Powersoft’s Mezzo and Dynamic Music Distribution (DMD) are at the heart of a sound system delivering three zones of high-quality audio in Yebisu Brewery Tokyo, a historical brewery and museum in Tokyo, Japan. Once a quiet museum, the new sound system overhaul and installation of the brewing facility have transformed it into a vibrant, multi-zone audio experience with beer tastings in the taproom, exhibitions and a shop for visitors to find the perfect stout souvenirs.
Yebisu Brewery Tokyo’s audio revamp was driven by the need to shift its image from “classic” into a lighter and more playful one, aligning with the changing taste of the modern audience. “We wanted to create a vibrant atmosphere that would change the YEBISU beer’s previous reputation,” said Takako Okii, Marketing Division Deputy Manager from Sapporo Breweries. “We also needed to get rid of the echo issues and we believe that high-quality sound was crucial in delivering an exciting and memorable experience. This is why we needed a new music system,” she added.
Tasked with this challenge was Mood Media Japan, which undertook the audio overhaul in the entire area. “We installed the system in three zones, with each area playing a different sound,” said Yamato Shibasaki, Music Designer from Mood Media Japan Inc. “We designed it in a way that minimises the sound from overlapping.”
Stepping into the brewery, the visitors are welcomed by the Yebisu Beer theme song, “The Third Man Theme” by Anton Karas, played from two different sources to draw attention to the centre of the facility and convey the message of the brand’s diversity. Shibasaki explains that using two different music sources highlights the many ways a single piece of music can be experienced. In the museum, soft background music allows visitors to focus on the exhibition and feel the atmosphere of Yebisu Beer. In contrast, the taproom features livelier music, creating a dynamic transition between the brewery’s history and its future.
“It was a very interesting project for us,” states Shibasaki. “The brewery’s open layout posed acoustic challenges, particularly with high ceilings and minimal partitions.” To overcome this challenge, Mood Media Japan adjusted speaker positions and utilised the DSP capabilities of Powersoft’s Mezzo amplifier to fine-tune sound quality. “We changed the speaker position to lower and adjusted the direction and used the DSP on Mezzo to regulate the EQ.” The built-in delay function on Mezzo further synchronised audio across the entrance and the museum, eliminating any perception of sound lag between the zones.
Haruka Murayama, Powersoft’s Market Development Manager for Japan, highlighted why Mezzo was the ideal choice for the brewery’s needs: “Mezzo is designed for environments that require both flexibility and reliability in a compact form. It is perfect for a complex, space-constrained installation like Yebisu Brewery, delivering premium sound without overwhelming the spaces.”
In addition to Mezzo’s advanced sound management, Powersoft’s Dynamic Music Distribution (DMD) offered significant flexibility. DMD offers system integrators the ability to scale inputs and zones conveniently with dynamic routing capabilities embedded in its amplifier platforms. This makes it simpler to share music between different zones independently from the source location without the need for a centralised DSP. According to Shibasaki, DMD allowed him to conveniently design the sound system, as he was able to define the core equipment early in the process, simplifying budgeting and future adjustments. “We could modify the number of sources and zones without reworking the wiring or adding extra hardware,” he added.
Ease of operation was also a key consideration, which is why Mood Media Japan integrated Powersoft’s WMTouch control panel, making the system highly intuitive. “Many systems can be intimidating to users with complex controls, but with WMTouch, the users are actively engaging with it.” Okii agreed: “Our employees quickly understood how to use the system. The Scene recall functionality makes the adjustments seamless, ensuring anyone can manage the audio with ease.”
The compact design of Mezzo amplifiers also addressed practical controls. Shibasaki explained: “The rack room is small with limited airflow and Mezzo’s compact size, multi-channel capabilities, and low heat emission made it the perfect solution.”
The impact of the new sound system has been positive: “We’re extremely satisfied with the audio quality and do not need to have any concerns about the reverberation. The spacious rooms are comfortable, allowing visitors to focus on their experience,” concluded Okii. “Sound is now an integral part of our visitor experience and it’s something the visitors will remember long after they leave, connecting them emotionally to YEBISU beer.”
