Holoplot powers Sphere Immersive Sound
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Sphere Studios, which develops technologies and content, partnered with Holoplot to create Sphere Immersive Sound, a fully integrated concert-grade audio system that revolutionises immersive audio experiences.
U2’s The Edge said: “The beauty of Sphere is not only the ground-breaking technology that will make it so unique, with the world’s most advanced audio system integrated into a structure which is designed with sound quality as a priority; it’s also the possibilities around immersive experiences in real and imaginary landscapes. In short, it’s a canvas of an unparalleled scale and image resolution, and a once-in-a-generation opportunity. We all thought about it and decided we’d be mad not to accept the invitation.”
“Sphere Immersive Sound is a cornerstone of the custom-designed technology that will make Sphere unlike any venue, anywhere in the world, providing audio with unmatched clarity and precision to every guest, no matter where they are seated,” said David Dibble, CEO, MSG Ventures, a division of Sphere Entertainment. “Creating this experience required us to go far beyond existing audio technology, and in Holoplot we found a partner at the forefront of innovation to help achieve our vision and truly transform what is possible with audio.”
“From the beginning, Holoplot has been focused on radically transforming audio technology, rethinking the underlying physics of sound reproduction as we know it,” said Roman Sick, CEO, Holoplot. “Working alongside Sphere Studios on Sphere Immersive Sound has been a truly thrilling opportunity for our team - challenging us to extend the boundaries of our technology at an unparalleled scale and create a revolutionary listening experience.”
Sphere Immersive Sound was specifically developed for Sphere’s curved interior. The system consists of approximately 1,600 permanently installed and 300 mobile Holoplot X1 Matrix Array loudspeaker modules and includes a total of 167,000 individually amplified loudspeaker drivers. The system utilises Holoplot’s 3D Audio-Beamforming and Wave Field Synthesis technology to transform how audio is delivered in large-scale venues.
This results in ‘controlled, consistent, and crystal-clear concert-grade audio for audiences of up to 20,000 people, providing each audience member with a truly exceptional and personalised listening experience’. The entire sound system is completely hidden behind Sphere’s 160,000sq.ft interior LED display plane. Any audio transmission losses are fully compensated for by Holoplot’s algorithms in the optimisation engine, resulting in clear, full-range sound with virtually no colouration and a completely unobstructed visual LED surface - which wraps up, over and around the audience and combines with Sphere Immersive Sound to create a fully immersive environment.
Sphere Immersive Sound will additionally utilise Holoplot’s Wave Field Synthesis capabilities, a spatial audio rendering technique that leverages virtual acoustic environments.
Sphere Immersive Sound, powered by Holoplot, was first introduced last summer at the Beacon Theatre in New York ahead of being further customised and scaled for Sphere.
Sphere will open its doors on 29 September with the first of U2’s 25 performances of U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere and the Darren Aronofsky-directed Sphere Experience, Postcard from Earth, will debut on October.
