PRO SOUND AWARDS: Funktion-One on “unique” Winter Olympics project

With the Pro Sound Awards just one month away, finalist Funktion-One has provided an insight into the "unique" permanent installation project for which it was nominated.

The company, which has had a busy 2013 so far, including the launch of its Modular Stadium Technology (MST) Horns, has been recognised for its recent Winter Olympics 2014 Toboggan Run installation – which features the MST system (pictured) – at the Russian city of Sochi, in time for next year’s Games.

“The Toboggan installation at Sochi is unique, not only for Funktion-One, but generally on a global level. We’re happy that the Pro Sound Awards have recognised that by shortlisting it in the permanent installation category,” Funktion-One’s Ann Andrews told Audio Pro International sister title Installation.

“Naturally, we’re excited and pleased to be nominated for the first permanent deployment of our new MST technology. In conjunction with our Russian distributor, we’re responsible for two major installations at venues that will be used during the 2014 Winter Olympics – the Bob Sleigh /Toboggan run, with its custom-designed Mega Bass Horn, 15 MST Horns, 163 F55s, 18 AX8s, 14 AX88s and six F118s, as well as the main ice-hockey arena, which has been installed with 40 MST Horns, 16 F221s and 44 Resolution 2SHs.”

“Conveying years of innovation and months of hard work in an awards environment isn’t easy. But when it’s done well, a celebration of those endeavours is definitely a positive thing.”

The integration of Los Angeles-based Hollywood Bowl’s new L-Acoustics K1 system is one of the other ‘Permanent Installation of the Year’ contenders. K1 was chosen unanimously by a "prestigious panel of listeners" for the venue, which is capable of hosting an audience of 18,000 across a 45-foot incline.

Another finalist is Sonic Emotion for its work on Aura Club in Zurich. The audio set-up at the 500-capacity club – 54 KV2 loudspeakers for surround, seven Outline units on the ceiling and around 20 subwoofers – was recently bolstered by the addition of Sonic Emotion’s I 3D sound processor. "For the first time, venue owners and sound designers can provide their customers with a 3D listening experience with ease and control," says Sonic Emotion.

The final Permanent Installation nominee is London’s Tileyard Studios. Tileyard is home to a number of bespoke studios for the music, TV/film, audio book and gaming sectors – a "new model of what professional recording studios are," according to Genius Move Audio’s Paul Brewer. The nomination is for Genius Move Audio (audio install), as well as Chris Walls of Munro Acoustics (acoustic design) and Nick Keynes (studio manager). 

The complete list of finalists for the Pro Sound Awards, which takes place at Ministry of Sound in London on September 19th 2013, can be found here.

For more details on the event, including information on how to book tickets, click here.

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