DiGiCo’s Quantum technology unites leading-edge audio network at new landmark Polish concert hall
DiGiCo’s Quantum technology unites leading-edge audio network at new landmark Polish concert hall
Poland – Poland’s recently-constructed Cavatina Hall has been designed with a focus on vision over budget and the ambition of becoming a landmark centre on Europe’s cultural map. The six-storey, multi-functional venue provides commercial and entertainment facilities with over 9000 sq. m. of A class office space, a chamber music hall, cutting edge recording studio and the highlight of the construction, a 1,000-capacity concert hall. The hall is complete with state-of-the-art AV technology, integrated into a sophisticated and extensive digital and analogue audio network, streamlined and managed by Quantum 338 digital consoles from DiGiCo’s elite range.
The project began in 2018, conceptualised by one of Poland's largest property development companies, Cavatina Holding. Located in the city of Bielsko-Biała in Southern Poland, the shell-shaped building with glass façade, became an instant architectural beauty and now houses the offices of the holding company and related firms, alongside the ultra-modern entertainment facilities.
“We can confidently claim that Cavatina Hall is one of the best facilities of its kind in the world, combining commercial industry with the promotion of art in a unique and modern building,” explains Katarzyna Pytlarczyk, CEO of Fiducia Foundation, the administrator of Cavatina Hall. “Our aim was to provide the highest quality experience for our audiences. Providing a seamless and flexible environment for any artist and any show, where equipment can be easily updated as technology evolves, was a way to achieve this goal. It’s the audience that is most important to us.
With over 20 years of experience in high profile AV installations, Warsaw-based Audio Plus was appointed as the technical contractor, briefed with selecting top-flight technology and providing expert support throughout the complex design. The Audio Plus team was invited to participate in the project from inception until completion, to ensure the successful integration of all stage technology systems.
“The concert hall has been designed for ultimate flexibility and the technology is ready for any event. All types of music can be produced perfectly, whether the venue is hosting symphonic and chamber concerts or pop and rock performances,” says Tomasz Ibrom, Audio Plus’ installation engineer, who was responsible for the Cavatina installation. "When we were invited to manage the AV installation, we knew this project would not be just another installation. We wanted to design the sound technology of the future," recalls Sylwester Wojcieszek, designer at SDST.pl, the technology design contractor to Audio Plus.
The Cavatina team went to great lengths to ensure the correct specification, consulting on the materials with the acoustics department of the Institute of Building Technology in Warsaw, and reviewing the technology design at the London office of theatre and acoustics consultants, Sound Space Vision. Consequently, the concert hall’s acoustics is mastered to the highest level and the technology follows this approach. The high-tech AV infrastructure is distilled into a hybrid digital/analogue network, which runs across an Optocore fibre platform, feeding an extensive L-Acoustics L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal sound system, one of the largest in Europe, and operated from four different sound engineer stations, manned by a pair of roving DiGiCo Quantum 338 consoles.
“With over 40 custom-made connection boxes, the Hall’s audio network allows the transmission of signals from anywhere to anywhere, in any existing format,” explains Ibrom. “And the multiple engineering stations enable a wealth of set up scenarios to optimise acoustic placement and seating arrangements, depending on the occasion.
“Not only is DiGiCo the leading brand in mixing consoles, and the Quantum range its most exclusive, it is also highly compatible with a multitude of other brands in the audio chain. Quantum’s easy integration with the Optocore network and L-ISA immersive technology offers thorough and simple control in what is a complex and comprehensive system design.”
L-Acoustics’ L-ISA Source Control functionality is natively integrated into DiGiCo’s Quantum consoles, allowing L-ISA’s object-based mixing technology to be added to the console’s control surface. With the L-ISA / DiGiCo integration, up to 96 input channels can be designated as L-ISA channels, each one allowing the engineer to control pan, width, distance and elevation, as well as a designated aux send, for any given L-ISA source object directly from the mixing console. All L-ISA parameters can be stored in Quantum’s powerful Snapshots engine and recalled in the same way as other console parameters.
“One of the largest immersive systems in Europe, the L-Acoustics L-ISA system comprises the installation of a remarkable 141 loudspeaker devices around the hall, operating in a 360-degree area. The seamless integration of L-ISA into the DiGiCo consoles means that sound engineers can use a familiar workflow on an industry-leading console to manage the hall’s extensive immersive environment easily and intuitively,” comments Sylwester Wojcieszek.
“The DiGiCo consoles are truly the heart of this amazing, progressive audio system,” concludes Ibrom. “Not only are they without question rider-friendly, the effortless compatibility with both Optocore and L-ISA, makes every event run smoothly and cleanly. We are proud in the knowledge that our innovative approach to design, aided by the selection of the best technology of today, has established Cavatina Hall as a benchmark in concert sound.”
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