H. Frank showing the Crestron Touch Panel
Subject of this joint meeting was the state of sound systems which are controlled by audio-routing procedures including signal transmission via KobraNet. Prof. Voelker welcomed the participants on behalf of DEGA (German Society of Acoustics) and the AES. The speakers of this late afternoon meeting were Frank Boshoven of Crestron/Germany, Martin Maurer of Beyerdynamic/Germany, Wolfgang Teuber of IAB (Institute of Acoustics and Building Physics).
The presentations during this meeting were related to actual developments for audio systems. Therefore Boshoven of Crestron started with a description of Crestron activities worldwide. He explained the central control units including touch panels with the advantages of routings with regard to buss systems such as EIB, LON, LCN, DALI, LUCTRON, etc. In current sound system design Crestron is mainly responsible for switchings such as for lights, curtains, darkening or sun blinds. Audio video signals can be transmitted over long distances, more than 150m, using CAT5e or CAT6 cables.
The multi-channel transmission of audio signals was explained by Martin Maurer of Beyerdynamic introducing the BIAMP Audia technology. All inputs and outputs of this system are available on PC's and, in certain configurations, on the touch panel screen. The opportunity exists to define certain configurations for different events in question. For a multipurpose hall, for instance, around 30 different programs are necessary. They can be selected via touch panels not using extra control rooms with mixing consoles. The touch panel is a comfortable device which can be used directly in the hall, on stage or in adjacent conference rooms. The two experts explained a typical event in a large hall when a panel discussion on the stage takes place with, for instance, four microphones. Two additional microphones may be used on the floor. A beamer must be switched on to show pictures from a laptop. It is now easy to switch on this configuration with the consequence that on the panel all functions appear as mentioned before with four channels for microphones, switches for the beamer, additional switches for light on/off, etc.
Wolfgang Teuber talked on the subject of room acoustics and sound. He referred to the transmission systems, the arrangements of microphones and loudspeakers to obtain the sound levels required. He emphasized the necessity of changes within the transmission chain by introducing equalization, delays and frequency responses. The sound system can only work properly when the acoustical conditions of the room are sufficient. It is not only a question of reverberation time and its sufficient sound level; instead, more important is the sound field with the influence of reflections which are sometimes very useful but should sometimes better be avoided.
This meeting summarized the actual state of the Art audio design which should be used for small and large sound systems, e. g. for conference rooms, multipurpose halls and churches.
At the end of the meeting Voelker expressed his thanks to Mr. Korinek of the Chamber of Commerce in Frankfurt for the opportunity to use the facilities for the presentation together with the possibility to inspect the assembly hall which works partly with the systems of Crestron and Beyerdynamic.
