The Fraunhofer sound solution creates a naturally immersive sound environment absorbing the audience into a world of musical-acoustic effects. The listeners experience the scenes in outstanding quality on every seat. SpatialSound Wave is based on Wave Field Synthesis. With the integration of the innovative sound system in Jena it is the first time such a fixed installation like this has been set up in a planetarium.

For the audience in the Jena dome theater, this Fraunhofer technology
opens up totally new opportunities: Apart from a natural nightlife sound scenery, the audience experiences most diversified music highlights and thrilling audio drama. René Rodigast, responsible for the project at Fraunhofer IDMT, describes the advantages of this new 3D audio system: "Our SpatialSound Wave system could be easily integrated in the existing sound solutions of the planetarium. In order to do so, 60 loudspeakers that are controlled by our audio system, have been integrated inside the dome as well as horizontally around the audience. This way, sound sources – a speaker, FX sounds or musical effects – can be positioned freely in the dome theater and arranged as 3D audio shows".

In addition to SpatialSound Wave, this planetarium also uses state-of the-art projection technology by Carl Zeiss AG. Their digital full-dome projection system "powerdome^®VELVET" featuring highest contrast, allows video projection of any content across the whole planetarium dome. It completes the classic, opto-mechanical star projection technology of the "Universarium" projector. In addition to purely astronomic presentations, the digital ZEISS technology allows crisp video projections with 3D effects on a pitch-black background.

The three-dimensional experience for eyes and ears is created by an interface between the SpatialSound Wave and the powerdome^®VELVET systems. This way, audio and video content is synchronized. On a projection area of 900sqm, the audience goes on an acoustic and visual space flight.

"We are proud to be one of the most state-of-the-art planetariums worldwide – thanks to innovative technologies from Thuringia. The novel effects enrich our education and entertainment program and make discovering the stars a real multimedia experience", says Jürgen Hellwig, Managing Director of STERNEVENT GmbH, the operating company of the Zeiss Planetarium in Jena.

The new concept will be introduced on November 3rd, 2011, at 11 a.m. on a press conference in the Zeiss Planetarium Jena. From 7 p.m., the technical novelties will be presented in an evening ceremony.