Historic Malmö Opera theater relies on d&b Soundscape for accurate audio, exceptional coverage and control.

In addition to the demanding audience coverage requirements, Suchanek explained that there were significant challenges in adequately covering the orchestra pit and the stage itself. The orchestra pit and stage are designed in a semicircle configuration, with the pit being several meters below the stage. It is also absolutely essential that the performers and orchestra hear each other as accurately as possible.

"Our challenge was that there are loudspeakers above the stage, and with different performances, the position of the performers and even the orchestra can change," said Suchanek.

For Arva, as well as the team at Malmö Opera, the excellent quality and directional control offered by d&b Soundscape combined with A-Series loudspeakers provided a solution to many of these challenges. Earlier in the year, the team from the Malmö Opera had the opportunity to experience a d&b Soundscape system at a Bjork Cornucopia tour performance and from then on knew it would fit with their renewed vision for the venue.

With Soundscape an immersive audio experience can be created, where the listener perceives sounds as coming from any number of points all around a room, elevating the realism and the experience. For live music and stage performances, the possibilities move far beyond stereo and L/C/R loudspeakers, delivering amazing dimensional audio imaging, sound clarity, and control.

For the Malmö Opera audience, the team achieved optimum coverage by splitting the front fills into five separate sections; with no traditional center channel in the system.

"Before the mixture of Soundscape and A-Series, there were always concerns about the sound and specific instruments could get lost in the mix. Now with these systems, everybody says it's fantastic, they can hear everything — every word that is sung or spoken, all the instruments, it's a wonderful experience," said Suchanek. "They even see what are traditionally all-acoustic performances that now want to use the sound system; it sounds that good."

Suchanek explained that this was not a project about replacing loudspeakers. It was about delivering on the new management team's technical vision for the venue.

“The system lifts every musical element in a production and so far, has amazed audiences,” he continued. “For the first time we are hearing how musical arrangements are meant to sound.”

With Soundscape and the En-Scene and En-Space applications, the team can control and manage every loudspeaker independently for optimum performance. The system is amplified and processed with a set of d&b D80, 30D and 10D amps, four DS10, two DS100 processors, AL60, 24C/E, 24C, 8S, E5, 4S, Y-SUB, SL-SUB and Q10 delays. The old Q system, that was the main PA before to upgrade, is now used as a 22 single channel fold back above the stage.

"The ability to accurately reproduce the instruments and voices exactly in the position where they sit or act, that's the main thing of Soundscape at Malmö Opera," said Suchanek. "I was a little concerned about how quickly the house engineers would adapt to the new system, but they jumped right in and have had no problems. They have actually seen a reduction in how much time it takes to tweak and reset for performances, their work is easier, faster, and more efficient, and they deliver a great sound.”

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the theater closed in April of 2020. After the upgrade and installation, the team actually commissioned the system over Zoom. The theater held a grand opening and premiere in early September for a 50-person, in-house audience and a live online audience, with great success. They have continued streaming content throughout the pandemic.

"As far as we know, this is the largest Soundscape theater installation to date," said Suchanek. "This is the strength of d&b, we can use almost any components, and I know that the sound quality will be outstanding, and their support and service are excellent."