AI improves concert sound quality

Artificial intelligence is being used to enhance the sound quality of concerts in real time, as demonstrated at the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine). The venue, known for its acoustic challenges since its inauguration in 2017, hosted a concert featuring Céline Dion, where the technology Source Intelligence, developed by the French company L-Acoustics, was employed. This AI technology isolates the singer's voice from surrounding noise before the signal reaches the mixing console, aiming to provide a uniform sound experience for all spectators, regardless of their location in the venue.

How AI filters concert noise

During a concert, microphones capture not only the intended sounds but also various interferences such as drums, guitars, backing vocalists, audience cheers, and speaker emissions. These interferences can complicate the work of engineers and affect the intelligibility of the voice, potentially causing unpleasant whistling sounds known as Larsen effects. Source Intelligence uses machine learning to recognize the characteristics of the vocal signal and distinguish it from unwanted sounds, reducing these sounds in real time by up to 40 decibels.

Céline Dion and her health condition

Céline Dion, who had to regain her footing after several years away from the stage, benefits from this technology as she preserves her voice without having to force herself to stand out against the instruments. She suffers from stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological disease that affects her muscular abilities. The AI technology helps her team manage her vocal performance more effectively.

New speaker installation at the arena

In addition to the AI technology, the sound quality at the Plenitude Arena relies on an installation of approximately 90 new-generation L1 speakers, which are more compact and lighter. These speakers are distributed around the stage and above the orchestra, allowing for better control of the direction of the sound and its coverage in the hall. This setup limits acoustic reflections responsible for echoes and ensures a homogeneous experience from one seat to another.

Reduced stage volume for better clarity

The sound volume on stage is significantly reduced, allowing Céline Dion, her musicians, and her backing vocalists to hear their return directly in their earpieces. This reduction in stage sound limits the interferences that could come back into the microphones.

Expanding use of AI in concerts

The technology used in the concert, which costs more than one million euros, covers the entire audiovisual and acoustic system deployed for the concerts. Céline Dion is not the only artist benefiting from these innovations; L-Acoustics also deploys its technologies with artists such as The Weeknd, Bruno Mars, Harry Styles, and Rosalía. The market for source separation solutions is progressing rapidly, with other companies such as Alpha Labs and Cedar Audio LTD. also betting on machine learning in their software. The German company D&B Audiotechnik recently revealed a system capable of virtually reproducing the sound of a concert from every seat in the hall. However, automation does not aim to replace sound engineers, as it allows them to focus more on artistic mixing and less on correcting technical problems.