Pixel Artworks’ recently unveiled its first-of-a-kind, hybrid spatial audio and multimedia demonstration system located within its London head office. The immersive space features a floor-to-ceiling, projection experience met by the unrivalled dynamic audio capabilities of TiMax Soundhub, which not only handles the programming and reproduction of multichannel immersive spatial audio shows but enhances traditional stereo and 5.1 formats as well. Delivered through a Meyer Sound loudspeaker system, the full-saturation immersive audio combines with the also immersive, projection experience to demonstrate the level of creativity and innovation that goes into every Pixel Artworks project, from design through to delivery.

The change was pre-empted by a desire to help clients better understand the changing pace of technology and how it can explicitly enhance their campaigns, events and installations. Pixel Artworks MD, Tom Burch, explains “People are fascinated by the effects of our creative technology, but it’s always been a challenge to showcase our sophisticated and intertwined design and delivery process, and the level of innovation and knowledge which we put into every experience, especially in the current saturated market.”

The company collaborated with leading UK audio specialists Autograph to supply the best possible audio demonstration system. Alongside TiMax, which assigns timing and 3D placement of each track in the room, assuring a seamless audio experience regardless of the listener’s position in the space, Autograph specified and supplied a 14-channel Meyer Sound loudspeaker system combining 12 ultra-compact MM4-XPs, a centrally-located Ashby-8C ceiling unit and a single MM10-XP subwoofer. To achieve the desired sonic impact, the Meyer Sound loudspeakers are installed unobtrusively at several levels around the room.

Trevor Nichol, Senior Production Manager at Pixel Artworks commented, “Collaborating with Autograph has been a great experience. They went above and beyond to design a bespoke system taking into account our needs for the showroom space, therefore we have a system which sounds fantastic and fits seamlessly into our room. The TiMax object-based spatial audio and multimedia demonstration system allows us to manipulate audio piece by piece to create a dynamic and immersive experience like never before, and the suggested Meyer loudspeakers were a clear choice offering the best quality audio in an amazingly small chassis.”

“The after sales from Autograph has been great too, particularly whilst programming and tuning the TiMax spatial audio system, getting the best possible audio quality and experience for our visitors. The response has been fantastic.”

The visual element of the immersive room show is driven by ‘disguise’ media servers and rendered through 360º virtual cameras to test the multi-perspective content during the creative production process. Pixel Artworks also pre-visualised the content through VR using their existing VR station in their office. As Burch states, “VR allows our clients to grasp the space and scale before anything goes onsite. It has also helped us test and check the content during the build of the immersive room.”

The immersive room features some of the latest audio-visual technology including state-of-the-art Epson ultra-short throw ‘snorkel’ lenses, high contrast 6000-lumen laser projectors. The central display is a 65” OLED screen, an obvious choice for Pixel Artworks due to the high contrast ratio, perfect blacks and rich colours. The whole space is centrally controlled by Barco’s Medialon Showmaster software, integrating the video show, audio, pixel-mapped LED lighting, conventional lighting, ventilation. It also enables the user to interact and control the system with the custom touch screen panels.

Sean Lamonby, Lead Creative at Pixel Artworks explains, “We wanted our concept to differentiate from previous showreels, all based on an amalgamation of finished filmed projects. This new showreel expresses an intricate level of detail and lays bare our core storytelling theme – how the convergence of light particles takes you from a single pixel to a huge show.”

Dave Haydon, director of TiMax manufacturer, Out Board, comments, “We are very pleased to have TiMax involved at the cutting edge of immersive multimedia creation and production; this new facility at Pixel Artworks is second to none.”

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