Europe's Most Extensive Virtual Roof's Auditory Companion
In the bustling heart of Manchester, U.K., the Printworks hospitality hub has undergone a transformative upgrade. The venue, known for its bars, restaurants, leisure spaces, and cinema, now boasts one of Europe's largest digital ceilings, featuring augmented reality technology.
Spanning nearly 1,000 square meters and boasting an 8K resolution content canvas, this digital ceiling is a spectacle to behold, with over 10.7 million pixels. It's complemented by over 500 square meters of additional LED screens around the venue, creating a dynamic and mesmerizing environment that elevates shopping and leisure activities.
This technological marvel is not just a visual delight but also an immersive experience. The digital ceiling's visual content is dynamically aligned with events, seasons, or public art, transforming the atmosphere to engage visitors. For instance, visitors can see their artwork transformed into large-scale digital displays on this ceiling, contributing to a vibrant public art installation.
The audio system, powered by Renkus-Heinz's beam-steered IC Live Gen5 Series and UBX Series loudspeakers, perfectly syncs with the video content, enveloping guests in a world of entertainment. The new PA system, which includes four Renkus-Heinz ICL-F-RD models, six UBX8 loudspeakers, and two SX118 subwoofers, is independently powered and offers an impressive audio experience.
The ICL-F-RD models, with their slim enclosures, integrate seamlessly into projects, making them ideal for mounting high up and flat to the wall. These self-powered models are driven by Powersoft Quattrocanali 2404 and 1204 amplifiers, ensuring optimal performance.
The system's control is streamlined through a Symetrix Prism 12×12 with Dante, used for DSP and audio system control throughout the venue. This system distributes signals to the Renkus-Heinz IC Live Gen5 loudspeakers and Powersoft amplifiers. A Symetrix T-10 touchscreen panel offers venue staff intuitive control of the entire system, allowing them to change presets to different modes and control the audio feeds and volume for specific events.
Clock-audio shotgun microphones placed throughout the site provide automatic audio level adjustment in response to real-time footfall. The Green Hippo server is used to synchronize the audio with the screen content, ensuring a harmonious audiovisual experience.
Mark Bromfield, director of system solution sales at CUK Group, played a pivotal role in the project, highlighting the beam-steering capabilities of the IC Live Gen5 Series and UBX Series loudspeakers as key decisions. He concludes that the system is a spectacle worth visiting.
CUK Group supported the project as technical distributor, working alongside integrators PAS Sound Engineering. The new PA system was required to support video wall content and events at the center, ranging from yoga classes to festivals and parties. This digital ceiling enhances the visitor experience by providing immersive, free entertainment, making Manchester Printworks a must-visit destination in Manchester.
