Opened in 2019 as the UK’s first immersive arts centre and Europe’s first ‘cross-disciplinary Lab’, CULTVR has made Cardiff a key destination for XR (Extended Reality) and the immersive possibilities of live performance. The recent installation of a d&b Soundscape system in the venue’s Theatre Dome, marks a significant step forward for the organisation.
By harnessing the power of the latest technologies, CULTVR strives to redefine how audiences experience sound and visuals. Specified and installed by d&b partner Southby Productions, CULTVR’s aim with this upgrade was to elevate the audio capability to the same level.
Southby Productions first worked with CULTVR in 2023 with d&b audiotechnik on an immersive show for Welsh band, Das Koolies, using d&b Soundscape. ‘We had an amazing time working with the team at CULTVR,’ says Southby Head of Immersive, Aaron Holloway-Nahum, ‘We knew it would benefit tremendously from a more permanent Soundscape solution to its audio.’
CULTVR’s Theatre Dome auditorium offers a high-end, immersive A/V infrastructure beneath a 12m concave projection surface. As well as presenting shows and experiences, the Dome is also a key part of CULTVR’s ongoing R&D into immersive arts. The introduction of a 360˚d&b Soundscape system is a major boost, delivering aural possibilities to match the enveloping visuals, and new vistas for creative presentation.
Designed by Holloway-Nahum, the Soundscape system uses a ring of 16 d&b 5S point-source loudspeakers, driven by 5D amplifiers. The DS100 signal processor provides the level and delay settings to each speaker necessary to create Soundscape’s signature naturalistic and ‘true’ sound. In addition, four E15X-Sub subwoofers are available to be used flexibly, either as part of the Soundscape system, or as a conventional sub array for more traditional performance-based events.
The design was not straightforward, as Holloway-Nahum explains: ‘The biggest difficulty was that the dome reaches quite low down, so we had to be careful not to place speakers in positions that blocked – or cast shadows from – the projectors.’
Another obstacle was that the dome is too thick for speakers to be placed behind it. As a result, the ‘ring’ had to be set relatively low, at just 2.55m – presenting challenges in covering each audience member with more than one speaker.
‘To address this, we made a change to the initial system design, from the E8 – which has 90° rotatable dispersion – to the 5S, with its 100° conical dispersion,’ says Holloway-Nahum. ‘We also worked with the team there to achieve every last centimetre of height that we could!’
‘At CULTVR, we are constantly pushing the boundaries of what the venue of the future can be like,’ says Artistic Director, Matt Wright. ‘With the d&b Soundscape system, visitors can step inside the sound itself, experiencing music not just as something they hear, but something they feel and inhabit. It’s a game-changer for live performance and immersive sonic experiences here in Wales.’
‘This is a spectacular venue for anyone who wants to experience how top-quality spatial audio can come together with stunning visuals to create a truly immersive experience,’ Holloway-Nahum adds. ‘We’re thrilled to see, support and work with partners like CULTVR who recognise just how much value top-quality audio adds to the experience.’
More: www.dbaudio.com