Warsaw-based integrator MBS has designed and delivered technical systems for the CEKiS Culture and Art Centre in the city of Skierniewice, in the central Polish province of Lódz.
The systems were delivered as part of a major renovation that begun in 2019 and saw a complete redesign of the facility to create a 300-seat multipurpose culture and art centre for concerts, theatre shows and film projection.
MBS installed an Outline [L-C-R] sound system that comprises ten Eidos 265 as L-R FOH, with two FlySub 15 companion subwoofers, two Sub 218 for FOH and concerts as LFE channel (part of the hybrid solution), four Eidos 265 as a centre channel array for cinema and immersive sound, twenty FX101 for the surround and ceiling as 5.1 and 7.1 surround and Atmos / immersive speakers, three Vegas 24 as front fills and six iSM112 as stage monitors. The set-up was controlled and processed by a Newton processor and a Dolby CP950a cinema sound processor.
Piotr Lugowski, CEO of Warsaw-based MBS, acted as project leader and technology consultant on the project which was supervised by MBS installation manager Jacek Zbudniewek.
Lugowski said: “The client chose Outline products after a presentation and intense tests during two days of concerts at the 2020 Rock May Festival organised by the city of Skierniewice. The performance and quality of the Eidos 265 system impressed CEKiS sound engineers and they requested it as the main FOH system. During 2021 we designed a solution with support from Dolby to create a hybrid electroacoustical system at CEKiS, which enabled to switch with a ‘push of a button’ from FOH for concerts to Atmos cinema projection and immersive theatre plays, according to requirements. This configuration, which utilises the Outline line array system (Eidos 265) as front L-C-R for Atmos cinema has been approved by Dolby, which makes it unique. The quality of the Outline system outperforms many other solutions offered to the client before and, when used with the Newton processor, provides robust very hi-end quality sound solutions for any type of present-day concerts and cinema projections, but also for future formats focusing on immersive sound.”
The FOH system can be transformed into a hybrid solution able to support 5.1, 7.1 and immersive formats such as Dolby Atmos.
The project was faced with challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic and was finally completed by the general contractor almost a year later than originally scheduled.
Lugowski adds that another challenging aspect was working with Dolby on designing a hybrid sound system which could serve not only FOH for concerts, but also surround and Atmos cinema sound. After two months of constructive communication, MBS finally received Dolby’s approval for its system’s design, which enables to use the same front speakers, along with a centre line array (Eidos 265) not only as a FOH system, but also for L-C-R in cinema: both 5.1 / 7.1 surround and Atmos. The same is the case with the pair of Outline Sub 218 subwoofers, which – at the push of a button on the Newton processor – become a dedicated LFE cinema channel.
Following installation, supervised by MBS installation manager Jacek Zbudniewek, the client said it was very pleased with the solution provided by Outline and MBS.
Lugowski concludes: “We’re extremely proud of this installation, which opens a new chapter on the Polish market, proving that Outline PA systems are not only a guarantee of premium sound quality, but are able to provide smart flexible solutions for hybrid venues. It’s therefore a very important reference which proves our ability to realise very complex projects, including immersive solutions, providing amazing sound for both concerts and immersive projects, such as theatrical plays and Atmos cinema projection.”