Lawo IP technology delivers immersive sound experience at Osaka Expo

In the Austria pavilion you can see an AV installation that shows how a self-playing grand piano interacts live with an invisible orchestra. The Mozarteum University of Salzburg has been responsible for the technical realization of this sound installation, based on IP technology Theirs.

Austria is represented in the Expo 2025 they Osaka with a pavilion that not only explores the future, but also makes it tangible through architecture, the content and, above all, the music. In your hallway, Visitors are greeted by an audiovisual installation that brings the main theme to life, “Composing the Future“, both artistically and technologically.

A self-playing grand piano appears to interact live with an invisible orchestra. A perfectly timed performance of a MIDI controlled instrument with a multichannel audio recording that meets the highest standards of professional quality.

The Mozarteum University of Salzburg has been responsible for the technical realization of this elaborate sound installation, which is based on Lawo IP technology.

All audio production took place in the Max Schlereth room at the Mozarteum University of Salzburg.. The production team used IP-based Lawo production infrastructure, installed there as part of a recent modernization project: a mc²56 production mixing console con 48 faders, redundant A__UHD mainframes, A__stage64 and A__mic8 audio input/output interfaces, and IP networking through Lawo Home.

This management platform, based on a IP infrastructure, Provides direct access to all network resources and enables centralized system configuration and control through an intuitive user interface.

The orchestral recording was done in two stages. First, the instrumental part was performed on a Bösendorfer Enspire grand piano. Both your MIDI data and audio signals were recorded. Next, audio tracks were played for director and ensemble as a headphone guide, which allowed the orchestra to play in perfect synchronization with the piano, without acoustic interference from the instrument itself.

Lawo A__stage interfaces were used to record the different instruments and sections with an array of microphones 7.1 and additional stage microphones. The recording was mixed on a mc²56 console.

The Lawo console's routing and monitoring flexibility allowed both the MIDI-controlled grand piano and orchestral recordings to be precisely balanced.. Thanks to dynamic automation functions and the integration of directly controllable Waves SuperRack plugins, A detailed sound image has been created that combines orchestral depth, spatial definition and great transparency.

Precisely timed installation

In the pavilion itself, An automation system guarantees the operation of the musical installation throughout the Expo. A media server controls both the MIDI data of the Bösendorfer grand piano and the playback of the multi-channel orchestral recording.

The audio output is broadcast through a multichannel system adapted to the room, offering visitors a immersive listening experience, as if the piano and orchestra were playing live in a luxury concert hall. While the synchronization of the grand piano with the recorded orchestral performance demonstrates the technical sophistication of this project, Visitors will be impacted by the emotional resonance it generates.

Thanks to the multimedia and control systems integrated into the pavilion, the playback environment is fully automated, protected with redundancy and designed for continuous operation with consistent playback quality. The clarity and spatial dimension of the sound installation are largely possible thanks to the Lawo technology used in this production.

Study infrastructure

For carrying out complex productions, The Mozarteum University of Salzburg has recently modernized its audio control rooms.

By choosing Lawo mc² consoles - including a mc²56 and a mc²36 xp- and fully transition to IP-based audio technology, the university's infrastructure meets the highest professional standards. Home platform allows network operation in multiple control rooms, offers quick access to all signals and simplifies session management.

This technical base has not only proven its effectiveness in the Expo project, but also offers important advantages in everyday academic applications. Students and staff gain hands-on experience with professional workflows, from microphone settings and multitrack recording complex to automated mixing and final mastering.

With this installation, Austria's contribution to the Expo 2025 send a clear message: music as a bridge to the future, supported by technological excellence: “Composing the future” in the strictest sense.