A Look at the New Technology Behind Wenger’s Transcend™ Active Acoustic System
On October 19th, the first installation of the Transcend™ Active Acoustic System will be unveiled at Wartburg College’s Neumann Auditorium in Waverly, Iowa. Wenger has partnered with the legendary audio company HARMAN to create this new active acoustic system. The result is an efficient, reliable and affordable solution for active acoustics. By combining the technology and experience of two professional performance companies, Wenger and HARMAN have created the newest technology in active acoustics. In this blog, I’ll tell you how Transcend’s technology can transform the acoustics in any venue.
If you’d like to hear it for yourself, you’re invited to come to a public demonstration of Transcend at Neumann Auditorium at Wartburg College on the evening of October 19. The event will feature performances by three Wartburg College musical ensembles. Click here for more information and to RSVP to the event.
Improve Sound for Every Seat in the House
Traditional acoustical treatments are still an extremely important part of creating an ideal listening experience. However, traditional acoustical treatment doesn’t provide the flexibility needed to transform a performance space into a multi-purpose venue. Transcend uses a system of microphones, strategically placed speakers and digital signal processing to make your space suitable for different types of events, ranging from the spoken word to a symphony orchestra.
Each Transcend digital signal processor provides up to 4 zones of coverage. The system can be expanded by adding additional processors.
Total Acoustical Flexibility with Transcend
The Transcend system uses what’s called “non-regenerative” acoustics. This means that the system doesn’t rely on the room’s natural acoustics to facilitate increased reverberance. The system may be programmed to automatically adapt for less reverberance for spoken word, and more reverberance for musical performance.
With Transcend, you can tailor your room’s acoustics by changing the parameters within the system to optimize the acoustic environments and store them as a preset. Transcend also offers you a range of control options, from a simple control switch to a touch-screen control.
The Transcend Advantage
Transcend’s digital signal processor incorporates HARMAN’s legendary Lexicon technology which creates a wide variety of acoustical environments with far fewer microphones. This is important for a number of reasons:
- Fewer inputs makes Transcend a more stable, simple and reliable system
- Since there are fewer microphones to mount and wire, installations are easier
- HARMAN speakers are powered by amplifiers, not individually powered, meaning lower installation costs
For example, in a 1,200-seat auditorium with one balcony, competing systems need 30 or more mics; Transcend only needs two.
Finally, our partnership with HARMAN allows us to use audio components from its legendary brands. Throughout the system, Transcend utilizes high-quality, state-of-the-art technology, including Crown audio amplification, JBL speakers, and Lexicon processors. It’s all connected with HARMAN’s HiQnet communications protocol, Audio Architect software, and Blu-Link digital audio bus.
Affordable, High Performance Technology
Wenger and J.R. Clancy have long shared a mission to give venues and performers what they need to be their best. Transcend is the culmination of years of experience in the performing arts industry, and a continuation of that mission. We believe that active acoustics technology has the potential to change the way we approach acoustical treatments and dramatically expand the types of performances that can be handled in one venue. Along with HARMAN, we’ve created a high-quality active acoustics system that is very affordable. I can’t wait for you to hear it for yourself.
Ron Freiheit, Director of Design Engineering, Wenger
Ron has spent over 25 years working with acoustics technology. He is a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America; Ron holds a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Polytechnic Institute; he has done graduate studies in Engineering of Acoustics at Penn State; and he holds a U.S. patent for acoustic virtual environments. He’s also a member of the Audio Engineering Society and the Institute of Noise Control Engineers. Contact Ron at Ron.Freiheit@wengercorp.com
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