Immersive Audio Podcast

Summary

In this three-part series of the Immersive Audio Podcast, Oliver Kadel travels to Vienna, Austria to meet –  Amadeus Acoustics. Their team of innovative engineers, seasoned acousticians, musicians and tonmeisters, developed solutions for acoustic enhancement for live music and speech in multi-purpose venues, concert halls and theatres. Amadeus Immersive Audio provides 3D sound source spatialisation and rendering with accurate localisation and envelopment for indoor and outdoor venues. In part one, you’ll learn about active acoustics and hear a binaural demonstration of the system.

Fabio Kaiser (Founder & CEO)

Fabio Kaiser is an acoustician, audio engineer, musician, and lecturer. He holds degrees in Electrical Engineering and Audio Engineering from the Technical University of Graz and the University of Music in Graz. During his studies, he conducted research at IRCAM in Paris, the Audio Communication Group at TU Berlin, and the ISVR at the University of Southampton. Fabio has been a consultant at Rohde Acoustics since 2012 and became a partner in 2020. He is also the co-owner of the company. In 2022, he became the CEO of Amadeus Acoustics GmbH, a company he co-founded, where he played a key role in developing active acoustic systems and immersive audio algorithms. He is also a lecturer at the Technical University of Vienna and the University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten. From 2016 to 2022, Fabio served as the Managing Director of the Austrian Acoustics Association (AAA-OeGA) and remains active in professional associations such as DEGA, AES, and ASA. In 2023, he authored the book „Raumakustik – Wie man Räume hörgerecht besser gestaltet“. His mission is to create exceptional acoustic environments for music, communication, art, and entertainment while sharing the knowledge and experiences gained along the way.

Thorsten Rohde Co-Founder (Business Development)

Thorsten Rohde, born on November 24, 1962, is a highly skilled electrical engineer and acoustics expert. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering with a specialisation in audio technology from the Technical University of Graz. Over the years, Rohde has established himself as a leading figure in the field of acoustics. He is the founder of Rohde Acoustics GmbH and Co-founder of Amadeus Acoustics GmbH. With a rich professional background, Thorsten started his career at Siemens AG, where he worked on technical projects like the Munich Airport and the New Munich Trade Fair. In 2001, he launched his own engineering firm specialising in electroacoustics and sound reinforcement technology. Rohde also served as a court-appointed expert for noise prevention and acoustics until 2023. In addition to his entrepreneurial success, Thorsten is dedicated to education. He has been a lecturer at the Technical University of Graz since 2001 and at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna since 2013. His expertise extends across numerous professional organizations, and he has contributed to major acoustic projects. Outside of work, he enjoys sailing, playing guitar, and fly fishing.

Volker Werner Co-Founder & (CTO)

Volker Werner began his classical piano training at the age of five. He later studied as a “Tonmeister” at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, the University of Miami, and Banff Centre, Canada. In 2007, he co-founded PDV Records, specializing in sound design for concerts and shows, audio-visual productions and music for motion picture. His work includes major events like the Vienna Festival opening, Disney in Concert, and Opera in the Quarry, as well as televised performances with renowned artists such as Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Diana Damrau. Werner is a lecturer at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. As CTO of Amadeus Acoustics, he is dedicated to advancing the capabilities of active acoustics for both musicians and audiences. A career highlight was the opening concert in Andermatt featuring the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, where Amadeus played a key role in realizing the groundbreaking acoustic experience.

Kaspar Glattfelder (Technical Consultant)

Kaspar Glattfelder is an acoustic engineer and musician based in Vienna, Austria. He completed the master’s degree in “Elektrotechnik-Toningenieur” at the technical university in Graz where he gathered a profound knowledge in all significant areas of acoustics. The bachelor’s degree was concluded with a deep dive into active acoustic systems in cooperation with Amadeus Acoustics in the course of the temporary installation at the “Kasematten” in Graz. He later worked as an acoustic engineer, involved in spatial audio applications and signal processing as well as acoustic design of microphones. As an acoustic/technical consultant at Amadeus Acoustics, Glattfelder’s role is to create concepts and technical drawings of new installations and support the clients to successfully complete the projects.

Jörn Nettingsmeier (Tuning Partner)

Jörn studied music at Folkwang University Essen and computer science at University Duisburg-Essen, and has been freelancing as a sound and event engineer since the 90s. At Amadeus, he works as a tuning specialist, assists clients in project planning, and teaches workshops for new colleagues and partners. He is a master craftsman of event engineering and a member of the board at Verband Deutscher Tonmeister. Jörn lives in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

María Cecilia (Chechi) Ayalde Ángel Marketing Coordinator

Maria Cecilia Ayalde Angel, or ‘Chechi’, is a sound engineer from Bogotá, Colombia, now residing in Brighton, UK. Chechi’s journey with Amadeus Acoustics began during her bachelor’s internship at Austria’s Oper im Steinburch, where she worked alongside co-founder Volker in the live sound team. The experience was Chechi’s first exposure to Amadeus’s technology in an open space, and it sparked her fascination with the company’s innovative approach to sound. Since 2022, Maria has supported Amadeus as a freelance community manager and recently transitioned to Marketing Coordinator. In her current role, she oversees the development and execution of marketing strategies, manages digital content, and builds industry relationships to engage new audiences. Chechi’s background in both sound engineering and marketing helps bridge the gap between Amadeus’s technical innovations and the needs of its community.

Simon Neeten (R&D Engineer)

Simon Neeten holds a Bachelor’s degree in Media Technology from the University of Applied Sciences Hamburg. He gained hands-on experience as a sound engineer for a well-known radio station and later worked as a project engineer. Simon is currently pursuing a Master’s in Electrical Engineering and Audio Engineering at Graz University of Technology to deepen his knowledge of acoustics and signal processing. This program complements his work at Amadeus, where he focuses on solving acoustic challenges and signal-processing tasks. In his free time, he enjoys playing the guitar.

Ineke Hellingman (International Business Development)

Ineke Hellingman is a Dutch concert pianist, studying in Amsterdam and in Paris at the Ecole normale de musique Alfred Cortot. Her interest in technological innovation within the cultural field led to her working in the vibrant international start-up scene for innovative companies such as Music Traveler (founded by Aleksey Igudesman) and VeloConcerts. As a cultural manager, she has hosted many cultural productions in Europe, such as festivals (Festival Piano Prestige in Béziers, France), academies (Academie Philippe Jaroussky in Paris), as well as managing large educational projects. Ineke joined Amadeus in 2020 and has taken on various roles throughout the company’s development. Most recently, she became responsible for international business development at Amadeus Acoustics.

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Show Notes

Amadeus Acoustics Website – https://amadeus-acoustics.com/

Amadeus Showrooms – https://amadeus-acoustics.com/showrooms

Amadeus Academy – https://amadeus-acoustics.com/academy

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/amadeus-acoustics/

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Credits

This episode was produced by Oliver Kadel and Emma Rees and included music by Rhythm Scott.