Smart IP Manager

The company has recently made their own transition to magnificent new headquarters in Helsinki, designed according to sustainable practices with the aim of achieving optimum efficiency and wellbeing. AV solutions experts 4Business Oy were called in to design and implement all the AV technologies for the new premises, which included a Smart IP audio solution from Genelec.

One of the biggest issues to be addressed from an audio point of view was auditory comfort in Ilmatar’s open workspaces - an integral part of any modern, activity-based office today. However, one of the inherent problems of any open plan workspace is a lack of privacy and disruptive noise coming from elsewhere in the environment. Ilmatar was determined to create the most comfortable and efficient working environment possible in their open plan areas, and so paid great attention to sound behaviour in these spaces.

“The lobby and open work areas, as well as the meeting rooms and offices, are all exceptionally well designed from an acoustic point of view, with excellent reverberation times,” notes Janne Lankinen of 4Business. “There are also absorbing screens between the desks, and the background noise caused by ventilation has been minimized. Nevertheless, while these measures help considerably, they cannot resolve the issue completely. To achieve optimum results, we designed and implemented a custom sound masking system – starting with a high quality audio solution - specifically tailored to Ilmatar’s requirements.”

It met all of the client’s criteria for quality, as well as being the most sustainable audio solution.

Based on detailed coverage simulations, 4Business implemented a comprehensive Genelec audio system; a total of twenty 4420 Smart IP speakers were distributed across two separate open plan spaces. “We selected Genelec’s Smart IP solution as it met all of the client’s criteria for quality – both sonically and materially – as well as being the most sustainable audio solution available,” explains Lankinen. The Smart IP technology platform delivers power, audio and control over a single CAT cable across a digital audio network – in this case, Dante – making them exceptionally easy to install and ensuring that the systems are fully scalable.

“The site-wide loudspeaker system was individually measured with room acoustics analysis software and adjusted using Genelec’s Smart IP Manager software to ensure the most transparent audio reproduction possible,” continues Lankinen. “Technical criteria aside, the fact that Genelec is a native Finnish brand and manufactured in Finland according to sustainable principles was also extremely important for Ilmatar.”

Implementation of the masking signal itself fell to Pyry Survo, sound designer and composer for WSP, global infrastructure experts. Survo designed the signal to be as pleasant and even as possible – an ambient background sound that mimics airflow and is specifically engineered to match the frequencies of human speech and to sound comfortable. The sound is audible but not intrusive and serves to reduce speech intelligibility in the surrounding environment. Nearby conversations or telephone calls are no longer a distraction, ensuring comfort and privacy for all concerned.

“A high quality sound system and careful spatial measurement of the audio signal avoided the ‘whoosh effect’, which is a problem with low quality speakers and the wrong type of audio signal,” explains Lankinen. “The masking system generates a multichannel audio signal to avoid the sound distortion caused by differences in speaker distance that typically occurs with mono sound masking systems.”

In addition to the sound masking, Ilmatar had another objective; to create a unique atmosphere that reflects the company ethos of working with nature in order to preserve it. A generative soundscape emulating a natural marine environment with sounds of the sea, seagulls, and of course, the wind – was created for the entrance lobby and implemented using a WSP multichannel soundscape player and eight Genelec 4430 Smart IP active loudspeakers. Virtual nature is created with algorithms that mimic the mechanisms and the timelines of the natural world so that the soundscape remains as authentic as possible and avoids playlist-like repetition. A soothing four-channel forest soundscape was also created for the café area which is equipped with four Genelec 4430s in white.

We are delighted with the outcome and believe that we have one of the most comfortable offices in Finland.

Mikko Toivanen, VP and co-founder of Ilmatar Windpower Oy is delighted with the results: “Our goal was to create the best office in Finland for our staff; making full use of new innovative technologies in terms of comfort and usability was a major goal. This was achieved by 4Business thanks to their consultative sales methods and technical expertise, ensuring an excellent end result. We are very pleased with the outcome and believe that we have one of the most comfortable offices in Finland.”

Based in Stockholm’s vibrant Bibliotekstan district, Cecil Coworking is a stunning example of the new concept which sells service packages rather than renting office space. The accent throughout is on design to promote efficiency and wellbeing in an elegant yet inviting environment. Genelec Smart IP technology provides a fitting audio solution for this new, smart working environment.

The solution to remain cost-effective, easily serviceable, easy to install, and sustainable.

The audio system, along with the rest of the AV systems throughout the 3,200 square-metre space, was designed, supplied and installed by corporate AV systems integration specialists, Scan AV Kommunikation AB. “The aim was to provide a complete background music solution that offered high quality sound over the entire two floors of the Cecil Coworking location,” describes Magnus Westin, AV systems design engineer at Scan AV. “The solution had to be widely scalable and fitting for the premium environment; that meant impeccable sound quality and pleasing aesthetics with minimum visual impact. However, the solution still needed to remain cost-effective, easily serviceable, easy to install, and sustainable. That’s a lot of boxes to tick, but Genelec’s Smart IP loudspeaker solution was the obvious answer.”

Smart IP is a recent development from Genelec that delivers audio, power and control over a single network cable. This hugely facilitates installation whilst maintaining Genelec’s signature sound quality. “Delivering the solution over a planned network proved to be the most cost-effective solution, enabling us to plan installation and loudspeaker placement down to the last detail,” explains Westin. “Smart IP technology is an absolute godsend for projects like this – having audio, power and control delivered over a single cable eliminates the need for additional power outlets near the speakers and avoids having to install proprietary speaker cables that might interfere with other installations. This keeps everyone’s blood pressure at manageable levels and enables us to deliver an accurately costed project with a very competitive cost per unit.”

It was a challenge finding suitable locations for the loudspeakers that met the requirements of the architects without impinging on the overall audio experience. Scan AV had to be quite creative with speaker placement, but careful positioning, judicious use of mounting accessories and almost invisible cabling has resulted in a sleek installation that matches and even contributes to the high quality look and feel of the rest of the project’s fabulous architecture, floor-planning and exquisite design elements.

“We’ve placed the speakers on shelves, tables, in ceiling recesses as well as more traditional wall placements,” continues Westin. “We used a variety of mounting options from Genelec including some sleek colour-matched table stands that were used on top of window sills plus some custom ceiling mounts. The aim was to create an immersive sound experience in all zones whilst maintaining harmonious aesthetics. The ability to have the same product throughout, with the only variations being placement and mounting accessories, was a complete win for this project. It looks amazing and we used Genelec Smart IP Manager software to calibrate each loudspeaker individually for optimum sound quality throughout.”

Smart IP speakers truly display awesome strength when used with high demands on sound quality.

Scan AV installed a total of 36 Smart IP loudspeakers as part of a distributed system split into twelve zones over two floors, all connected with fibre-stacked network switches acting as a single, giant switch. There are 34 compact 4420loudspeakers spread evenly across the entire office area and all open spaces, and two slightly more powerful 4430s in the bar area. All control is through a customcoded AMX system with touch panels for easy control of zones, volume, content, presets, and time/calendar based events. The system also allows for total control from a remote location, keeping costly and intrusive on-site visits down to a minimum. A total of five selectable stereo sources can be distributed to all 36 individual speakers or assigned to the twelve pre-defined zones.

“Genelec’s Smart IP speakers truly display their awesome strength when used in these types of projects with high demands on sound quality, even when perhaps changing a project’s environment or design completely for a particular area,” concludes Westin. “It’s immensely flexible and allows us to adapt to changing requirements as we go along. Cecil Coworking is a wonderful space and a fantastic example of how design and technology work together for the greater good. My only wish is that in the near future we will see even more Smart IP loudspeaker models, so we can include them in even more applications!”