Introduction
This case study outlines the collaborative efforts between the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, ADITS, and Jands in the successful installation of advanced Shure wireless infrastructure products reinforced through a pristine distributed sound reinforcement system from L-Acoustics. The initiative focused on enhancing the auditory experience in the museum’s architecturally stunning but acoustically challenging environment.
Key Players
The Integrator: ADITS
ADITS, a leading Australian IT company established in 2006, specialises in providing innovative technology solutions across diverse sectors including education, medical, and professional services. With a focus on enhancing IT infrastructure and digital literacy, ADITS has grown to support over 14,000 users across Queensland. Their approach to the museum’s challenges was guided by a deep commitment to customer satisfaction and technological excellence.
The Client: Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum
The Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, located in Winton, Queensland, is a premier not-for-profit natural history museum. Known for housing the world’s largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils, the museum aims to provide an educational and immersive experience for visitors of all ages and abilities.
The Distributor: Jands
Jands, a leading distributor audiovisual solution since 1970, has been instrumental in delivering high-quality solutions tailored to specific customer needs. As a distributor of Shure and other leading brands, Jands has a robust presence across Australia and New Zealand, ensuring top-tier products and support are always within reach.
Challenges and Objectives
The museum’s unique architectural features created an acoustically challenging environment, with long reverberations that significantly impaired speech intelligibility. This issue affected the clarity of communication from tour guides and diminished the overall visitor experience.
Solution Evaluation
In collaboration with Jands and the museum’s internal team, ADITS sought to overcome the acoustic challenges by integrating Shure’s SLX-D wireless systems and SM35 headsets, enhancing both sound quality and operational flexibility for tour guides.
Shure, founded in Chicago, Illinois, USA in 1925, is the industry’s leading manufacturer of microphones, wireless microphones, in-ear monitoring, earphones, headphones, conferencing systems, and more.
To address the acoustic reflections from the museum’s unique architecture, ADITS implemented a distributed system of L-Acoustics X4i coaxial loudspeakers, which provide clear and even coverage throughout the museum’s exhibits. Keelan Romano, Project Consultant at ADITS, explained: “The facility is an architectural marvel, and the client was very conscious of impacting the aesthetic experience. Thus, the compact size but impressive clarity of the X4i was a no-brainer.”
L-Acoustics, founded in France in 1984, is renowned for developing premium sound systems for high-end venues. The X4i speakers, paired with L-Acoustics LA2Xi amplified controllers, not only preserved the museum’s architectural beauty but also delivered precise sound coverage without overwhelming the space visually.
Final System Design
The final design included:
Multiple channels of Shure SLX-D wireless systems.
Shure SM35 headsets for tour guides, facilitating free movement and clear speech.
L-Acoustics coaxial X4i distributed loudspeaker network driven from L-Acoustics LA2Xi amplified controllers.
Installation and Results
The installation, completed in February 2024, included improved accessibility for hearing-impaired visitors through an assisted hearing system. This system features wearable receivers, ensuring all visitors can equally enjoy the museum’s exhibitions. Also, due to the rugged and remote location of the museum, all equipment is now remotely manageable for peace-of-mind of the installer and customer. The new system allows for updates, via Shure Wireless Workbench for example, troubleshooting and adjustments.
Keelan Romano, Project Consultant at ADITS, noted the seamless process: “Working with our account manager, along with the in-house Shure and L-Acoustics specialists was a breeze. Communication was prompt, allowing us to confidently provide a solution to the customer.”
The results were profoundly positive, with improvements in speech intelligibility and visitor engagement.
Conclusion
The collaboration between ADITS, the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, and Jands showcases the impact of tailored audio solutions in overcoming architectural challenges to enhance visitor experiences. The project not only solved the immediate acoustic issues but also set a precedent for future technological enhancements within the museum, emphasising the value of adaptive and inclusive technology in educational environments.
