Yamaha and Nexo AFC system creates the sound of the QUSEC complex in Qatar

Maximum audio flexibility in a multi-purpose space is what has been achieved at the Qatar University Sports and Events Complex (QUSEC), thanks to an advanced audio technological combination between Yamaha y Nexus composed of Techno Q.

This collaboration between the multifunctional acoustic system AFC of Yamaha and the speakers of the French brand Nexus, integrated and installed by Techno Q, made the project QUSEC won the award for best flexible space experience in the latest edition of the awards Avixa.

QUSEC's main space was designed to host sports, like basketball and tennis, as well as exhibitions, banquets, conferences, presentation ceremonies, etc. To offer sound at par with the quality of this installation, It has an important Yamaha AFC multifunctional acoustic conditioning system, which uses Nexo speakers.

One of the main audio challenges for Mohanad Is-Hak, Techno Q project manager, was that space would vary its volume between 22.400 m3 y 35.900 m3, due to a ceiling of 70×40 meters of adjustable height, which created obvious acoustic problems.

“At first we only had basic plans and renders artistic aspects of the building -explains-, so the first priority was an in-depth study of each element of the project: its structure, finishes, acoustic materials, etc; which took several rounds of in-depth discussions with all parties to create the system design and deliver what the client wanted”.

Audio flexible

Motorize more than seventy tons of roof panels, which included a sophisticated lighting system, acoustic materials and the AFC system, in addition to guaranteeing complete harmonization of sound at all levels of the ceiling “It surpassed any difficulty we could have imagined.. We did a lot of acoustic studies, modelado de audio y simulación para asegurarnos de que lo conseguiríamos, and we only had nine months for everything”, remember this manager.

In joint work with Yamaha and Nexo engineers, A very flexible audio system was designed to operate in several different modes, each with a different ceiling height.

For example, in Ceremony and Conference mode, the ceiling is 10 m. tall, with Nexo arrays flown into the façade's conventional public address system, that can be raised or lowered to offer the best sound for different seating plans.

The AFC system consists of nine early reflection and two reverb systems, con 136 Nexo units for the main stage. Inputs to the AFC system come from twenty-four cardioid and eight supercardioid microphones, with control and management through six AFC and three signal processors MRX7-D.

Eight interface cards Dante MY16-AUD route the audio outputs to a Dante network switch and, thence, to Nexo power amplifiers for AFC main arrays.

The system is used as general public address and background music in exhibition mode, but it really makes sense in sport mode to improve the atmosphere and experience, of both players and spectators, and is where the versatility of Yamaha AFC systems is revealed.

For example, in addition to the direct sound of the fans cheering on their team, A microphone array above the seats picks up the sound and transmits it to the AFC speakers, mounted on the wall of the playing field, to increase the volume and AFC ceiling speakers for additional reverb, which increases the feeling of space.

Basketball is one of the key sports played in the pavilion. For this reason, specific microphones are used, located above each ring, that enhance the sound of the ball hitting the backboard and transmitted to fans through specific groups of flown and ground-mounted speakers, with reinforced late reflections from additional speakers behind the stands and through the ceiling array.

In the same way, An array of eight microphones located on the field of play picks up the sound of the bouncing basketball and enhances it through early reflections from wall speakers, further increased by the diffuse field of the roof assembly. The playing field microphone array is also used for other sports, like tennis.

AFC system programming makes it louder on speakers closest to the ball position, which improves the sense of your position for viewers by making the location of the sound clearly audible, both along and across the field.

For sport mode there are also two groups of Nexo matrices, for music and advertisements, placed on each side of a central walkway over the center of the court, which allows the space to be divided into two by means of a curtain. Los arrays can be used together when it is a single space, and separately when divided.

Matrixes and consoles

For sport mode there are also two groups of Nexo matrices for music and announcements, flown to each side of a central walkway over the center of the arena, which allows the space to be divided into two by means of a curtain. Los arrays can be used together when it is a single space, and separately when divided.

For events, The room also has digital mixing consoles Yamaha CL5 y CL3, with three racks of E/S Rio1608-D2. Fiber connection lines from the control room to more than fifty access points throughout the QUSEC building make easy plug and play from any area.

Control of the AFC system is carried out through Yamaha ProVisionaire Touch on iPad, with presets for the different modes that make the system very easy to operate.

“We chose Yamaha and Nexo because they are the best - says Mohanad Is-Hak -. The combination of the best 'brain'’ of the system with the best speakers offers exceptional clarity and smoothness. The moving ceiling requirement made it very difficult to get the correct position and orientation for the suspended speakers and microphones, but in the end we got it”.