Indonesian Constitutional Court museum moves to Dante with Symnet
Published: ASIA
INDONESIA: Museums around the world continue to integrate increasingly sophisticated displays and exhibits into their floor plans in an attempt to appeal to a younger generation brought up on touchscreen technology. The increasing challenges and demands placed on A/V manufacturers, suppliers and installers have created a new sector of business development that previously did not exist.
The Indonesian Constitutional Committee (Mahkamah Konstitusi RI : Beranda) is normally associated as a higher court where judicial decisions are made following a legal dispute, but it now also houses a 32-exhibit museum. Its purpose is to educate Indonesians about how Indonesia gained its independence after the second world war and how it formed a democracy in the years that followed. The interactive exhibits include a hologram of President Soekarno making one of his speeches of proclamation to the country.
PT Gracia Auvindo was awarded the contract to design, supply and install the audio system into this unique facility, and it too challenged itself by integrating a Dante network into the design. Reflecting the number of touchpanel exhibits in the museum, a 32-in / 32-out DSP network lies at its very core, for which a Symnet Edge processor outfitted with a Dante network audio bridge is linked to two xIn 12 and two xOut 12 input expanders. Each exhibit is fed from locally-installed PCs, which can be overridden by paging and announcements.
‘It was a challenge for us, but Symetrix provided us with invaluable support for this project,’ confirmed PT Gracia Auvindo project engineer Hendra Halim. ‘Symetrix’ Asian Pacific technical manager, Hock Thang, is based in Singapore and he talked us through what we needed to do. Ultimately, the project went according to plan and by enabling Dante networking devices, we saved time and money during the installation process.’ Ease of use for the museum curators has been enabled as the Symnet Apps have been downloaded into their mobile devices allowing system configuration where required. Interfacing with the Symetrix Edge Frame, an ARC-2e faceplate has been installed into the main control room rack, allowing simple manual configuration – such as source selection, volume, paging and room combining – should it be required.
The exhibits themselves are catered for by 25 Ecler IC8 8-inch ceiling speakers. However, several of the exhibits required greater SPLs including one with two distinctive yet discrete Coda Audio K5 loudspeakers installed in a left-right configuration, both boasting a dual 5-inch coaxial design integrating a rotatable 90-degree x 60-degree elliptical waveguide, to enhance the compact aluminium cabinet’s directivity whilst minimising spillage. Another exhibit benefits from 5.1 surround sound having been equipped with five Coda Audio D5Cube speakers plus a Pw112a self-powered subwoofer.
The entire system is powered by a combination of dB Technologies’ HPA 1400 and 3100 2-channel and QSC Audio CX108V amplifiers. An audio sequencer and peace of mind has been racked in the form of a Furman PL8-II power conditioner, whilst an Audix ADX-18 gooseneck microphone has been integrated into the reception area for overriding the 32-zone audio system with paging and announcements when required. As a systems integrator with more than 15 years’ experience, PT Gracia Auvindo was unsurprised when the client expressed ‘complete satisfaction’ in its new processing infrastructure.
‘We have always had complete confidence in the Symetrix product range,’ affirms project manager Hendra Halim. ‘The Museum needed first-class DSP and Dante audio networking support for the 32 channels of audio we are running into and out of the system, but there was also a requirement to allow for future system expansion. On all counts, I am delighted to report that SymNet Edge ticked the boxes.’