Comic-Con, a cultural phenomenon that began in 1970 as a small gathering, has evolved into one of the largest and most high-profile pop culture events in the world. The 2024 Comic-Con, held at the San Diego Convention Center, attracted over 135,000 attendees eager to engage with the latest in comics, films, games, and entertainment. With events spread throughout the convention center, Hall H is often the centerpiece, hosting presentations with top-tier celebrities and exclusive premieres, such as Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine.
To provide an unforgettable fan experience, Comic-Con required exceptional sound quality to meet the demanding standards of both entertainment studios and attendees. However, Hall H presents unique challenges: it hosts both spoken word panels and dynamic film screenings, and the room’s irregular pentagonal shape adds complexity to achieving clear and consistent audio. For the past seven years, Show Imaging has partnered with JBL Professional to overcome these challenges and deliver world-class sound throughout the event.
Show Imaging employed an advanced dual-system audio design, integrating a cinema sound system for movie content with a corporate sound system for live panels and discussions. Each system required careful tuning to ensure optimal performance and seamless interaction.
Cinema System:
– 3 arrays of 10 JBL VTX A12 Dual 12-inch Line Array Speakers for LCR (left-center-right) playback.
– 12 arrays of 5 JBL VTX A6 Sub-compact Dual 6.5-inch Line Array Speakers for surround sound.
– VTX B28 and B18 Subwoofers: Twelve B28 dual-18-inch subwoofers on either side of the stage and eight B18 single-18-inch subs in the center array for powerful low-end effects.
Corporate System:
– Two arrays of 11 JBL VTX A8 Compact Line Array Speakers, with an additional center fill of two arrays with six A8 cabinets.
– Four delay arrays of six A12 cabinets plus two A12W wide-angle speakers for supplemental coverage.
– SRX712M Stage Monitors for on-stage use.
The systems were integrated to deliver seamless audio, with surround speakers mounted above video walls and suspended from custom trusses built by Show Imaging’s fabrication team. “This event requires both a cinema system for movie playback and a corporate system for live discussions,” explained Elliot Carroll, Director of Audio Services at Show Imaging. “The challenge is integrating the two systems without feedback, while balancing sound quality and imaging throughout the room.”
The complex layout of Hall H, with its asymmetrical, pentagonal shape, demanded precise calibration of delays and levels to ensure consistent sound throughout the venue. “The distances between arrays aren’t a matter of a few milliseconds—sometimes it’s as much as 60 milliseconds,” said Eric Stahlhammer, who has mixed Comic-Con events since 2012 and currently serves as Sr. Global Product Manager for JBL Professional. “Achieving good imaging and clarity required detailed calculations for both the cinema and corporate systems.”
The breakthrough this year was the use of JBL Venue Synthesis software, which provided real-time 3D modeling of the entire audio setup. “With Venue Synthesis, we could see the coverage of everything in 3D space, which allowed us to tune the system faster and more accurately,” said Carroll. “Having Hall H drawn up in the software helped us dial in the delays and surrounds much faster than before, gaining us valuable time onsite.”
Using a delay matrix, Show Imaging ensured that each system’s signals were delayed and distributed correctly, balancing the corporate and cinema systems for seamless coverage. “When it’s timed and tuned right, the match between the systems is exceptional,” said Stahlhammer.
Despite the complexities, the result was a flawless audio experience that thrilled both attendees and clients. “This show is always a challenge because it’s unlike anything else,” added Stahlhammer. “But it’s also a fun exercise in problem-solving.”
Delivering high-quality sound for Comic-Con’s Hall H events required sophisticated tools, precise calibration, and expert integration. JBL Professional’s Venue Synthesis software and advanced audio solutions enabled Show Imaging to overcome the challenges of Hall H’s unique acoustics and deliver outstanding sound experiences for both movie and panel events.
“The goal is always to elevate the fan experience,” Carroll concluded. “We collaborate closely with the studios to craft these technical solutions, but at the end of the day, it’s about the fans walking away wild with excitement. Our clients and audiences leave happy every time—and that’s the real measure of success.”
