The Linea Focus series of advanced beam steering speakers is often used in combination with security and evacuation systems, for instance in railway stations, airports, tunnels and theaters. As the Optocore fibre network is a modern IT-based ‘copper free’ audio infrastructure, it fulfills all demands in this area, thus greatly simplifying installation in respect of security, weight and flame-retardant design.
Headquartered in Nürtingen, in the South of Germany, Fohhn Audio has been successfully developing and manufacturing top-of-the-range “Made in Germany“ speaker systems for 20 years. Fohhn engineers have developed systems that incorporate state-of-the-art technology and complex functions, yet are easy to operate. Those systems can be found all over the world in places including Munich airport, the Jeon-Ju World Cup Stadium in Korea or the Kremlin in Moscow. The company is one of the pioneers in vertical steerable line array speakers and was also one of the first in the market with fully networkable solutions.
Fohhn’s Linea Focus active, electronically steerable series of vertical Line Array systems are recognized as a premium class PA system for speech and music. The Linea Focus family differentiates from other products because of its variable column length and number of integrated loudspeakers, amplifiers and DSP channels, which enable each individual speaker to be electronically controlled. The flagship LFI-450 speaker, for example, contains 32 integrated loudspeakers, 32 amplifiers and 32 DSP channels. The speakers’ vertical sound angle can be adjusted between -40°/+40° and the vertical beam width between 0°-90°. Adjustments are made by software in smooth, precise 0.1° steps, allowing optimum adaptation to both the acoustic and visual conditions of any room.
Using Fohhn’s “Two Beam Technology”, Linea Focus speakers are able to generate two separate beams in their vertical dispersion range, providing simultaneous and focused coverage of different audience areas, such as stalls and gallery. The acoustic centers of both beams can be set anywhere from 0% (at the bottom of the column) to 100% (at the very top), making the speaker suitable for use in the most challenging acoustic conditions. A further feature is Fohhn’s special algorithm developed to suppress the unwanted side lobes that will inevitably occur in the beam. This results in a more directional sound and significantly improved speech intelligibility.
The different lengths of the Linea Focus models determine their acoustic efficiency. The longer the line array, the longer its reach and also its effectiveness in the control of low frequencies. Multiple Linea Focus systems can be networked together to enable monitoring and control from a central location.
Not surprisingly, Fohhn Audio has cooperated with Optocore, a leading OEM manufacturer for audio networks in a new level of network integration for its Linea Focus speakers. Optocore has produced network modules for other manufacturers, such as Clearcom, Digico, Yamaha, Lawo, Studer, and Bosch, and has announced in 2015 a direct cooperation with Fohhn to provide multi-channel digital connectivity to their Linea Focus electronically steerable loudspeakers.
The interface developed specially for Fohhn’s Linea Focus speakers takes this cooperation to a whole new level, with clear advantages for fixed installations in transportation hubs and a wide range of public buildings, as well as for large temporary installations, such has large-scale outdoor events. As an example, both Fohhn’s vertical line array speakers and Optocore products have been used in several of the Pope’s large outdoor ceremonies throughout the world. In fact, it’s been 20 years since the first Optocore modules (also called “Brunke Modules” in reference to Marc Brunke, Optocore’s founder and inventor) were used on the Pope’s visit to Poland, in 1996.
The advantages of being able to network beam-steering solutions via Optocore optical fibre, using a ring-shaped cable configuration to connect all the devices on an Optocore network, allows improving reliability and reducing costs. A SANE FX module, mounted inside the housing, enables direct fibre connection to the speaker. As the Optocore fibre network is a modern IT-based ‘copper free’ audio infrastructure, it fulfills all demands in this area, thus greatly simplifying installation in respect of security, weight and flame-retardant design.
Speaking of the collaboration, Fohnn CEO, Jochen Schwarz,says, “For some time now, our ongoing aim has been to achieve multi-channel digital connectivity for our speaker systems and compatibility to any major digital audio network. Within the context of recent projects, which involved integrating our speakers into alarm systems, we were looking for a digital fibre solution that allowed for long distance cabling between our devices as well as fire safety and interference-free transmission of audio signals.
“We finally opted for an Optocore solution: Using a ring-shaped cable configuration to connect all the devices in an Optocore network not only reduces the cabling requirement and its associated costs, it also greatly improves overall reliability. Furthermore, within the network, you get an even latency.”
In terms of security a fibre optic cable is much more difficult to spy on, while in terms of safety for IT control, it offers lossless, long distance connection, with electrical isolation. As for weight, a fibre optic cable is around ten times lighter than a traditional 100V ELA cable, around 12 times lighter than a CAT5 cable, and around 100 times lighter than a regular copper snake / multicore. Furthermore, it is far easier to make a flame retardant fibre cable than a copper one, since copper melts at much lower temperatures. Besides, a similarly-rated fibre optic cable is available for a fraction of the price of copper.
These advantages, together with the exceptionally low price of an Optocore module, result in much lower installation costs and a much higher performance — with IP integrated workflow, software routing capabilities, ultra low audio latency and redundancy switch-over, much faster than the required 1ms for advanced security designs.
Summing up, Jochen Schwarz says, “Apart from the advantages mentioned, the Optocore extensions for Linea Focus provide excellent audio quality as well as full control of the speaker system and allow for reliable, redundant digital audio networking. We appreciate the cooperation with an innovation-driven company such as Optocore. Thanks to them, our electronically steerable Beam Steering systems can now be integrated into and used within a digital network.”
During Prolight+Sound 2016, Fohhn Audio also focused on achieving compatibility with all audio networks – and the associated increase in flexibility that this brings. Apart from showing Linea Focus speakers equipped with the Optocore interface, the company also confirmed that a corresponding Dante connectivity option is in planning and that, in the future, all active Fohhn loudspeakers, amplifiers and controllers will be equipped with digital, transformer-balanced AES/EBU inputs, making them compatible with any digital audio network.
www.optocore.com | www.fohhn.com
