Flexible Hotel Sound

Located in the historic Malaysian city of Melaka, Courtyard by Marriott is a hotel which caters for tourist, local and business guests. Versatile audio systems for the hotel’s background music and ballroom are based on Yamaha MTX series matrix processors.

Opened in April 2023, Courtyard by Marriott is a short distance from tourist hotpots like the historic Stadthuys and St. Peters Church, the oldest functioning Roman Catholic church in Malaysia.

With previous projects including the city’s Holiday Inn and the Swiss Garden Hotel & Residence, AV systems integrator SKH Sound & Light was asked to design and install audio systems for the ballroom and common spaces, which would enhance the experience for guests, while being flexible and easy to control.

Covering a range of common-use areas, including the lobby, cafe, pool and gym, the background music system needed to allow the selection of music and volume levels be controlled independently, ensuring a tailored experience for guests.

The ballroom system posed a bigger challenge. Three spaces which can host a wide range of events, including corporate meetings, conferences, weddings and other celebrations, they can be configured in multiple ways. This includes being combined as two or one large space, capable of hosting more than 700 people. Here it was essential for the audio system to deliver high quality, seamless sound, however the spaces are divided or combined.

An extra challenge for the ballroom was that the control room is located on a different floor, making it difficult for the system operator to monitor and control audio during events.

Yamaha MTX series matrix processors allowed SKH Sound & Light to design and install a highly flexible system, with an MTX3 used for the background music system and an MTX5-D for managing audio in the ballroom. And thanks to Yamaha’s ProVisionaire suite of software applications, both systems could be controlled from anywhere in the hotel, using an iPad with a bespoke, user-friendly interface.

This meant presets could be programmed to change multiple parameters with the touch of a button, but full manual control would also be available, if needed.

The background music system is programmed with a separate zone for each area. Because the gym and the lobby (for example) need very different volume levels and types of music, each zone is operated independently, allowing a bespoke choice of music and volume for each.

The ballroom system is more complex, but the combination of the MTX5-D and ProVisionaire has allowed a very versatile system to be implemented. This allows any kind of event to be hosted in any combination of the three spaces, with the audio system adapted to suit the specific needs of each scenario. Importantly, the ability to control the system from an iPad means operators don’t need to be confined to a single location, or need to return to a central control room, for every minor adjustment.

This not only makes system management much more efficient, but ensures every event enjoys the best possible sound quality. Operators are able to create presets for different configurations, making it easy to switch between setups without the need for extensive manual intervention. At the same time fine manual adjustments can be made, if necessary.

“This cutting-edge setup significantly improves the ease and effectiveness of audio management at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel, providing both automation and flexibility. In addition, the system’s intuitive design minimizes the learning curve, making it accessible even for operators with limited technical knowledge. This results in a more streamlined workflow, reducing the time and effort required to manage complex audio setups,” says SKH Sound & Light technical director Soon Siong Wee.

He continues, “The common spaces and ballroom alike benefit greatly from a well-designed sound system that enhances the ambiance and elevates the guest experience. Whether it’s calming background music in the lounge, vibrant tunes at the poolside or unique events in the ballroom, Yamaha’s high quality audio ensures guests enjoy a consistent and pleasant auditory environment throughout their stay. The flexibility and clarity of the sound systems help to create the right mood, contributing to a more relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere.

“The ability to control the settings remotely and manage different audio experiences in each space ensure that an exceptional experiences can be delivered, without any unnecessary complications.”