http://www.soundandcommunications.com/mercedes-benz-stadium-drives-future/
In reading this article I had a few questions.
Why Bose modeling software and not EASE?
Why Crown amps and not DNA?
Why were charity events the reason DSL got the install and not proof of performance?
I was not in on all of the modeling aspects of the job.
I am not familiar enough with Bose modeler, but I am sure there was a reason, possibly faster prediction time. For a room like MB, it could take A LONG time to do a decent auralization.
EASE was also used for various aspects of the job.
The Crown amps were a "left over" from the original consultant design. The overall system (which is much more than just the "inside the bowl" system) was controlled by Harmon DSPs. The DNA setup does not currently allow for such large system control. So it made more sense to have all of the control in the same "platform".
I did transfer functions of the Crown amps DSPs so they matched the DNA amps ahead of the install and set limiters so they matched closely as well.
There were only certain things that were allowed to change from the original design, including loudspeaker locations. Certain things were "set in stone".
The "proof of performance" came in many factors. Including other large stadiums performance, and the "lack of performance" of the original proposed system in similar venues.
The various models that allowed listening to the room, seeing arrival times of signals, coverage maps etc and confidence were all part of the final decision.
It was not a decision that came easily, or after a meeting or two or three or four---