Found on the Nemunas River, Kaunas is a Lithuanian city steeped in history and tradition, but modern in its facilities. Among these, the Šilainiai swimming pool recently undertook a series of upgrades to keep competitive with other family entertainment venues around, including a new audio system for high-fidelity background music,
Sound plays a key role in the visitor experience and in communicating important information. Here, G&B Sistemos and Modulit Solutions partnered to design and install a new system that is user-friendly to operate, basing it on AtlasIED’s Atmosphere platform.
‘Sound reinforcement in acoustically challenging venues such as swimming pools is no small undertaking,’ says at Modulit Solutions Audio Products Manager, Maciej Rychta. ‘With our company’s capabilities, we can basically tailor a system to meet the customer’s requirements. When selecting equipment, we also consider the facility’s conditions and the need for future expansion. AtlasIED’s Atmosphere platform met all the requirements for superior sound and ease of use.’
An Atmosphere AZMP4 determined to be well-suited to the venue’s needs – a four-zone digital signal processor with an integrated 600W amplifier, serving as the heart of an Atmosphere audio control system. A built-in message player, virtual wall controllers, learning ambient noise sensing, Tilter Filter, auto-gain, GPIO, room combine, and more make the AZMP4 a processing powerhouse.
Management is simple via an onboard web interface optimiaed for common use cases. The control interface is device agnostic and responsive without sacrificing design freedom. In addition to Ethernet, built-in Wi-Fi allows tablets and other controlling devices to connect directly to the AZMP4 via rights-based access.
Paging throughout the aquatic centre is from an Atmosphere X-ZPS zoned paging station. Equipped with a full-colour 4.3-inch touchscreen, the paging station supports zone paging, all call and custom group paging features, along with a high-quality gooseneck microphone. The X-ZPS also serves as a system controller for level, source selection and message recall. The swimming pool uses the paging station to make general announcements and notify participants during competitions.
The zoned environment helps minimise disruptions. For example, if information needs to be delivered to the pool or changing rooms, then guests in other areas, like the spa, will not hear them. This enables staff to relay messages effectively while maintaining the atmosphere for guests and maintaining appropriate sound levels in every situation.
The project also included the installation of Atmosphere smart accessories, including the Atmosphere volume controller and Atmosphere ambient noise sensors, which can automatically adjust the volume based on the noise level around the pool during both quiet and busy times.
High humidity, steam, and water splashes are common at the pool. To ensure reliable operation and consistent preformace day after day, Atlas+Fyne IsoFlare FC Series in-ceiling loudspeakers, Strategy II series FAP in-ceiling loudspeakers and AS Series all-weather surface-mount loudspeakers were chosen for their resilience in the harsh environment.
The Šilainiai swimming pool is now open again, offering eight 25m lanes for swimmers, along with a new spa area featuring saunas and jacuzzis. It is now prepared to host major swimming competitions while also offering a top-quality recreational space for visitors from across Lithuania. The AtlasIED audio system provides the audio to support these facilities and enables staff to easily control and manage sound zones, including independent volume levels and the freedom to select sources for each zone.
‘The transformation of our facility has been truly remarkable,’ says Kaunas Swimming School Events & Communications Manager, Paulius Martinkėnas. ‘Thanks to the AtlasIED audio system, the Šilainiai swimming pool has become not only a place for swimming, but also a space where guests feel comfortable. We can manage the sound system seamlessly, and each zone, whether the pool or the spa, provides the best sensory experience.’