Broadcast

BBC Radio Resources, London - UK

BBC Radio Resources is using the Optimizer as a mobile device to see the benefits of room correction in music studios, such as Maida Vale and Radio Theatre, as well as in OB trucks. Various consoles are used (mainly SSL and Studer), with Mitchell Todd Excel 202As monitors for nearfield and surround work.

The benefits of the Optimizer include:

• reduction of speaker colouration, improved loudspeaker phase, and reduction of reflections,
• improved listening in trucks, where the rear speakers often cannot be placed in the ideal positions,
• improved results, and reduced ear fatigue for some of the Music Balancers.

France3 (French public television), Paris - France

With a staff of over 6000 people and 97 offices around the country, France3 is the main regional and local TV in France.

France3 has chosend the Optimizer for its broadcast control rooms that have been upgraded for 5.1 productions:

• Régie 2 is a small control room without any acoustic treatment. It features a Studer D950S desk and Genelec 1032 monitors.
• Régie D347 has been refurbished in 2007, with an acoustic design by Christian Hugonnet. It features a Digidesign Icon controller and A2t monitors, including three subwoofers. This is where the famous program Thalassa is mixed.

Philippe Vaidie, chief engineer of Régie D347, describes the benefits of using the Optimizer in his control room:

"Our monitoring has improved, and the broadcasted sound has also improved. This was confirmed to us by the journalists and by those who check the live broadcast. It's obvious on the timbre and on the balance: I find them back exactly as I mixed them. It's transparent." (Sonovision, May 2008)

Installation and fine-tuning by TaylorMadeSystem - Jacques Fuchs and Patrick Thévenot.

NRK (Norwegian public broadcaster), Oslo - Norway

The engineers of the NRK are using the Optimizer in a variety of projects, from film mixing in large control rooms such as LK2, equipped with Genelec 8040 and Adam S3a monitors, to outside broadcasting in mobile units equipped with Genelec 1030/1031 and Adam S4a monitors.

ORF (Austrian public broadcaster), Vienna - Austria

The ORF has chosen the Optimizer for its most critical multichannel broadcasting control rooms:

• The SK3 (Synchronkomplex), located in the headquarters of the ORF-TV in central Vienna, is a large control room designed for voice recording, postproduction and synchronization of audio for video in 5.1. It was built in 2006 and designed by Tonarchitektur. It is equipped with a Lawo mc2 mixer and five Studer A5 monitors with two Mackie HRS 150 as subwoofers. More info: Resolution Magazine, April 2006.
• RP11, is a large control room used for live broadcasting of sports programs. It features a Lawo desk and Genelec monitors.
• Edit A, located in the headquarters of the ORF-TV in central Vienna, is a medium-size control room designed for Video editing. It has a 5.1 setup with Studer A3 monitors and a Lawo mc2. It was built in 2007 and designed by Tonarchitektur.
• RP3, located in the ORF Landestudio of Upper Austria, is a pre & post-production control room for radio and TV. It features a Lawo mc66 and five Studer A5 monitors. The Optimizer is remotely controlled via the optional external touch-screen.

Installation and fine-tuning by our partner and distributor for Austria: Tonarchitektur - Peter Willensdorfer.

Radio France (French public radio), Paris - France

Radio France is the french public radio. It operates seven major national stations and has a staff of 4000 people.

After Studio 104, the control room of Studio 106 is the second one at Radio France that has been upgraded for 5.1 productions. It is equipped with an SSL C100 digital desk, and ATC SCM150 and ATC SCM50 monitors, some of the finest loudspeakers currently available.

But how do you manage to get accurate 5.1 monitoring from a control room originally designed for stereo? When a total refurbishment is not an option, the Optimizer can be of great help. The sound engineers at Radio France found that the Optimizer could make the Studio 106 sound not too different from their benchmark 5.1 control room, the Studio 104. When you have the responsibility of broadcasting live in 5.1, every weekday, one of the most popular radio shows, "Le fou du Roi", one cannot allow the room to make a fool of oneself!

RTBF (French-speaking Public Broadcaster of Belgium), Brussels - Belgium

The mastering studio for the Archives of the Litterature Museum is located in the headquarters of the RTBF. It is a small asymmetrical room featuring a pair of PMC AML1 monitors.

Due to the asymmetry of the room, a strong cancellation occurs in the mid range. Thanks to its unique phase compensation capabilities, the Optimizer manages to solve this problem seamlessly. The result is truely astonishing.

SWR (Public Broadcaster of Southwest Germany), Mainz - Germany

The Mehrzweck Studio (Multipurpose Studio) at SWR now features an Optimizer for accurate stereo and surround monitoring. The main goal was to compensate for room resonances from the side-walls, as well as to adjust for asymmetrical loudspeaker positions due to architectural constraints.

This control room is equipped with a Lawo desk and Klein & Hummel O400 monitors. Installation and fine-tuning by our distributor for Germany: SDI - Veit Wegmann.

Outside Broadcast

France3 (French public television), Paris - France

France3 has chosen Trinnov's Optimizer to achieve accurate monitoring in its latest, state-of-the-art OB Vans, the HD OB Van of Marseille, the HD OB Van of Rennes , and the HD-upgraded OB Truck of Lille. As the main french regional TV, France3 also has regional headquarters in Ajaccio, Bordeaux, Lyon, Rouen, Strasbourg, Toulouse. Thalassa, Questions pour un champion, Des Racines et des Ailes, Critérium cycliste at Charleville Mezières are some of the programs where these vans are on duty.

Each of these facilities features two Optimizers, one in the Video room and one in the Sound room. In addition to the room correction functionality, the Optimizer's unique remapping technology has been used to setup specific presets for off-centered listening positions, and for the semi-open configuration of the van. The semi-open configuration has to be used when the van is parked in the narrow streets of old city centers, such as in Lyon.

According to the sound engineers, the main benefits of the Optimizer are:

• improved quality of the results,
• reduced listening fatigue.

The trucks were built and integrated by Preview GM System. The Optimizers were installed and fine-tuned by our partners TaylorMadeSystem - Jacques Fuchs and Patrick Thévenot .

NRK (Norwegian public broadcaster), Oslo - Norway

In 2007, the NRK totally refurbished one of its main OB Vans, the TR27, originally built in 1994. The AMEK Mozart analog mixer has been replaced by a Studer Vista8. It now features two 5.1 monitoring systems, one with Adam ST3a, and the other with Dynaudio BM6a. The Optimizer manages the room correction for both speaker layouts. The sound engineers from NRK say that they never had audio monitoring of such a quality in an OB Van.

Installation and fine-tuning by our distributor for Norway, LydRommet - Christian Snilsberg .

ORF (Austrian public broadcaster), Vienna - Austria

The ORF-Radio, based at Funkhaus Wien, is using two Optimizers on two different mobile units:

• OB Van Ü1D is used for live radio broadcasting. Is has a Studer D950S mixer with Genelec 1031/1029 monitors and a Genelec 1092 sub.
• The Mobile Recording Station, using Studer A3 monitors and an Adam Sub10.

Installation and fine-tuning by distributor for Austria: Tonarchitektur - Peter Willensdorfer.

SFP (Société Française de Production), Paris - France

With a full range of production and post-production facilities, SFP is one of the major players in the french TV & Film market.

SFP's two largest semi-trailers, the CR740 and CR732, are now equipped with an Optimizer in their audio rooms. The 740 OB Truck features a Studer Vista6 mixer, while the OB Truck 732 has a Studer 950D. Both control rooms are equipped with Genelec 1031 and 1029 monitors. The Optimizer helps SFP's engineers to achieve balanced 5.1 mixes, and a consistent experience from one truck to the other.
See also the article in Sonovision issue 528 - April 2008, pages 84-87.

ZDF (German public Television) - Germany

The ZDF is using the Optimizer for 5.1 broadcasting in 3 different OB Trucks : MP1, MP2 and MP3. They are equipped with Klein+Hummel O300D/O110D monitors and Studer D950S mixers.

Film

Fox Studios, Hollywood - USA

Fox Post Production Services have chosen the Optimizer as the loudspeaker processor for their new state-of-the-art DVD Mastering Room. This new facility, built to the highest standards, features a 65" Panasonic Plasma and a Digidesign Icon with fiber links to D5 and HD-Cam video machines.

The Optimizer has been configured with 13 user presets to manage multiple monitoring configurations in 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1. Depending on the configuration, 2, 4 or 6 of the 6 surround speakers are used, with or without bass management. Thanks to the Optimizer, Fox is also able to switch instantly to an X-Curve calibration to compare the dvd mastering to the sound of the original film.

INA, Paris (Bry-sur-Marne) - France

The Institut National de l'Audiovisuel is the archive for all the french broadcast and film productions. It is also the main training center for broadcast professionals, and includes a research centre in audio and video technologies.

The Bry2 screening room has been refurbished with a state-of-the-art sound system designed by TMS. It features an acoustically transparent screen by Screen Research, the front loudspeakers are custom APG coaxial drivers, and the surround speakers are A2t SC2828. Thanks to the unique remapping functionality of the Optimizer, it is possible to switch between multiple cinema and ITU presets.

Installation and fine-tuning by TaylorMadeSystem - Jacques Fuchs and Patrick Thévenot.

Jackson Studios , Groupe Télétota, Paris - France

Jackson is one of the leading film post-production centers in France, with five fully equipped Dolby™ and DTS™ mixing studios in the north of Paris.

The Audi 5, recently upgraded with an Euphonix System 5 mixing desk, now offers more accurate monitoring thanks to the Optimizer. In addition to the digital room correction, the Optimizer makes the X-Curve tonal balance of the room, and offers multiple presets to store the settings of each engineer. Last but not least, the Optimizer's unique phase-correction capability reduces the harshness from the horn tweeters of the JBL 4675 monitors.

Tonstudio Beusch, Zurich - Switzerland

Sound Engineer Christian Beusch (TSB & Magnetix AG) focuses on audio-post for film (sound design, editing & premix) and music (mix of film score and music for CD/DVD productions). His studio features a Protools HD6 system, Geithain 901K monitors for L, C & R, as well as six Geithain 902 & 904 for the surrounds and a Hafler subwoofer.

Mr Beusch describes the benefits of the Optimizer as follows:

• mixes translate well from his studio to the Dolby™ dubbing stage,
• high flexibility to mix in different formats: stereo, 5.1 and 6.1,
• ability to store multiple presets for various post-production tasks.

"What I hear is reliable - the Optimizer corrects most acoustical defects to a very high degree - much better than any other system I know of." notes Mr Beusch.

Tonstudio Beusch

Hannes Vester, Munich - Germany

Award-winning composer Hannes Vester focuses on film scoring. His private studio features a Protools HD system and five Event 20/20 monitors plus a subwoofer.

Mr Vester highly appreciates how the Optimizer helps him to achieve nearly finished mixes in his own studio, so that only a minimum of additional mixing time is required when he goes to the Dolby™ dubbing stage to finalize the mix. Thanks to the Optimizer's flexibility, he is able to switch between an ITU R-775 preset and an X-Curve preset that emulates the sound of the film theatre.

Installation and fine-tuning by our distributor for Germany: SDI - Veit Wegmann.

Music

Studio Air Odéon, Brussels - Belgium

Veteran sound engineer Michael W. Huon is one of the early adopters of the Optimizer, which he discovered at the AES Barcelona back in 2005. He offers the right place for high quality acoustic music, well served by the state-of-the art acoustic design of its 150m3 control room which features an Euphonix 5MC control surface over a Nuendo system, the Weiss mastering suite and Benchmark DA converters, as well as a Crookwood analog volume control. A pair of PMC AML1 plus two 18" subwoofers are used as midfields, while the custom main monitors are based on Dynaudios drivers.

• The accuracy of the sound rendering is such, that it becomes much easier to adjust the balance, panning, filters, effects and reverb,
• phantom images are surprising and convincing, the reverberation is clearly decorrelated and the stereo image steps beyond the width of the loudspeaker triangle,
• reduced listening fatigue - ability to listen at lower levels without loss of detail, while tonal harshness is eliminated.

"The great confidence that I now have in my monitors allows me to work in a more straightforward way, and the whole process is much faster as I don't need to double check in other rooms. Artists and producers are directly satisfied with the results." notes Mr Huon.

Installation and fine-tuning by our distributor for Belgium: PureTec - Frédéric Vard.

Air Odéon

Dada Studios, Brussels - Belgium

Dada is a music recording studio specializing in pop music. The Optimizer is used in the Control Room A, equipped with a Neve V3/60 analog mixing desk and a pair of Genelec 1039 monitors. Installation and fine-tuning by our distributor for Belgium: PureTec - Frédéric Vard.

Igloo Studio, Brussels - Belgium

Veteran sound engineer Daniel Léon focuses on classical, jazz, and world music for highly selective producers such as Nemo and Neos, as well as for his own label Igloo Records. He has recently completed Vaya Con Dios' new album for BMG, as well as an opera by Astor Piazzolla. His studio features a Protools HD3 system, Sony MXP 3000 and Harrison Alive desks, and six pairs of stereo monitors: FAR XMD8, PMC AML-1, Meyer HD-1, Adam S3, Harbeth LS5/12A and Yamaha NS10.

Mr Léon highly appreciates the additional listening comfort brought by the Optimizer, particularly regarding the phase behavior.

"The ability to quickly setup a new system is a great advantage. If I decide to move from stereo to 5.1, I will only need about ten minutes to be confident that I can start working." he adds.

Installation and fine-tuning by our distributor for Belgium: PureTec - Frédéric Vard.

Mixus Studios, Paris - France

Mixus studios focus on music for commercials and albums. Their control room features a ProTools HD system with a stereo setup of Dynaudio monitors and a Bluesky layout for 5.1 monitoring.

Sound system design by TaylorMadeSystem - Jacques Fuchs and Patrick Thévenot.

Tone Department - Peter Riese, Düsseldorf - Germany

Music composer and producer Peter Riese focuses on commercials and film scores. His private studio features two cascaded Mackie d8b desks and a pair of NS10 monitors.

According to Mr Riese, the main benefits brought by the Optimizer are the following:

• improved frequency response in the low range,
• stereo field is much more precise,
• no need to double-check the mixes on alternate pairs of monitors,
• reduced listening fatigue.

"I can now listen in a more accurate way and I don´t have the feeling I miss something in the master. Now I can trust my mix" concludes Mr Riese.

Research & Education

Academy of Fine Arts Vienna - Austria

The Academy of Fine Arts of Vienna is using both the SRP and the Optimizer in their facilities for sound engineering studies.

Installation and fine-tuning: Tonarchitektur - Peter Willensdorfer.

RAI CRIT, Torino - Italy

The CRIT (Research & Innovation Center) of the RAI is using the Optimizer in its listening room.

The room features a Yamaha DM2000 desk and two 5.1 monitoring setups, the first one with Genelecs 1038 and the second one with Genelecs 8050A with a 7070A subwoofer.

ED-Cine Project - Europe

Trinnov Audio is a partner of the EDCine european project for digital cinema. We are currently researching on the following subjects that will be part of future audio reproduction standards in european theaters: digital room correction, audio with height, wide listening area, and 3D audio formats.

Zürich University of the Arts - ICST, Zürich - Switzerland

The ICST (Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology) is using the Optimizer for the playback of its music on a regular setup of 8 loudspeakers.

IRT, Munich - Germany

The IRT (Institut für Rundfunktechnik) is the research center of the german-language public broadcasters: ARD, ZDF, DLR, ORF and SRG/SSR. As part of their activities, the evaluation of audio quality on new broadcast technologies such as DVB and IPTV is of critical importance.

Currently, the IRT is running comparative studies to examine the Optimizer for various setups

Installation and fine-tuning by our distributor for Germany: SDI - Veit Wegmann.

McGill University - CIRMMT, Montréal - Canada

The laboratory of Wieslaw Woszczyk at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology (CIRMMT) is using two Optimizers for its 24.12 installation for research in 3D sound reproduction. One Optimizer performs the digital room correction for the 24 satellite loudspeakers, and a second Optimizer manages the 12 subs. Both Optimizers use MADI interfaces.

St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences - Austria

The Media Technology department of the Fachhochschule St. Pölten is using the Optimizer for the audio technology courses. Thanks to the Optimizer's measurement functionality, the students can more easily understand the concepts related to room acoustics, and the importance of loudspeaker/room calibration.

Installation and fine-tuning by our distributor for Austria: Tonarchitektur - Peter Willensdorfer.

Live and Installed Sound

Hangar7, Salzburg - Austria

Located in the airport of Salzburg, Hangar7 is the home of the Flying Bulls' impressive collection of historical aircraft. It is a unique combination of an aircraft hangar, an art gallery and a space for gastronomy and events.

But how can you setup a proper sound reinforcement system in a building made of glass and steel? Our partners Tonarchitektur and ProPerformance found that the Optimizer could help them in this great challenge.

IES GmbH, Munich - Germany

Live sound specialists Innovative Electronic Systems found that "the Optimizer offered the fastest way to a achieve a flat loudspeaker system in any kind of venue and with almost any kind of loudspeakers". They are using the Optimizer on up to 12 channels with a variety of sound reinforcement systems (L-Acoustics, d&b, Meyersound, Nexo), in venues such as Olympiapark Munich, Haus der Kunst Munich and Hallenstadion Zürich, and for artists such as Brian Ferry, Sasha, Reinhard Fendrich, Patrick Nuo, Bayerisches Staatsorchester and SWR Bigband.

"Our final results got way better since we are using the Optimizer" points out chief engineer Philipp Kaetel as he describes its benefits:

• fast and efficient removal of feedback frequencies - there are hardly any left,
• accurate tonal matching of individual loudspeakers - they all sound pretty much the same,
• less inconvenience for the rest of the crew, since the measurement process is faster.

"The bottom line is that we now spend less time setting up our sound systems, and therefore have more time to focus on other important parts of the show." he concludes.

Mister Master, Vienna - Austria

Award-wining Martin Mayer is one of the most famous live sound engineers in Austria for classical music. He is successfully using the Optimizer to calibrate the sound reinforcement on his venues.

Austrian National Library, Vienna - Austria

As a historical building, the architecture of the Austrian National Library is protected. This leaves little room for acoustic treatment. Thanks to the Optimizer's digital room correction, the acoustics of the Library's magnificent State Hall, Aurum, Camineum, Oratorium, Refektorium and Van Sweeden Saal are compensated.

Installation and fine-tuning: Tonarchitektur - Peter Willensdorfer.