ROUND TABLE
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ow has the audio sector changed in the last ten years? Kai Detlefsen The audio sector has experienced a profound evolution over the past decade. Besides AI, XR and AoIP, immersive audio is one of the most significant shifts, affecting nearly everyone along the journey – everything from artists, production studios, integrators and rentals, content delivery and consumer electronics to adjacent industries such as automotive and education. Ultimately, the central goal of immersive sound is to increase a listener’s emotional connection with the experience and to support the artistic intent. Spanning production and reproduction, immersive audio enables seamless auditory journeys from the initial point of true sound capture to the intimacy of personal listening. The widespread acceptance and adaptation of immersive audio technologies – we offer them under the Ambeo brand – is mainly due to their accessibility across everyday devices such as smartphones, headphones, in-car entertainment and sound bars. For example, our Ambeo two-channel spatial audio solution has revolutionised streaming content by providing better immersion on any stereo playback system, meanwhile Sennheiser’s mobility solutions implement Ambeo technologies to create immersive in-car audio experiences. Creating immersive content requires a blend of advanced technologies. Following a ‘capture to playback’ approach, the Sennheiser Group provides end-to-end solutions all the way along the audio production value chain. This includes Ambisonics and binaural microphones, Merging Technologies’ AoIP interfaces and Pyramix digital audio workstation, Neumann’s KH speaker range and a wide range of professional headphones from Sennheiser and Neumann. Pieter van Hoogdalem We’re in the middle of a technological revolution in pro audio. Gone are the days that speakers were wooden boxes with a driver stuck inside. Intelligent speakers are the new norm, enabling more
Immersive sound has also gained momentum in live concert and theatre performances – and there has been an increased focus on the visual aspect of the live shows, which has peaked over the past decade. We now see a new balance between audio and visual that will continue to delight audiences and concertgoers in the years to come. Filip Van Vlem The last decade has been transformative for professional audio. We have seen a strong shift towards versatility, scalability and sustainability in speaker and sound reinforcement systems. Wireless tech, digital audio networking and digital signal processing advancements have greatly enhanced system control and optimisation. Moreover, compact yet powerful speaker solutions have become a key focus, as AV professionals demand systems that can easily adapt to different event sizes and configurations. At AED Audio, we have embraced this evolution with our Flex speaker range, a truly versatile solution that eliminates the need for multiple separate set-ups. The industry has also seen a growing trend toward shared economy models, where AV production companies prefer high- ROI solutions over excessive hardware investments, ensuring their gear remains in use rather than sitting idle for months.
efficient and faster builds, and ultimate control of the room you are mixing in. At Adamson we build all the necessary parts in house: the boxes, the drivers, rigging, amplifiers and the software. Andy Rigler Generally, in the smaller speaker segment of audio, the demand for ever-lower prices has seen audio become a price-driven commodity. This has led to a plethora of new players entering the market, each making incredibly similar products to established brands’ offerings, meaning that all companies need to work even harder to communicate their unique value propositions to demonstrate why a client should not simply judge products based on price. Customer expectations have also been affected via the likes of Amazon, where system component pricing can be visible, but an uninformed customer will not necessarily realise the true costs and value of a complete installation quotation. For larger audio systems, such as those used in the touring sector, the majority of the sales are now centred around very few manufacturers, usually driven by the technical riders. In the case of large installed audio systems, it is very common for a three-way discussion to be at play between the client, the installation team (consultants and integrators) and a select number of manufacturers, with a commercial partnership being the aim. Kalle Hvidt Nielsen On the audio side, there has been a gradual change from analogue to digital processing, not only for the mixers, but also the microphones and PA systems. Since streaming started impacting record/album sales, live performances have become increasingly more vital for artists, which has gradually put more focus on the quality of the audience experience. With live events being a much more important revenue stream for the artists, many tours also comprise multiple sets of gear and crew to be able to set up consecutive shows in different locations. As a result of this, much more attention has been placed on the need for high-quality sound equipment, such as microphones, speakers, mixers and other gear.
hat are the expectations of a 2025 audio set-up? Filip Van Vlem In 2025, the industry expects modular solutions which can cover multiple applications while being cost-efficient and sustainable. Flexibility is key – companies don’t want to invest any more in several specialised audio systems with lower gear utilisation rates when one multi-functional set-up can do the job. The AED Audio Flex6, combined with the Solid15 and Solid28, provide a single, adaptable system that works
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