1. INTRODUCTION

The system to be described has been under development for many years, from the initial inception of the Floating Exceptions portable geodesic dome in 1985. Since then, it has always been our desire to utilise this unique performance space to its fullest potential in terms of sound and video projection. The structure supports sixteen loudspeakers, as well as five video projection screens. The aim has been to develop an environment that can envelop the audience from all sides and above with sound and images, and to compose pieces specifically for the space [31].

The dome (Fig.1, 2) itself is a 7m radius tubular steel geodesic dome resting on the ground or on a platform, enclosing and supporting a Kevlar canopy. From the inside, a key feature is that the dome has a five-fold symmetry. The space can be packed up and reassembled in a day, and can seat one hundred and fifty people plus space for performers and equipment.

The basic sound system in the dome has consisted of sixteen channels of amplification connected to the speakers, which permitted one to connect sources like synthesizers, etc via a simple summing mixer to fixed speakers (Fig.3) . The addition of a conventional mixer enabled limited stereo panning, and an enveloping audio effect could only be achieved with many synthesizers, tape recorders or mixers. Such a setup was found to be problematic, especially when there were pieces using different configurations and patching in the same concert!