PNW Section concluded their 2024-25 season with their annual business meeting/election, and a presentation on designing and installing a new sound system upgrade in the Hayden Planetarium at New York’s American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Luke Goodloomis, Principal Consultant at TEECOM led the presentation, joined by Russ Baird, senior audio engineer for the Hayden Planetarium, Bob McCarthy, sound system design and tuning expert at Meyer Sound, and designer Luke Lasater of Design Teknik. James D. (jj) Johnston also gave an introductory primer on spatial audio, dome acoustics signal processing, and hearing. Many photos, architectural drawings and acoustic modelling maps were shown. Of 50 attendees, 37 were AES members.

First, jj conducted the PNW election. A quorum was counted (15 members), and with no motions to open the floor for additional nominations, the nominations slate was approved by acclamation. The 2025-26 PNW officers & committee are thus:

Officers (two year term):

Chair: Jess Berg

Vice-Chair: Micah Hayes

Secretary: Gary Louie

Treasurer: Lawrence Schwedler

Committee, (two-year term):

Jayney Wallick

Dan Mortensen

Matthew Sutton

Luke Goodloomis

Erin Shellman

with the following committee fulfilling the final year of their 2-year terms:

Luke Pacholski
Rod Evenson
Michael Ashton
Jim Rondinelli
James D. (jj) Johnston

 Following attendee self-introductions, Luke Goodloomis, Principle Consultant with TEECOM began by inviting James D. (jj) Johnston to give a primer on spatial audio with thoughts on dome acoustics, signal processing and hearing factors.

Next, Russ Baird, senior audio engineer with the Hayden gave a history of the planetarium. Built in 1933 and operated until1997, it was then demolished with a new one which opened in 1999 in the Rose Center for Earth and Space. It may be recognizable as appearing to be a huge sphere in a glass box building. The planetarium is the top half of the visible sphere, which seats 300. He described the various presentations given in the planetarium, and the current six Christie Eclipse video projectors as well as the traditional Zeiss planetarium projector in the center.

He described the original 1999 sound system goals and the many questions about how to proceed. The 1999 system originally went with an LCS (Level Control Systems) and Meyer speaker system in 23.1 (23 main speakers around the dome plus subwoofers). The perforated metal dome screen is hung with a framework with chains. Originally an Astro Tec perforated screen, it was replaced with a Spitz Nanoseam screen.

Luke Goodloomis then spoke in detail about the process to design the sound system upgrade in 2022. They did listening tests, talked to the museum, the sound creators/mixers, etc. Only three modest drawings of the 1999 system existed. He worked with Matterport for 3-D LIDAR scanning of the facility, including the structure. Detailed technical drawings are made from the scans to a high degree of precision. Careful plans were created to specify the new system goals of modernizing, improving audio performance, and being forward-looking for audio formats. More speakers/channels were indicated, but that creates a problem with back compatibility of the old 23.1 shows. An architectural soffit around the perimeter was problematic, as was projector noise.

As basic performance goals were drawn up, discussions with several vendors were made, with request for proposals (RFP). Meyer Sound Labs ended up being chosen as a main vendor.

Bob McCarthy of Meyer then described the system design and installation. He has worked on other space mapped systems, and decided this system needed another ring of speakers, among other things. He discussed imaging with stacked arrays/columns vs. triangles, details of speakers used, coverage, and placement among the support structure. Two 21 inch subwoofers cabinets were specified at top center.

Luke Goodloomis continued with building the system and installation.

He spoke of his “electro-acoustic spatialization transcoder concept” for converting the old 23.1 files into the new 67.5.1 system, as well as other event audio needs, to be modern & flexible: mono, LR, LCR, 5.1, 7.1, Ambisonics, direct speaker addressing, etc. A Medialon control system would be used.

Now to find a partner/contractor that could work with an incomplete design. They had to protect the delicate screen and the six custom projectors with a careful deinstallation (old) and installation (new) sequence. Clair Global did most of the audio install work along with another general contractor. Work still needed to be done, like shop drawings and fixing the acoustics of the soffit. The speakers needed precise positioning and aiming because of the ribs of the dome support structure and perf screen. Rigging Dynamics was tasked with figuring out loads and rigging points.

Luke went through the final design signal flow, for the standard space show and other events, and the design for show creation/production.

Bob McCarthy described final system tuning and commissioning, especially speaker aiming and time delays. They were done on time (early).

At this time, the material was covered and it was thought we would end the meeting. However, the aftertalk with Luke and Russ brought out more details, and most was recorded. Talk included more photos and diagrams, information about the AMNH Richard Gilder Center immersive-interactive theater, the history of the planetarium’s video projectors, projection vs. directview systems, the Sphere in Las Vegas, and John and Helen Meyer.