Taking place at ExCeL London for the first time at PLASA London from 6-9 October 2013, the AudioLab Arena is a purpose-built space for large-format loudspeaker demonstrations, shoot-outs of club sound and PA systems, and private exclusive demo rooms.
The new AudioLab Theatre is an audio school with three expert classes; Live Sound, Installed Sound and The Sound Business.
The third new attraction is AudioLab Interactive, a myth-busting laboratory where visitors can see live experiments on a range of pro audio equipment. Created in conjunction with audio consultancy, RH Consulting, AudioLab Interactive gathers pro audio experts from around the globe to test pro audio theory. The programme includes experiments entitled Who Says Audio Latency is a Problem? Let's Blow Up Some Amplifiers! , What Happens During an Emergency?, Which Network Sounds Better?, You Think You Know What You're Listening To? and What Really Causes Interference?.
Who Says Audio Latency is a Problem? will examine the problem of latency in digital audio systems and use a live performance to find out at what point it starts to affect musicians. It will measure latency across a system, find out where the delays are, and more importantly, ask - do they matter in a real-world situation?
In Let's Blow Up Some Amplifiers! attendees will learn the difference between amplifier types and find out how they work, including what happens when they get hot, what can affect the quality and the power output, what is power factor and what protection circuitry does? Also asks, can you use your amplifier to put up shelves or make toast?
What Happens During an Emergency? is the third session in AudioLab Interactive and features a real-time simulation of what happens in a public space before an audio announcement takes place. The 45-minute session will demonstrate an active voice alarm system and give an insight into the operation of world-class stadia. It will show a stadium system, attempt to break it, illustrate how a redundant system works, and show how a signal path flows following damage.
Other sessions include Which Network Sounds Better? - an analysis of the different methods of audio transport and a comparison of how they actually sound, Which one falls over more easily? and Is professional quality digital audio really all the same?.
You Think You Know What You're Listening To? asks how much do you trust your ears? Who do you believe when you are told things about audio? What tricks can be played on your hearing?
And finally, find out What Really Causes Interference? Here we look at the different causes of interference and compare the tales and truths of how audio systems can be corrupted.
(Jim Evans)
www.plasashow.com
