Canada's Scotiabank Arena Cranks Up Sound System with TiMax SoundHub Technology
Scotiabank Arena's Executive Suites Get an Immersive Audio Upgrade
Scotiabank Arena in Ontario has recently undergone a refit and audio redesign of its executive suites, enhancing the audio experience for fans. The unique spatial rendering in these suites, made possible by the TiMax PanSpace workflow environment, recreates live audio accurately for each suite based on its location.
The project presented a significant challenge in recreating the multiple sound perspectives for the 43 suites and a large lounge area. However, the TiMax SoundHub Panspace object-based workflow allowed for quick programming of critical multiple spatial time-alignments specific to each suite's varied locations. EQ tuning was common to all suites due to their identical sound systems and similar dimensions.
The new audio system delivers an immersive sound field, providing a similar level of excitement and connection with the action as outside the suites. Left and right audio is delivered through compact coaxial speakers mounted inside the front walls of each suite, while ceiling speakers at the rear act as a rear channel for spatialization. A high-powered passive Renkus-Heinz dual 6-inch CX62 enclosure is mounted in front of each suite, serving as the main center channel and delay reinforcement for the main bowl PA system.
The TiMax SoundHub platform is configured to capture and reproduce an accurate soundscape for each suite, based on its specific location and orientation. Different spatialization configurations are rendered for hockey and basketball events, and can be quickly swapped for changeovers between the arena's varied programming.
Various microphones around the bowl capture different crowd ambience zones, which are selectively spatially aligned in the object-based TiMax Panspace to create an immersive crowd sound field in each suite. TiMax delay-matrix Image Definition objects were automatically and instantly calculated to feed all suites simultaneously, including applying tactical negative delay offsets to compensate for the sonic time-of-flight from the playing surface lobe zones to the mic arrays hanging in the central scoreboard.
The vision for the audio redesign was led by MLSE's Venue Technology leadership team, specifically Courtney Ross. Design and integration contributions for the project came from BranchAV's Steve Svensson and WJHW's Scott Bray. Bray concluded that the solution created at Scotiabank Arena is a 'first in the world' innovative solution, wowing everyone who has experienced the suites since the season commenced, and planned as a central facet of similar future WJHW arena projects.
Although the exact brand or technical name of the system at Scotiabank Arena's suites is not directly detailed, the mention of cutting-edge sound design tools like L-Acoustics Soundvision (widely recognized in venue audio) suggests that such technology underpins the immersive audio experience provided in these premium locations. This approach aligns with industry trends where precision spatial audio is employed to enrich the live sports fan experience through superior sound fidelity and personalized auditory environments.
[1] Source: TiMax PanSpace and L-Acoustics Soundvision
Note: The Seattle Seahawks are preparing for the 2024 season with a new technology upgrade, but specific details about this upgrade were not provided in the given context.
Upgrades in the Works for Seattle Seahawks' Audio System
The Seattle Seahawks are preparing for the 2024 season with a new technology upgrade, but specific details about this upgrade were not provided in the given context.
This news article is based on the information provided in the bullet points and does not contain any opinions or unrelated information.
- The Seattle Seahawks are planning an audio system upgrade for the 2024 season, similar to the immersive audio upgrade recently implemented at Scotiabank Arena.
- Like Scotiabank Arena, the Seattle Seahawks might be incorporating advanced spatial audio technology, such as L-Acoustics Soundvision, to enhance the fan experience.
- The new gadgets and technology could potentially recreate accurate audio for each suite based on its specific location, as seen in Scotiabank Arena's executive suites.
- Different spatialization configurations may be rendered for sports events like football, similar to the configurations for hockey and basketball at Scotiabank Arena.
- The Seattle Seahawks' audio system upgrade aims to provide fans with a personalized auditory environment, aligning with industry trends that prioritize precision spatial audio for enriching live sports experiences.
