Adding Surround Sound Audio to Your Performance

Adding Surround Sound Audio to Your Performance

Some of our products offer an opportunity to deliver digital audio to your audience in a Surround Sound format. The list of products containing this feature includes:
  1. Julie Giroux,  "Symphony VI: The Blue Marble"
  2. Jocelyn Hagen, "Messages From Everywhere"
To deliver a Surround Sound audio experience we recommend the following setup. There may be other ways to accomplish a spacial acoustic experience in your hall, but we have found the setup below to be relatively easy, inexpensive and quite effective.

EQUIPMENT NEEDS
  1. One (1) computer (not the one running the Muséik software) with an installed DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) such as Audacity or Reaper.
  2. One (1) 4-channel audio interface such as a Scarlett 4i4, Scarlett 8i6, MOTU M4, etc.
  3. One (1) audio mixing board with at least 4 channels input and 4 channels output 
  4. Four (4) speakers
SETUP
  1. SPEAKERS. Speakers should be placed one each in the four corners of the hall: FL, FR, RL, RR. We recommend using the hall's main speakers for the FL and FR channels and two powered speakers on sticks for the RL and RR channels. Focus the speakers to form an "X" pattern in the hall (see image on right). We have found it most effective to have all speakers places above the audience's head level.
  2. COMPUTER. This can be a laptop or desktop computer. It requires that a DAW software program like Audacity or Reaper be installed on the hard drive. It is best to place this computer in the control booth or close to the audio mixing board.
  3. AUDIO INTERFACE. This device allows the computer to delver four separate audio channels to the audio mixing board. It will connect to the computer with a USB cable and the four separated audio channels will come out of the device with 1/4" audio cable. This device will need to be placed close to the computer.
PROCESS
  1. Install a DAW on the computer.
  2. Download the Surround Sound audio file(s) provided by Ion on the computer.
  3. Place speakers, computer and audio interface and connect everything by cable.
  4. Open the DAW and load the audio files. Route channels as appropriate.
  5. Mute the standard L/R stereo audio embedded in the Muséik Show File so you do not duplicate audio signals in the hall.
  6. When the Surround Sound effect occurs in the show press play in the DAW. Control the Surround Sound audio  (play/pause and signal levels) from the DAW and mixing board, not Muséik.
THE SWEET SPOT
It is absolutely accurate that when done properly the setup described above will deliver an effective spacial audio experience for your audience. It is equally accurate that the spacial experience may not be equal in all seats. The speakers will deliver the audio in an "X" pattern and this creates a sweet spot for listening at the center of that "X". We have been impressed with how large the sweet spot is in many halls, but there can be problem areas. Balconies and seats within 6-10 feet of any of the speakers are especially troublesome. Consider making an announcement before the show to let audience members know about the audio effect and any areas in the hall that may not receive the full benefit of the effect.

OTHER TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS
  1. Know your audio file. The advice given above is based on an assumption that the audio being delivered in a Surround Sound format is truly spacial; like a single bird chirping in a tree or a car driving by on the right side of the audience. If your audio files are more atmospheric it may be advisable to adjust your technology plan accordingly.
  2. Place speakers above your audience's head level for best results.
  3. Test levels with the live ensemble present. Finding the right balance between the digital audio and live sound can be tricky
  4. If you create your own files, be sure to balance your mix. One reason the Surround Sound effect offered in Muséik products is effective is that every channel has every audio element. The brid singing in a tree may be dominant in the RL speaker, but it is present in all three other channels. In this way even audience members sitting far outside the sweet spot will receive every audio element, even if it is not delivered with a strong spacial effect.

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