The new d&b Soundscape 360˚ system in CULTVR’s Theatre Dome, specified and installed by d&b partner Southby Productions, represents a major step forward for the organisation.
Since its opening in 2019 as the UK’s first immersive arts centre and Europe’s first “Interdisciplinary Laboratory”, CULTVR has positioned Cardiff as a key destination for XR (extended reality) and the immersive possibilities of live performance.
CULTVR harnesses the full power of the latest technologies to redefine how audiences experience sound and visual elements, and the d&b Soundscape system has become a key component of their toolkit.
CULTVR was already at the forefront with its immersive visual elements, and with this sound system upgrade, it sought to elevate the audio to the same level.
Southby Productions, the leading integrator of d&b Soundscape, first collaborated with CULTVR in 2023 when the venue and d&b audiotechnik worked together on an immersive show with the Welsh band Das Koolies in which d&b Soundscape was used. "We had a great time working with the CULTVR team", says Aaron Holloway-Nahum, Southby’s Director of Immersive Technologies, "and we knew that a more permanent d&b Soundscape solution would greatly benefit their audio".
The CULTVR Theatre Dome auditorium offers a unique immersive AV infrastructure beneath a 12 m concave projection surface. In addition to hosting shows and experiences, the Dome is also an essential part of CULTVR’s ongoing R&D in immersive arts. The integration of a 360˚ d&b Soundscape system brings significant intensity and depth, offering sonic possibilities that align with the enveloping visual elements and new spatial panoramas for creative presentation.
Holloway-Nahum designed the d&b Soundscape system, which uses a ring of sixteen compact d&b 5S point-source loudspeakers, driven by d&b 5D amplifiers. The powerful DS100 signal processor provides the necessary SPL and delay adjustments for each loudspeaker to create an authentic, natural-sounding audio image —a hallmark of d&b Soundscape. In addition, the system includes four compact E15X-SUB subwoofers that can be used flexibly, either as part of the Soundscape system or as a conventional sub array for more traditional live events hosted by CULTVR.
The design was not simple, explains Holloway-Nahum. "The biggest challenge is that the Dome is quite low, so we needed to be careful not to place loudspeakers in positions that would cast shadows or block the projectors". Another obstacle was that the Dome is also too thick to position the speakers behind it. Consequently, the "ring" had to be placed relatively low, at just 2.55 m, which poses challenges in ensuring that each audience member is covered by more than one loudspeaker.
"To address this", Holloway-Nahum explains, "we changed the initial system design: instead of using the E8, which offers a rotatable 90° dispersion, we switch to the 5S, with its 100° conical dispersion. We also worked with the local team to gain every centimetre of height we could".
At CULTVR, we constantly explore what the venue of the future can become. With the d&b Soundscape system, visitors can step inside the sound itself and experience music not only as something they hear, but as something they feel and inhabit. It is a turning point for live performance and immersive sound experiences here in Wales, says Matt Wright, Artistic Director of CULTVR.
Aaron Holloway-Nahum concludes: "This is a spectacular venue for anyone wanting to experience how superior spatial audio blends with stunning visual elements to create a truly immersive experience. We are very pleased to know, collaborate with, and work alongside partners like CULTVR who recognise the full value that high-quality audio brings to the experience".
Image credits: 4Pi Productions
