Theatregoers in the Netherlands are now being treated to one of the world’s most
impressive examples of flexible audio networking. Located in the Northern city of
Emmen, the newly-opened Atlas Theatre has been equipped with a Dante-based
audio network that delivers on the ambition of consultant Steven Kemland, of
Theatreadvies BV, for “everything to be possible everywhere.” Forming the
backbone of the entire solution are Symetrix Radius 12×8 EX digital signal
processors.

Officially opened in October 2016, the Atlas Theatre is already becoming a cultural
nexus in Emmen, with a wealth of technology on hand to ensure flawless
performances. Designed by renowned Danish architect Henning Larsen, the Theatre
boasts an 822-seat main auditorium as well as a smaller 300-seat “black box”
theatre and adjoining convention centre. All technical integration was done by
Ampco-Flashlight Sales, with a no-compromise attitude when selecting the
equipment.

Yet nowhere is Kemland’s vision for the Theatre more impressive than in the
deployment of the vast audio network. Having decided that it should “route audio
from any input to any output,” running everything from paging and local BGM
source selection, through to special effects and surround sound, the challenge
became finding a processing solution with the required versatility and power. The
search led to the building block approach of Radius, with Dante connectivity
throughout the venue.

“The modularity of Radius means you can expand and adapt as you need to,”
explains Ampco-Flashlight Sales project manager, Frans van Houten. “We created
three Radius systems, all of which are connected via Dante to one another as well
as to every other Dante item in the building.”

Though interconnected, the three systems each focus on specific tasks. One
example is audio distribution and the provision of background music across the
entire venue, including local volume control and source selection via Symetrix ARC
wall panels.

“The big background music system covers the entire building, including dressing
rooms, all of the public areas and even the back-of-house offices,” continues van
Houten. “The Radius processors are responsible for all audio distribution.” That
means everything, from broadcasting performances from either the main
auditorium or black box theatre to any other part of the building, to supporting the
building’s paging, intercom, assistive listening, and digital signage systems.

It is, concludes van Houten, the final touch in a remarkable system that delivers all
of the flexibility the Atlas Theatre requires. “The ability to build a customized
interface with Radius means you can give the customer access to routing and
configuration functions in a really easy, user-friendly way,” he adds. “Symetrix
gives you the tools you need to let the client choose how they want their system to
work. It’s reliable, it’s user friendly and its future-proof.”