Although not technically cinema exhibition trade shows in the purest sense, entertainment technology events Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) and ProLight & Sound (PL&S) both still have a clear relevance to the exhibition industry, particularly when you consider ever-morphing cinema technology trends. In 2023, Celluloid Junkie published a report on PL&S to examine ways to help make your cinema stand out and add some customer-attracting pizzazz via new technological developments. Here are some of the offerings that were on show this year.

ISE 2024 

Held in Barcelona, Spain, sound equipment for high-end home cinema was very much in evidence at ISE. Cinemas seem to be moving in two directions – a return to larger auditoriums and, in the other direction, what could be described as ‘boutique cinemas’, the latter of which offers top quality presentation and comfort for between around 30 to 150 persons. And it is for boutique installations that high-end home cinema becomes interesting.

Speaker and audio systems for smaller auditoriums obviously do exist in the ranges of cinema products but generally at the bottom of the scale – and for our boutique cinema, we are looking at the top! However, first things first – the main starting point has to be having a room that is acoustically correct. In spite of what marketing people would have you believe, poor acoustics cannot be ‘made good’ by electronic means – while this can be helped, the results will be far better by getting the room right from the beginning (Trekkies will recognise Scottie’s observation: “Ye canna beat the laws of physics, cap’n”).

Once the basic room construction is done, there are various options for acoustic panels that offer both performance and aesthetics, such as those offered by Jocavi and Artnovion. Jocavi has introduced two interesting acoustic panels specifically aimed at immersive audio installations, the Ceratmos Spherical diffuser for ceilings and the Ceratmos-W half-spherical 3D diffuser for walls and ceilings. 

On the audio side of things, the Sage Series of speakers from Wisdom Audio offers a very wide selection of in-wall enclosures that will be ideal in smaller rooms. For the techs among you, the speakers combine cone drivers and planar magnetic drivers for the mid and high frequencies. The system is modular, enabling a variety of configurations and power handling, and is completed by the SA DSP and SA range of power amplifiers, with or without DSP processing. Aesthetics are naturally very important for the boutique cinema set up and the in-wall design permits the use of acoustically-transparent fabrics to hide the ambiance (or surround) speakers – an important point.

Procella Audio proposes a range of speaker systems and amplifiers for both the high-end home cinema market and commercial cinemas. For home cinema – or screening room – applications, Procella ensures audio quality and power-handling, while the cinema range provides an alternative to ‘standard’ cinema speaker systems.

In a blast from the past, McIntosh Labs celebrated their 75^th anniversary with a slew of new products that will be more than at home in a boutique cinema situation and provide a special listening experience. They are as much visually exciting as sonically impressive and could easily be housed behind a window in a machine room (or booth).

McIntosh has long been recognised for their valve (tube) equipment and now offers a range of both valve and solid-state amplifiers, preamplifiers and A/V receivers for all current audio formats. For those looking for something a little bit different, there is even a hybrid 2-channel amplifier that is, a valve for the mid/high frequency channel and solid-state for the low-end channel.

Bridging the gap between small and larger auditoriums is the Space system from Coda Audio. As the name implies, this is all about spatial audio and imaging and is modular in conception, allowing for small through to large installations depending upon requirements.

Once again, aesthetics come to the fore and you could have an auditorium that would have more in common with an art gallery than a cinema! The basis of the system is modular, with frame sizes depending on the number of modules incorporated, these being either full-range speaker assemblies of three different sizes or acoustic elements for diffusion and absorption. The modules can then be covered with either an acoustically-transparent screen (for the screen channels) or artwork for the in-room speakers. The Space system includes amplifiers, the Space Hub controller that allows signals to be steered within the speaker modules for spatial audio and a matching subwoofer system.

To add a final bit of theatrical magic is the option of LED lighting around the frames with full DMX control.

PL&S 2024

At 2024’s edition of ProLight & Sound, held in Frankfurt, Germany, two focuses were notable and relevant for cinema exhibition: sound options for the auditorium and special items for décor and audience participation.

First of all, audio… cinema is branching out at present in terms of concepts, with sound requirements becoming more and more akin to theatre and concert sound, rather than being just restricted to traditional cinema systems. The audio content needs to be aimed squarely at the audience and not bounce off the walls and ceiling. Event cinema is also an area which needs very flexible sound systems, as it will be dealing with rock concerts, ballet and opera, special events and sports. The calibration requirements are different for each discipline and settings need to be stored for easy switchover.

A speaker manufacturer that meets all of the above requirements is KV2 and they have models that are ideal for what could be called a multi-purpose auditorium. The pattern control is there and the reproduction of speech and vocals is enough to make many competitors uneasy. 

Something Different

In the constant battle to lure people away from the sofa to your cinema to spend money, enhancing your venue will probably by now be a regular consideration. And both ISE and PL&S had suggested technologies that could do just this – particularly in the entrance hall and/or foyer – ranging from LED posters to video games.

Transtech has introduced the LedPoster II modular intelligent LedPoster system with HD quality, no edge lines and remote control for cluster management. The ideal way to present upcoming features and advertising, as well as creating interest.

What better way to get patrons into the foyer early – or keep them there after the show! – than to have team video games. Marble Maze combines video monitors with a variety of game controllers: digital content meets analogue technology and no previous skills are necessary – an excellent way to involve the non-gamers as well as more experienced players.

Need some special décor for your next special event? Atomic Design (who we came across at PL&S 2023) modular decorative systems for hire at special events showed quite an expansion this year in both the systems and materials – from walls, columns to fabrics. The range of ideas available are perfect to promote your next special presentation.

And speaking of special presentations, CrowdLED wristbands and lanyards are ideal for audience participation; or even organization, both in the foyer and the auditorium. The remote-controlled units can light up with different colours, or even flash or pulse, to encourage patron interaction. For example, people waiting in the foyer to be seated could be ‘called’ by their wristbands turning a particular colour or the audience could vote by showing different colours. The possibilities are almost endless.

There exists a range of options for cinemas that are not typically found in products that are specifically aimed at the cinema industry; and this outside the box thinking can be exciting! See you at CineEurope 2024.