Austin’s South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference exhibits cutting-edge innovation and creativity through technology, culture, and music; showcasing brands who aim to connect people. Spatial embarked on a unique mission to provide guests the experience of the full power of immersive sound at The Sunset Room with The Spatial Holodeck SXSW activation.
The activation, designed and fabricated by Pink Sparrow, set out to bridge a multitude of spaces that took visitors on a sonic journey powered by Spatial’s technology. By introducing three-dimensional, interactive soundscapes, Spatial and their partners redefined immersive experiences and provided an audio world unheard anywhere else.
Guests were surrounded by 360-degree immersive audio as they explored scenes from around the world and learned about Spatial technology through guided demonstrations, a sonic listening lounge, hands-on opportunities with Spatial Studio, and a stage for panel programming.
The Spatial Holodeck partnered with arts and entertainment collective Meow Wolf, who designed a pop-up exhibit that took guests through an experiential journey with interactive moments within the Spatial Holodeck.
The Challenge
The team at Spatial knew they wanted to create an activation that seamlessly blended speakers and supporting technology with the activation’s physical design aspects. Spatial chose Sonance and James Loudspeakers.
The team at Spatial expected a very diverse SXSW audience for their largest public-facing activation to date. With only 90 days to bring this event to life and four days to build the activation, the stakes were high for Spatial to find a team that could help them implement systems that would seamlessly work together.
With multiple spaces throughout the 3700-square-foot venue, and acoustic challenges including 14-foot ceilings lined with exposed ductwork in the interior space, it was crucial to maintain audio quality. With these challenges and a desire for high-quality audio to elevate the distinct spaces throughout the activation, the team at Spatial reached out to Felix Media Solutions for their world-class professional, creative, and technical capabilities with a focus on bringing their customers’ visions to life.
Requirements
- Find an audio solution with common voicing and even, balanced coverage to connect with people in each space, including bringing together an indoor and outdoor experience that integrates world-class ambiance anywhere on the property
- Redefine social experiences using technology and premium audio, while ensuring the technology disappeared into the space for a one-of-a-kind experience
- Exceptional project management with world-class communication and coordination to ensure timelines were met
Methodology
Professional audio integration is more than merely filling a space with sound; it’s a tangible design element and a critical part of the space’s environment that is meant to create a mood and elevate the senses without distracting from the designer’s vision and aesthetic goals. For over 30 years, the architectural speaker pioneers at Sonance and James Loudspeaker have continually explored and refined the fine art of musical fidelity within a designed space, with their series of in-wall and in-ceiling speakers.
With Spatial, design principles are no longer a concern; spaces can now be designed with visual and audio intent in mind all while keeping the aesthetic and acoustic value of spaces at the highest priority. The Spatial Holodeck proved that by working with Sonance and Felix Media Solutions, seamless, custom, and flawless integration can be accomplished; time only became an obstacle, not an inhibitor.
Integration began offsite at the Pink Sparrow warehouse in L.A., where Sonance speakers were installed in preconstructed frames that were then shipped to Austin while Felix Media Solutions began installing Sonance speaker wire runs into the venue’s activation spaces in anticipation of the panels’ arrival and installing ceiling-mounted speakers and subwoofers. Both teams worked together to build connection boxes that were designed to meet the pre-arrival runs Felix Media Solutions installed in the venue, allowing for a seamless transition between the work done in Los Angeles and that done in Austin as activation components arrived and were assembled.
Results
The team at Felix Media Solutions wanted to ensure that they integrated evenly balanced sound that was not only acoustically tuned, but would also enable a truly experiential environment. Spatial had a very specific vision and high expectations of partnering with the best in technology, audiovisual, and IT. Felix Media Solutions understood the pre-work integration and preparation that went into a complex commercial activation.
With a very short timeline and a very strict project management schedule, the team at Felix Media Solutions was able to install over 179 channels throughout the 3700-square-foot activation as well as the exterior pop-up with Meow Wolf.
- Guided Demo — A combination of over 32 speakers were installed in the 20- x 20-foot room to fill the space with rich, detailed bass frequencies. This install consisted of numerous James Loudspeaker PD62-4 Pendants, Sonance Mariner 56, Impact i12, and PS-S210-SUBT Subs in the ceiling.
- Liminal Space — The entryway to the Guided Demo consisted of 20 speakers — 18 Sonance AS38S In-Wall speakers with two James Loudspeaker PD62-4 Pendants. This 20- x 10-foot walkway enveloped the room with soft content, and was a well-received auditory-warmup to the Guided Demo.
- Listening Lounge — The listening lounge consisted of five James Loudspeaker PD62-4 Pendants, two James Loudspeakers OW53 On-Wall Speakers, four Sonance Mariner 56 Speakers behind the fabric, seven Sonance VP66 In-Wall speakers, four Sonance AS38 In-Wall Speakers, one Sonance PS-S210SUBT Sub, and one Sonance Impact i12 Sub.
- Tech Space — A combination of James Loudspeaker PD62-4 Pendants and OW53 On-Wall speakers were utilized, along with Sonance Mariner 56 speakers, Visual Performance VP66 and Architectural Series AS38 In-Wall Speakers, and Impact i12 and PS-S210SUBT Subs.
- Meow Wolf — The Meow Wolf exhibit showed off Spatial’s dynamic abilities. With interactive exhibits scattered throughout the venue, Spatial’s software was able to virtually place specific content designed for each individual island. The Meow wolf exhibit consisted of a 40- x 60-foot tent with 61 channels of audio. Speakers included Sonance Mariner 56 Speakers, PS-S210SUBT and Impact i12 Subs, and James Loudspeaker PD62-4 Pendants.
For more details, visit sonance.com/case-studies/spatial-holodeck.
