Malaysian movie-goers can now enjoy immersion previously unheard and unfelt as TGV Cinemas opened a 140-seats cinema boosted by FLEXOUND Augmented Audio™. FLEXOUND technology allows the audiences to enjoy the movies even with the sensation of touch beyond just using vision and hearing.
TGV Cinemas celebrated the opening of an awe-inspiring cinema site in the brand new Toppen Mall in Johor Bahru, Malaysia on November 13, 2019. The number one auditorium – The FLEXOUND auditorium – of the 9-screen multiplex is equipped with FLEXOUND Augmented Audio™. The theater has 140 premium Milano-seats manufactured by Ferco Seating. It is now the largest cinema in the world with the FLEXOUND Augmented Audio™ enhancement in every seat.
TGV Cinemas is a fast-growing entertainment company operating the second largest multiplex cinema chain in Malaysia. TGV Cinemas is strongly developing its offering to be able to provide its customers the best movie-going experiences in the region. TGV decided to invest in the new FLEXOUND Augmented Audio™ technology to be the first Southeast Asian cinema company to incorporate it.
“Immersive technologies are a rising trend in the cinema industry, and with FLEXOUND, we can provide something totally new and exciting for our movie-goers. When you both hear and feel the sounds of the movie while watching it, it enhances the emotions created by the film and it feels like you are in the story yourself. It’s a very natural and engaging experience. When the film ends, you feel like you want more,” says Yeoh Oon Lai, CEO of the TGV Cinemas.
“Sound is actually vibration which we can hear with our ears but can also sense with our skin and body. For some reason we’ve only utilized the human hearing to enjoy sounds and music so far. Synchronized sound came to cinema in the 1920s, so its now high time to add the sensation of touch to the movie experience and this is possible with our patented augmented audio solution, in an elegant and sophisticated way. The seats do not move, but your emotions will.”, explains Mervi Heinaro, FLEXOUND CEO.
FLEXOUND Augmented Audio™ complements all current cinema sound systems. The technology offers equal sound quality in every seat independent of seat location. It improves the clarity of dialogue and lower-pitched tones and requires no wearable accessories. “No recode or remixing of the sound is needed, so the cinema operators can exhibit any content from blockbusters to local content to e-sports. We give cinema operators a high-value competitive advantage over in-home-entertainment.”, says FLEXOUND Chief of Cinema, Mika Oesch.
The first commercial cinema with FLEXOUND Augmented Audio™ has been immersing audiences since February 2019 in Finland. The technology was first introduced to the cinema industry in June 2018 at the CineEurope in Barcelona, Spain and it has ever since created enthusiasm among the cinema professionals and audiences alike with its natural immersive feel and sound.
FLEXOUND Augmented Audio™ is designed and engineered in Finland. The multinational team started the work in 2015 to help autistic children by adding the sensation of touch to music. Now the versatile, globally unique, and patented technology can be embedded into cinema, airplane or car seats, gaming chairs, cushions, furniture and more. FLEXOUND is a member of the International Cinema Technology Association and a winner of the Better Sound Award in the 2019 ISA Awards.
TGV Cinemas is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tanjong Public Limited Company established in 1995. TGV is a pioneer in cinema innovation and one of the leading multiplex cinema operators in Malaysia. At TGV, it’s not just about movies but a total entertainment experience – for all! TGV takes pride in providing holistic family entertainment experiences. To date, TGV has helped create countless memories across all locations nationwide. TGV has developed a broad palette of entertainment offers to cover all occasions. Whether you need family fun, a great night out, a luxurious experience or an immersive cinematic adventure – you can have it all at TGV Cinemas.
Ferco Seating, established in 1983, has evolved throughout the years into one of the world’s largest manufacturers of public seating. Headquartered in the UK and manufacturing in Malaysia, with well-connected international footprints around the globe, Ferco has a wide range of experience when it comes to understanding the challenges faced in the cinema industry. Ferco has gained FLEXOUND certification for four of their premium models: Verona, Milano, Tuscany and the Opus seats.