Norway's Fosnavåg Cultural Centre is a Shiny New Showcase for Meyer Sound Technology Solutions

The Fosnavåg Cultural Centre is now the latest and largest showcase of Meyer Sound solutions in Norway. With technology covering concert sound reinforcement, cinema, and active acoustics from a Constellation acoustic system, the complex is the premium arts and entertainment destination on the Norwegian coast.

In designing the 490-seat Fosnavåg Konserthus, the focal point of the Fosnavåg Cultural Centre, the technology committee had a clear vision to create a high-performance multipurpose space. “We wanted a perfect room for acoustic music and a perfect room for amplified music, but with conventional physical acoustics we couldn’t have both,” says Bjørn Holum, event manager for the Municipality of Herøy and the lead of the technology committee.

Following his first experience with Constellation in Estonia’s Nordea Concert Hall [formerly Nokia Concert Hall], Holum was quickly sold on the system. “When we first entered the hall, I was thinking, ‘This place already has a quite nice acoustic, why does it need digital enhancement?’ Then they turned off Constellation and I was stunned. With Constellation back on, we heard a chamber ensemble and I then had the opportunity to perform on stage. I was fully convinced.”

Fosnavåg’s Constellation system comprises a D-Mitri digital audio platform hosting the patented VRAS acoustical algorithms, while ambient acoustics are sensed by 34 miniature condenser microphones. Early reflections and reverberation are delivered by 19 Stella-4C installation loudspeakers, 40 UP-4XP, 20 UPJunior-XP VariO, and 32 HMS‑10 surround loudspeakers, and 10 MM10-XP and four UMS-1XP subwoofers. The loudspeakers are split into two zones to create optimum auditorium acoustics and a virtual orchestral shell around the stage.

Working in conjunction with Constellation is a sound reinforcement system with left and right arrays of 11 MINA loudspeakers each and four 1100-LFC low-frequency control elements. Four UPJunior VariO loudspeakers provide fill, and a Galileo loudspeaker management system with one Galileo 616 processor supplies system drive and optimization.

“We’re using Constellation with great success in our events, from unamplified, symphonic concerts, to amplified concerts in combination with the PA system,” says Holum. “Our opening program featured Leif Ove Andsnes playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, and Constellation supported both the piano and orchestra so well that even the last row could clearly hear all the details.”

The concert hall also offers a Meyer Sound cinema system anchored by three Acheron 100 and three Acheron LF screen channel loudspeakers. Using presets in D-Mitri and Galileo, Constellation’s HMS-10 loudspeakers and the reinforcement system’s 1100-LFC loudspeakers are instantly reconfigured to operate in cinema mode. All HMS-10 loudspeakers along the walls serve double duty for the Constellation and cinema systems, a design facilitated by Tom Sæthre of Bright Norway AS. The sound systems were provided and installed by Lillehammer Installation Branch of Bright Norway, with overall supervision by Børre Linberg. The physical acoustics were designed by Oslo-based Brekke & Strand Akustikk AS.

The hall also features all LED lighting, a Midas PRO3 digital audio mixing console and a grandMA2 ultra-light lighting console, while the cinema uses a Christie True 4K digital cinema projector.

In the same complex, a dedicated 90-seat movie theatre equipped with Dolby Atmos is powered by three Meyer Sound Acheron 80 screen channel loudspeakers and four X‑800C high-power and two X‑400C cinema subwoofers. Immersive audio comes from four HMS-10 and 30 HMS‑5 surround loudspeakers. A Galileo loudspeaker management system with a Galileo 616 and a Galileo 408 processor is also installed.