ensures the power reserves needed to deliver signature sound under arduous conditions.

THE SUCCESS OF IKON AMPLIFIERS HAS BEEN UNDENIABLE.

Ethernet is used for system remote control and monitoring via Martin Audio’s VU-NET software application, while a user-friendly front panel interface allows full local control of all features. Dante digital audio network inputs are also provided for digital audio distribution and control.

Powerful DSP is fully integrated into the iK41 to provide a multitude of features that ensure maximum performance of select loudspeaker systems. It also provides up to 1000 FIR filter taps at 48kHz on each output channel, which is essential to implement DISPLAY’s wide bandwidth optimisation process in WPM line array systems.

The iK41 employs comprehensive protection functions to maintain safe operating conditions of both the amplifier and the loudspeakers driven—including a sophisticated loudspeaker limiter suite which incorporates peak, RMS and excursion limiting, as well as multiband limiting for passive 2-way systems.

Dom Harter, Managing Director, commented, “The success of iKON amplifiers has been undeniable and with this less expensive model being introduced it will allow for more efficient installations of WPM, TORUS 8 and FlexPoint systems. While we expect rental partners to continue their inventory of iK42, we also expect that some will see the benefit of holding additional iK41 inventory for their smaller events.”

The iK41 will be on display at InfoComm 2024 in Las Vegas, booth C9601, and will start shipping globally from July.

For more information: https://martin-audio.com/products/electronics/ik41