AES New York 2013
Live Sound Seminar LS9
Saturday, October 19, 11:00 am — 12:30 pm (Room 1E12)
LS9 - Assuring High Quality Speech Intelligibility for Sports Events In Stadiums
Chair:Renato Cipriano, Walters Storyk Design Group Brazil
Panelists:
Sergio Molho, Walters Storyk Design Group - Highland, NY, USA
John Storyk, Walters-Storyk Design Group - Highland, NY, USA
Abstract:
Establishing high quality speech intelligibility for sports events in stadiums requires a somewhat different mindset than that required for an optimum concert sound. However, stadiums frequently host both these types of events, and systems must be adaptable to both. Two key issues to consider are Speech Intelligibility (more critical than the frequency response of the system for sports events) and Uniform Sound Coverage, which is critical to meeting FIFA rules and regulations. For the past two+ years, WSDG Brazil has been working on three major stadium projects simultaneously, in preparation for the 2016 Olympics. A number of venerable older Brazilian arenas are currently undergoing substantial upgrades. Work on the Mineirão Stadium (1965) in Belo Horizonte was completed last year. It has already hosted Paul McCartney and will host the 2014 World Cup. Renovations on Independencia (1950), Brazil’s largest stadium, also in Belo Horizonte are approaching completion. Renovations on the Maracanã Stadium (1950) in Rio de Janeiro will be completed later this year. WSDG Brazil is tasked with designing the acoustics and the complete audio and video systems for all three stadiums. This presentation will cover: Analysis of Requirements Involved in The Design Process of Stadium Sound Systems; including frequency response, target STL and STI values, coverage (SPL distribution) Zoning, Architectural and Structural Integration, redundancy, etc. Also to be covered are: Overall Electroacoustical Simulations and Auralization for Large Arenas. Additionally, the presentation will address: Sound System Design For Security (Evacuation/Public Address Announcements) including Broadcast Requirements and, Zoning/Distribution Issues Which Require Special Attention And Drive Design Decisions.
