A grand finale, discreet technology – LD Systems and Cameo in the hospitality areas for Europe’s football elite

Technology tells stories

“We didn’t just want to create a sound or lighting installation; we wanted to tell a story,” says Jean-Charles Lacombe, Managing Director of STE AUDIO. “Every scene, every change in lighting and every soundscape follows an overarching narrative structure and serves a single purpose: to give the caves their own voice.” In addition to serving as Managing Director of STE AUDIO, Jean Charles was also responsible for the lighting and sound design of this installation

Visitors experience the guided tour through the caves as a multi-part production in which lighting, sound and natural surroundings combine to create a cohesive dramatic experience. Rather than focusing on spectacular effects, the installation gradually reveals the natural architecture of the caves, the cheese-making processes that have been established for centuries, and the central role of the so-called ‘Fleurines’ – the natural rock crevices responsible for the unique microclimate of the Société Roquefort Caves.

Audio as the common thread

For STE AUDIO, the sound system was far more than a conventional audio setup – it forms the narrative thread of the entire visitor experience and accompanies guests from the very first to the very last moment of the tour. “The sound should not come from loudspeakers, but from the cave itself,” explains Jean-Charles Lacombe. “Each audio sequence interacts with the architecture and the lighting, intuitively guiding visitors through the history of this extraordinary place.”

Accordingly, the loudspeakers for the various audio zones were individually tailored to the spatial requirements. Whilst the DQOR 3 T 3" installation loudspeakers create an intimate and precise soundscape along the visitor routes in the first part of the tour, the larger DQOR 5 T 5" systems take over the sound reinforcement of the spacious vaults in the final section. There, the entire scenography opens up and reaches its dramatic climax, both visually and acoustically. The seamless transition between the individual audio zones creates the impression of a single, cohesive soundscape that constantly moves in tandem with the visitors.

The acoustics of the caves presented a particular challenge: high vaulted ceilings, long sightlines and stone surfaces throughout. Rather than trying to counteract these characteristics acoustically, STE AUDIO deliberately integrated them into the overall concept. Each zone was therefore analysed individually and optimised in terms of speaker positioning, volume levels and DSP processing, so that the natural acoustics become part of the presentation.

Light as a narrative language

Just like the audio technology, the lighting in the Roquefort Société Caves fulfils far more than a purely functional role. For STE AUDIO, light is a central design element that intuitively guides visitors through the caves, emphasises the monumental architecture and brings the history of the site to life on an emotional level. “Our aim was to bring the cultural heritage to life without overshadowing it. Visitors should remember the beauty of the caves – not the technology used to showcase them”, says Jean-Charles Lacombe, who was responsible not only for the sound but also for the lighting design.

The lighting concept follows the same dramatic structure as the audio design. Different colour temperatures, light intensities and beam angles create varied atmospheres, draw the eye specifically to architectural features and repeatedly create moments in which visitors can pause and reflect. Light and shadow alternate deliberately, building a sense of suspense that continues to intensify right up to the finale.

To realise the project, STE AUDIO relied on a Cameo system that was specially tailored to the demanding conditions inside the caves. The persistently high humidity of around 95 per cent, constant temperatures of approximately 9 °C and the salty environment place the highest demands on the models used. In addition to a high protection rating, corrosion resistance, durable materials and integration into the historic surroundings that is as unobtrusive as possible therefore played a decisive role.

DURA LINE 50 and DURA LINE 100 linear installation fixtures are used to evenly illuminate the pillars and vaults, which are up to eight metres high. ZENIT W300i LED wash lights illuminate the spectacular ‘Fleurines’ rock crevices, which are essential for ventilating the caves and maturing Roquefort cheese. The system is complemented by DURA SPOT 60, 100 and 200 IP67 RGBW spots, which highlight selected elements and, thanks to their compact design, blend almost invisibly into the surroundings. The entire lighting control system is managed by a Cameo DVC CUE, which works seamlessly with the LD Systems QUESTRA software.

QUESTRA orchestrates the overall experience

The design and management software platform forms the central control system of the installation and ensures that lighting, sound and automation work together perfectly. As soon as the guided tour begins, QUESTRA takes over complete sequence control. The software simultaneously launches the LD Systems MSMP Media Player with the specially composed music, activates the appropriate lighting scene via the Cameo DVC CUE DMX interface and coordinates all automation processes in the background. Throughout the tour, QUESTRA controls timing sequences, GPIO commands, relays and the precise fade-in and fade-out of individual audio zones. Once the tour is complete, the entire installation is automatically reset to its initial state and is immediately ready for the next group of visitors.

“QUESTRA is the true conductor of the installation”, confirms Jean-Charles Lacombe. “Every component of the system performs its task at exactly the right time. This creates a perfectly synchronised, reliable and consistently reproducible visitor experience.” STE AUDIO also developed a custom user interface for day-to-day operations outside of guided tours. Using two LD Systems QTP8 touch panels, staff can select different scenarios for guided tours, special events or seasonal occasions such as Christmas, Halloween or the French National Day. At the same time, the interface allows adjustments to individual lighting zones and centralised volume control, without revealing the complexity of the overall system.

Working together towards our goal

For almost three months, the STE AUDIO team worked in the heritage-listed visitor area of the Roquefort Société Caves, which remained open to the public throughout. Whilst guided tours took place daily, all installation work had to be precisely planned and carried out with the utmost consideration for visitors and the site’s operators. Close collaboration with Adam Hall Integrated Systems also played a key role in this: “For projects of this scale, high-quality technology alone is not enough. What matters most is trust, mutual dialogue and partners who support you from the planning stage through to commissioning and well beyond the project’s completion.” Together with the Integrated Systems support team and the Integrated Systems Account Manager France, Fabrice Bédouet, a solution was carried out that is not only technically impressive but can also be operated reliably in the long term and expanded flexibly.

For Jean-Charles Lacombe, the real success of the project lies not in the technology installed, but in its impact on visitors: “If, as they leave the cave, visitors believe the sound is coming directly from the rock, if they think they can hear the breath of the Fleurines and forget the scenography for a moment, then this installation has served its purpose. It is not we who tell the cave’s story – we merely give it the opportunity to speak to us.”

The following LD Systems and Cameo products are in use at the Roquefort Société Caves:

LD Systems DQOR 3T
LD Systems DQOR 5T
LD Systems IPA 424 T + X-EDAI
LD Systems MSMP
LD Systems QTP 8
LD Systems QUESTRA

Cameo DURA LINE 50
Cameo DURA LINE 100
Cameo DURA SPOT 60
Cameo DURA SPOT 100
Cameo DURA SPOT 200
Cameo ZENIT W300i
Cameo DVC CUE
Cameo SB 6 T RDM

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Further information

roquefort-societe.com
steaudio.com
adamhall.com/integrated-systems
ld-systems.com
cameolight.com
adamhall.com