Sphere Entertainment has unveiled Sphere Immersive Sound, powered by HOLOPLOT, an audio system designed to provide individualized sound to every seat in Sphere, a unique new 18,600-capacity music and entertainment arena at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas this fall.
Sphere Studios, which developes technologies and content, partnered with HOLOPLOT to create Sphere Immersive Sound – a large-scale, integrated concert-grade immersive audio system. U2’s The Edge says, “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,” states 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,” adds 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 unique curved interior, consisting of approximately 1,600 permanently installed HOLOPLOT X1 Matrix Array loudspeaker modules and including a total of 167,000 individually amplified loudspeaker drivers. The system utilizes HOLOPLOT’s 3D Audio-Beamforming and Wave Field Synthesis technology to help deliver clear, contolled and consistent audio.
The entire sound system is completely hidden behind Sphere’s 160,000-square-foot LED display plane. Audio transmission losses are compensated for by HOLOPLOT’s algorithms in the optimization engine, resulting in a completely unobstructed visual LED surface that wraps up, over and around the audience and combines with Sphere Immersive Sound to create the immersive environment.
Patented 3D Audio-Beamforming technology uses intelligent software algorithms to create controlled and more efficient soundwaves to help ensure that levels and quality remain consistent from point of origin to destination. In addition,the technology can also simultaneously send unique audio content to specific locations in the venue, creating the possibility for different sections to hear completely different content – such as languages, music and sound effects.
Sphere Immersive Sound will additionally utilize HOLOPLOT’s unique Wave Field Synthesis capabilities, a spatial audio rendering technique that leverages virtual acoustic environments. Using Wave Field Synthesis, sound designers can create a virtual point of origin, which can then be placed in a precise spatial location. This enables audio to be directed to the listener so that it sounds close, even though the source is far away – for example, an audience member could hear a whisper that sounds like someone is talking directly in their ear.
Sphere also incorporates patented 4D technologies such as infrasound haptic seating as well as various atmospheric and environmental effects, such as warm breezes, evocative scents and changing temperatures, to create multi-sensory experiences. The venue will open on September 29 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 6.
