Spatial sound reinforcement using Wave Field Synthesis. A case study at the Institut du Monde Arabe.

Abstract

Spatial audio in sound reinforcement has remained an open topic, requiring good level coverage and at the same time good localization accuracy over a very large listening area, typically the entire audience. Wave Field Synthesis offers high localization accuracy over an extended listening area but the number of required loudspeakers; their placement on stage and the level coverage that results from it can be problematic. The paper addresses these issues, presenting a case study of a sound reinforcement system based on Wave Field Synthesis. The system has been installed at the auditorium of the "Institut du Monde Arabe" in Paris, France, a 400 seats auditorium with a 20 m wide stage. The installed system comprises a total of 19 broadband loudspeakers and 6 subwoofers to address particular low frequency challenges of the room. The paper describes the system design and the particular arrangement that has been chosen together with specific loudspeaker directivity characteristics. Simulations and measurements are performed so as to evaluate the level coverage throughout the audience. The paper also describes the procedure used onsite for the equalization of loudspeakers and tuning for optimum performance using the sonic Wave 1 processor. Finally, the paper addresses the interfaces used for sound source positioning in the context of spatial sound reinforcement.