Worship Facility visited Integrated Systems Europe 2024 which was the most successful edition in the show’s 20-year history. Taking place at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via venue, the show attracted 73,891 unique verified attendees from 162 countries, a record since the show’s inception in 2004. The exhibition showcased its highest number of exhibitors with 1,408 and the largest show floor space. Many of the companies there are now concentrating on the House of Worship and Install market.
ISE 2024 was a testament to the innovation of the pro-audio and the A/V systems integration community. Exhibitors from around the globe presented state-of-the-art solutions, ranging from advanced display technologies and immersive audio systems to smart automation and collaborative communication tools. The diverse array of products and services reflected the industry’s commitment to pushing boundaries and enhancing user experiences.
The celebration of ISE’s 20th anniversary added a special touch to the event. Commemorative events, retrospective installations such as the ISE Time Tunnel and Vintage Audio Museum, and acknowledgments of industry pioneers highlighted the incredible journey of ISE. This not only created a sense of nostalgia but also underscored the industry’s resilience and adaptability in the face of technological evolution.
Audio is key to a total integrated AV experience in the House of Worship market. That’s why the ISE is packed with solutions for every market sector for all sizes of project and any type of application. ISE covered the entire audio signal chain from microphones to loudspeakers and everything in between. Lighting and Video Displays are being geared for easy installation and operation in houses of worship.
Best of Show: Installation
Renkus-Heinz’s OmniBeam won the “Best of Show” award in the Installation category.
The awards recognize the very best products and solutions on display at ISE 2024, with hundreds of products and solutions considered. All entries were reviewed by a panel of industry experts, speakers, and editors. Factors taken into account include how diverse and comprehensive a product’s features are; how easy it is to use and how it integrates with other products; its value for price within the market; and how innovative and unique it is within the market. In a statement, Renkus-Heinz said, “We are truly honored to be recognized, and excited for our customers to experience what makes OmniBeam so special — with its ‘Snap to Audience’ feature, OmniBeam delivers instant, custom-tailored coverage for any space, making exceptional sound experiences more accessible than ever before.”
New in Audio
Here are a few Audio Companies that had new products releasing or being showcased that we wanted to share.
TJ Smith from EAW, showcased Powered 6×6” Adaptive Column Loudspeaker, which is an adaptive column loudspeaker fit for portable and installed applications whenever high-performance music amplification is required. Each AC6 is comprised of six 6” woofers and thirty 1” dome tweeters mounted to a CSA waveguide. Each transducer is individually amplified and processed for an unprecedented level of control and clarity. Adaptive technology allows vertical coverage to be perfectly customized to your venue across the entire 20KHz to 65Hz operating range resulting in even and musical coverage through the venue.
Alcons highlighted the WR20 pro-ribbon stage monitor, completing Alcons Audio’s new pro-ribbon solutions for stage, studio, and residential. Alcons’ display booth & experience demonstrated why they are the go-to brand for a unique immersive experience, in both professional and residential applications.
Don Boomer from RF Venue was demonstrating the Diversity Architectural Antenna, which connects wireless microphones and IEMs in the most direct and strongest signal path. Don took the time to give me a full demonstration of his current technology and what he is working to make even better.
Chris Tsanjoures from Rational Acoustics, was displaying the New Smaart Data Modeler, which will be available in late Spring 2024. The new software tool is designed to allow you to perform virtual audio system alignment and optimization through the use of level, equalization, polarity, and timing adjustments.
Wolfgang Frank from iSEMic unveiled the CPX-1212, which is a Class 1 microphone with a remarkable capability of exceeding 154dB SPL. iSEMcon is a privately-owned company, located in both Viernheim, Germany and Northwest Ohio. Partners Wolfgang Frank and Win Otto each have more than 25 years experience in design, engineering, marketing, and customer service of capacitive sensors. Wolfgang Frank has additional 17-years experience in measurement microphone design and manufacturing.
Jeremy Smith from LEA Professional was displaying LEA’s new Smart Amplifiers for Professional AV System Integrators. Their products seemed to have many integrators intrigued. LEA says many new features will be announced soon.
Atlas IED displayed and demoed in the most challenging acoustical environments – whether in vast modern passenger terminals, or traditional houses of worship – Atlas IED Aimline loudspeakers precisely control directivity in the vertical axis, resulting in optimal coverage and the best possible direct-to-reverberant ratio, for enhanced intelligibility. Acoustic output is precisely aimed where it needs to be delivered, to the audience, significantly reducing reflections from hard surfaces.
L‑Acoustics was onsite in three different capacities to showcase their versatile professional and home audio solutions. You could preview how their professional festival and concert-touring sound systems can transform any architectural setting or environment. They also showcased their new integrated products—Soka, X4r, SB6r & SB10r—a format to highlight how our concert-grade loudspeakers can seamlessly melt into any private architectural interior.
They also Celebrated 40 Years in Business while at ISE!
HOLOPLOT displayed the X1 Matrix Array which gained popularity for being used at the Sphere in Las Vegas, it has an arrangement of different size drivers and can deliver a large frequency range. HOLOPLOT Matrix Arrays use a powerful combination of 3D Audio-Beamforming and Wave Field Synthesis, for the precise shaping and steering of beams in two dimensions – transforming the way we can use and experience sound.
They also had the X2 which I must say impressed with zero roll off in beam steering. X2 provides an unmatched level of sound control. By focusing sound on the audience area and avoiding reflective surfaces, the MD30 achieves significantly better speech intelligibility than conventional loudspeaker technologies that don’t provide control in both axes. With X2, even the most challenging acoustic spaces can sound great.
More and more companies seem to be designing their sound, lighting, video, and integration equipment with houses of worship as their major market. As churches build new, remodel, and just update their facilities and equipment, the selection of amazing entry level to top of the line products are now available with them in mind.
ISE returns to Barcelona 4 – 7 February 2025 and Worship Facility will be there! Until then, make sure to attend the Tech Arts Conference at CFX October 21-23 in Chattanooga, TN!
