Thread:

Posts: 10

Post by hiredfox September 1, 2011 (1 of 10)
Just need a decent orchestra to make things complete ;-)

Post by AmonRa September 1, 2011 (2 of 10)
Ha... I have already done some violin recording with Microtech Gefell M950 hypocardioids to SD722 at 24/88.2.

All multichannel monitoring in the new Helsinki Music House is done with Genelec monitors. Mostly 8260A with 7070A subwoofers. There are 5 control rooms, any room can record any hall.

http://www.genelecusa.com/products/3-way-monitors/8260a/

In the main control room there are also a pair of Lipinski L-707 monitors.

Post by canonical September 5, 2011 (3 of 10)
Arnaldo said:

The new hall, which includes half-a-dozen venues tailor-made for various types of music, was designed with sound in mind. The man in charge was one of the world's leading acoustics experts, Japan's Yasuhisa Toyota of Nagata Acoustics. He is also responsible for Los Angeles' Walt Disney Concert Hall and renovation of the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.

Sadly, the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall has rather poor acoustics. For one thing, it is far too large to be a proper concert hall. In fact, many modern concert halls are too large today ... designed for selling seats for mega events or mega stars that make no sense for the music being played inside them.

Post by hiredfox September 6, 2011 (4 of 10)
canonical said:

...many modern concert halls are too large today ... designed for selling seats for mega events or mega stars that make no sense for the music being played inside them.

Very interesting take on the situation. Even orchestras rely on bums on seats to survive, even more so these days with many sponsors having to reign in and repair balance sheets.

Purpose designed unitary functional halls need a set of design parameters to be optimised and what might work for a 30 or 70 piece ensemble may not respond so well to a 120 piece orchestra in full flight of Mahler.

Symphony Hall in Birmingham, England is I believe flexible in design and adjustable to a certain extent although I know not the details, perhaps others can enlighten us. It does sound good 'though.

Matching halls to orchestras has the uncomfortably familiar ring of trying to match hi fi systems to listening rooms. With all the compromises involved in these systems plus the inevitable compromises of microphones, placement and recording it is a minor miracle that we get to hear anything that even remotely resembles what is heard in the concert hall.

Post by Polly Nomial September 6, 2011 (5 of 10)
hiredfox said:

Symphony Hall in Birmingham, England is I believe flexible in design and adjustable to a certain extent although I know not the details, perhaps others can enlighten us. It does sound good 'though.

SH is a miracle of engineering (and doubtless other modern halls are good - though, lamentably, not in the UK); it can be expanded in volume by opening up doors to voids and also reduced in acoustic size by lowering the central part of the ceiling (no one gets squashed though!) When lowering takes place, the upper tier(s) are not ticketed or lit (due to poor sight lines rather than acoustics) transforming it into a venue that is fit for both piano recitals and quartets alike. When the door are opened up (not necessary but they do lend more emphasis to the bass notes - more an interpretative decision of the conductor, especially if the orchestra is visiting and they wish to recreate sonic characteristics more akin to "home"), it means even in gargantuan scores like Gurrelieder, M8 or similar(!) that there is not the merest hint of congestion.

I've seen everything from a Brendel recital to Gurrelieder and it really does sound fabulous in every possible combination (providing the performers are good enough). Those living in the UK who fancy a musical and acoustic treat really should pay a visit. The CBSO under Nelsons are performing out of their skins at present...

Post by AmonRa September 7, 2011 (6 of 10)
Video about the Music Hall, with peek to behind scenes places like control rooms, air conditioning through holes below the seats, ceiling holes for flying mics, visit to the over the canopy space etc.

http://www.youtube.com/user/ISSPalvelut?blend=3&ob=5

Unfortunately in Finnish only, but pictures tall something also. And nice violin playing.

Footage by you guess who...

Post by eesau September 8, 2011 (7 of 10)
Hi,

you must have meant this ISS advertisement video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9WfP22uN-o

The following video from the opening session might be a better alternative for the English/American audience:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOSaT6U4e-8&feature=related

Esa

Post by AmonRa September 8, 2011 (8 of 10)
eesau said:

Hi,

you must have meant this ISS advertisement video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9WfP22uN-o

Yes, the link changed after I posted it.

Post by Mikko September 18, 2011 (9 of 10)
For the record, the renovation of the Sydney Opera House was *not* designed by Nagata Acoustics. Sydney commissioned a study from them at some point, but when the Australians were ready to start the work, the Nagata people were too busy to take the project on, so the job went to others. Nagata Acoustics and Toyota did the new Copenhagen hall just before Helsinki, and I believe they have one coming up in Hamburg, among others.

Post by tailspn September 18, 2011 (10 of 10)
They also did the just opening hall in Kansas City, and the Mariinsky Concert Hall. Same open theme, no band shell.

Closed