Orlando, FL, January 2013 ? TMS Digital Cinema, a division of Technomedia Solutions, a creative content and technology company, has installed two Powersoft Ottocanali 1204 DSP+ETH power amplifiers at its digital media production, R&D and demonstration facility in Orlando, FL. Powersoft’s Ottocanali 1204 DSP+ETH ? introduced at Infocomm in April 2012 ? offers DSP functionality on each of its eight channels plus Ethernet connectivity that enables full control and monitoring through the company’s Armonía Pro Audio Suite? PC software.
The first of the two new amplifiers has been installed in one of the production suites in TMS Digital Cinema’s new Digital Arts Studio, where it is powering the full range portion of a Klipsch THX Ultra 2 system set up in a 5.1 configuration. The second amplifier will shortly be installed in a neighboring production room.
Gino Pellicano, Acoustical Engineer, Technomedia Solutions, who designed the system, comments, “The Ottocanali 1204 with DSP offers up to 1,280 watts of power over eight channels, each capable of driving a low-z source, or run as a constant voltage system utilizing the optional ‘Batformer’. This, coupled with the flexibility gained from the onboard DSP for each individual channel, routing options and power monitoring options really set the Ottocanali apart from the competition. Furthermore, Armonia offers an elegant, user-friendly platform allowing for quick manipulation of the on-board processing. With eight filters available on each output channel, in addition to the routing, limiting, GPIO and preset features, the Ottocanali offered all the flexibility and DSP power needed to properly commission the system.”
Summing up his experience with the Ottocanali 1204 DSP+ETH, Pellicano says, “The Ottocanali is a great fit for this application. When we first began our search for an appropriate amplification and processing solution for this space, we considered a number of amplifiers, fed off a separate DSP to give us the processing power we needed. With the introduction of the Ottocanali, we were able to condense our rack utilization down to 1RU, while at the same time maintain the required processing power. It’s been a great experience so far, and we hope to utilize the Ottocanali for similar projects in the future.”
Chris Chuilli, Senior Vice President, Technomedia Solutions, comments that for certain applications the company prefers to use amplifiers with built-in DSP rather than a separate head-end processor. “A lot of times we like the DSP to live in the amplification for certain things that require really superb audio, such as theaters, live systems or non-distributed audio systems,” he explains. “We wanted to test these amplifiers out, see how they held up, how they work, how the EQ works. It’s pretty remarkable; we really like the amplifier.”
The new facility, located in a secure area separated from the rest of the TMS Digital Cinema facility and accessible to clients only by invitation, is a creative think tank for the latest cutting edge AV technologies, Chuilli continues. “We apply them into real world operations and we demonstrate them. We have a showroom and we have creative individuals there that also utilize the space. We have a couple of excellently designed audio rooms ? Klipsch said it’s as close to their anechoic chamber as they’ve seen, which is pretty remarkable.”
In the new facility, Chuilli further explains, “We’re trying to look at every possible range of past, present and future technology. We have a lot of old tube-based processing equipment in there and we have old, classic MIDI keyboard systems, but we also have the most up-to-date Pro Tools system with all of its plug-ins. We also use app-based processing. It’s just a very tight, comfortable, excellent sounding, well-tuned space.”
Recently, says Chuilli, “We produced a soundtrack of music and sound design for a 3-D video mapping project for the government in San Juan, PR. We produced all of the video and technologies. A lot of the music was produced out of this room, and the sound was done there also.”
Technomedia Solutions seamlessly integrates media and technology, designing, producing and installing world class interactive and immersive experiences, large format projection, 360-degree and dome theatres, 4D theatres, cutting edge rides, theme parks, theatre and performing arts venues, museums and exhibits, corporate AV integration, retail and hospitality experiences, and more. The company has offices in Orlando, New York City, Boston, Seattle and Los Angeles, and in London, England.
