Clients: Monastery of St. Francis
Project date: 2024.
Project type: Pro Audio,
Church and Monastery of St. Francis in Pula is situated on the western slopes of Pula Hill, positioned between the ancient Forum and the medieval fortress of Kaštel. This remarkable example of religious architecture lies at the core of Pula, on the site of an early Christian complex that was once dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Dating back to the early 14th century, the church and monastery showcase a blend of Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles. Dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan order, the church features a straightforward rectangular layout that embodies the core principles of this saint: simplicity, humility, and devotion. Beyond its function as a place of worship, the church frequently hosts cultural events, concerts, and exhibitions, highlighting its importance as a cultural landmark in Pula.
Our client, Monastery of St. Francis, asked for a solution to change the dilapidated audio system of the Church of St. Francis. Since every open sacral space is acoustically very demanding, as the new exclusive distributor of Renkus-Heinz premium audio solutions, we offered a solution for a sound system based on RH column loudspeakers with vertical directivity, that would achieve superior coverage of the space with sound and at the same time prevent unwanted sound reflections from the side walls which cause reverberation. The client accepted our solution and we soon started planning the project and implementing the new sound system.
Since this was the first Renkus-Heinz system implemented by our company, our team worked closely with experienced Renkus-Heinz engineers and system designers to achieve the best results together. Church of St. Francis in Pula consists of a hall space, i.e. a nave with seats, an elevated sanctuary that is finished with three apses (the central largest one with an altar and two smaller ones on the sides) and narthex featuring a gallery that houses the pipe organ.
In order to achieve excellent sound coverage and clarity in all areas of this sacred object, two Renkus-Heinz Iconyx Compact ICC36/3 active digital beam steerable loudspeakers were installed between the sanctuary and the nave facing the church congregation. ICC36/3 is a member of the RH Iconyx Compact series that brings ultimate flexibility in a 40% smaller size than the classic ICONYX. The series brings high vertical directivity and digital beam control and is ideal for architecturally demanding places. Digital beam management allows integrators to direct the sound where it is needed, that is, to the audience in our case. It is this possibility that avoids unwanted reflections from the ceiling, walls and other parts of architecturally challenging spaces, which drastically reduces the echo. The loudspeaker consists of a 36-channel amplifier that enables the control and direction of 36 x 3″/77 mm high sensitivity drivers that provide incredible precision of the sound field with an impressive 136 dB. The amplifier and DSP channel for each driver ensures complete flexibility, and the full vertical control of the beam using the RHAON II software enables multiple angles of opening the sound beam, which provides the desired coverage.
In order to sound sanctuary and apse area, we implemented two Renkus-Heinz UBX4 directional passive column loudspeakers from the UBX series. UBX4 are the smallest models of the UBX series, and they are mounted behind the ICC36/3 loudspeakers facing the sanctuary and altar. These passive loudspeakers offer exceptional vertical beam control and utilize passive UniBeam™ technology to achieve asymmetric vertical dispersion, maintaining consistent directivity at a peak level of 114 dB. The loudspeaker is equipped with four 3-inch (77 mm) neodymium drivers.
To ensure that the liturgy is distinctly audible in the courtyard, specifically in the atrium of the monastery adjacent to the church, a Renkus-Heinz UBX8 passive directional column loudspeaker was installed. The UBX8, like the implemented interior sound solutions for the sanctuary, is a member of the RH UBX series. Loudspeaker comes with 8 x 3”/77 mm drivers and, like all models in the UBX series, is weather resistant (IP64). All installed audio solutions are designed in white color to seamlessly integrate with the church’s interior design.
The passive loudspeakers are connected to an XTA DNA 20-4T, 100V 4-channel digital amplifier, and the system is controlled via a DMX 66 digital audio mixer with DSP and 6 inputs and outputs.
Following installation, each loudspeaker is tailored to optimize performance. We are highly pleased with the outcomes attained through this integration. The assumed coefficient of speech intelligibility (STI-PA) is on average greater than 0.6 in more than 90% of the space, which are outstanding results.
The client is very satisfied with the implemented solution, the entire audio system is seamlessly integrated with the architecture of the church and provides excellent acoustics without disturbing the aesthetics of the space. This solution fully addresses all the needs of a sacral sound system, ensuring clear and natural sound during worship services and other events.
