Renkus-Heinz revamps audio at Princeton University Chapel

To optimize the sound of this place of worship, 13 speakers Renkus-Heinz IC Live Gen5 autoamplificados. Each of them receives an independent audio signal from the DSP and is programmed with specific delays to act as a unit, creating the effect that the audio is coming from the altar

Michelle Obama's former university, Princeton, It is one of the best schools in the United States. At the center of its religious and ceremonial activities is the chapel, a center of worship that nods to the architectural style of the English Gothic cathedrals of the 14th century.

Built in 1928, It suffered a fire and after being destroyed it was rebuilt again, becoming the largest university chapel in the United States.. UU. for years, the place has been trusted to house congregations, host events and provide an oasis in the center of the university campus for people of all faiths. Complete with seating for almost 2000 faithful, The nave features sandstone walls with limestone details and very high ceilings of 24 meters high, but its aesthetics compromised the intelligibility of the speech of the liturgical services.

To resolve sound problems, chapel staff contacted audiovisual integrators Washington Professional Systems (WPS) based in Maryland to get a new system. The report specified clear and intelligible speech, as well as improved acoustically balanced music, streaming capabilities and better audio clarity . With the consulting support of SIA Acoustics, the chapel was upgraded with a Renkus-Heinz audio system, complete with innovative beam steering capabilities.

When starting the project, WPS had to consider the historic nature of the site and, working closely with the project architect, The integrators ensured that the system was discreet and respected the complexities of the building. A step-by-step escalation process was implemented to identify any modifications and guidance was sought on how to proceed., ensuring that the project's effects on the chapel's irreplaceable stone and wood were minimal.

“The speaker system was designed with the aim of offering High-quality speech intelligibility and tonal balance for music, while respecting the place”, John V Fish begins, senior project engineer at WPS. “With that framework in mind, the system uses 13 speakers Renkus-Heinz IC Live Gen5 different powered units throughout the main sanctuary, located on each side of the altar, in the columns of the nave, on the side walls of the balcony and in the Marquand chapel. Each speaker receives an independent audio signal from the DSP and is programmed with specific delays to act as a unit, creating the effect that the audio comes from the altar”.

One of the main reasons WPS opted for a Renkus-Heinz audio solution was the beam steering capabilities of the brand's speakers.. The IC Live Gen5 Series presents OmniBeam, an algorithm that delivers unmatched sound and coverage for all locations, without complex configuration. Result in a custom sound that covers the exact geometry of the space, providing consistency from the front to the back of any location.

“Beam steering capabilities allow you to control the dispersion of sound from the speakers in the vertical plane. “This capability helps fine-tune the system to achieve highly intelligible speech in a highly reverberant and reflective chapel.”, añade Sam Berkow from SIA Acoustics. "Besides, IC Live Gen5 speakers allow us, as designers, control the vertical dispersion of sound to the point where we can create the sensation that the sound is coming from the presenter or worship leader, instead of speakers. “This system allows a historic building to meet the expectations of today's most demanding audiences.”.

The system is mixed through a digital console Allen & Heath Avantis, and a Dante-based network is used to transport audio signals throughout the sanctuary, the choir and the altar. This allows the system to move the audio signature effectively with low latency at a low cost.: all inputs and outputs of the system are available in Dante, meaning each signal can be routed as needed, even to specific speaker groups.

“By offering multiple modes of operation, The design allows staff to activate and use the system without having to navigate a complicated startup procedure”, concludes Fish. “Besides, has enough headroom to be used in a wide variety of events without loss of sound quality or clarity”.