Culturgest in Lisbon becomes the first venue in Portugal to implement a fully immersive live sound system using FLUX:: SPAT Revolution.
As one of Lisbon’s most respected cultural institutions, Culturgest sought to expand the creative potential of its flagship Emílio Rui Vilar Auditorium, a 612-seat performance space known for its detailed wood architecture and refined acoustics. The venue, located in the Caixa Geral de Depósitos headquarters, already featured a high-quality cinema surround speaker system, but its engineering team aimed to evolve that infrastructure into a flexible, immersive audio environment capable of supporting live concerts, theatrical productions and experimental performances.
In collaboration with Audium and FLUX::, Culturgest became the first venue in Portugal to implement a fully immersive live sound system using FLUX:: SPAT Revolution. The system integrates a SPAT Revolution engine running up to 64 channels from the mixing console, routed via Dante and AES67 to the house speaker systems. Thirty-six surround speakers from the existing setup were reconfigured to handle rear, top and side channels, while the LR system used for traditional events was integrated into the immersive configuration. The entire setup was tonally matched to ensure transparent performance and cohesion between operation modes.
FLUX:: engineers worked closely with Audium and Culturgest’s in-house team to commission the system and provide extensive onsite training. The configuration supports multiple modes for live productions, including up to 32 active audio objects or reverberation-only simulations for acoustic performances. “Culturgest asked for an immersive system, and after a thorough analysis of the available options, FLUX:: SPAT Revolution was the main choice for this demanding venue,” said Tiago Laires of Audium. “In the end, and although we had a high level of expectation for SPAT, both Culturgest and I were blown away by the impressive result.”
The integration of SPAT Revolution has transformed Culturgest’s live production capabilities, allowing artists and engineers to explore new spatial soundscapes and audience experiences. “The expectations were high, but I can say that, after almost a year using SPAT Revolution, the expectations were largely exceeded,” said Ricardo Guerreiro, Culturgest’s In-House Sound Engineer.
Since installation, Culturgest has hosted a range of performances using the immersive setup—from orchestral concerts to experimental electroacoustic works. Artist and Composer Suse Ribeiro credited SPAT Revolution with unlocking new artistic freedom, noting that it allowed her to move beyond her initial design concepts to achieve exceptional technical and creative results.
Through precise integration, advanced networking and deep collaboration between FLUX:: and Audium, Culturgest has emerged as a leader in immersive live audio in Portugal, setting a new standard for how technology and artistry converge in contemporary performance venues.
https://www.culturgest.pt/en/
