My career is pretty evenly split between development, data analytics, and server administration. And yes: If I were to write and sell a "processing box", I'd do it on a custom configuration if LINUX or Windows Shell.
I've spoken to some of these manufacturers, and I think a lot of it lives in the LINUX world. This makes a lot of sense it seems. Likely correct about some Windows Shell as well.
Computers run everything from pacemakers to cars; but more to the point, computers already run theaters. So even granting that there's a non-zero chance of equipment failure on a piece of computer hardware; so what? Theaters absolutely do not run 24/7, and their equipment does not, and their reliability is not 100%.
But, like a good computer server, they will have redundant power supplies, which adds to the cost and creates a far higher price because it isn't a commodity item anymore. Then you may have a redundant failover chassis. Which does the same thing while costing an additional piece of gear. It's not actually insane the price for one or two of these pieces. Several grand typically. But, you may need half a dozen of them to cover all the processing for the entire space. So, that's where costs add up.
It's easier to write for commodity hardware than to make your own. The numbers are relatively low (40k in the US) to be sure; but again, I don't see how that's solved by moving from commercial hardware to custom hardware?
Depends on if the commercial hardware includes the provisions for security and quality which is required by the different manufacturers. Copyright protection and high fidelity audio processing and video processing with accurate audio/video sync and timings aren't built into commodity commercial hardware. They are built into higher-end commercial chips, but those always are put onto a custom board.
Must like projectors are built from commercial parts and put onto a custom board, different manufacturers do the same thing for audio processing and sometimes their amps. Especially the big guns (JBL, Crown, etc.). Many amps are just boring amps.
It's the same requirements as other professional venues. I see no real difference between a concert and a theater in terms of amp, cabling, etc.
Theaters actually require far less than stage theater or other venues do in actuality. A theater requires microphones, which gets into the entire digital world. The industry has moved away from XLR to IP based digital audio in the professional market. Well, at least behind the walls. So, a movie theater gets 12/2 or 10/2 cabling to the speakers and it gets hooked up to JBL or Crown amps. But, the movies come from studios on hard drives and I know jack about that technology except I would bet that while they are redundant and standard drives, they are DRM'd to high hell and back. Needing custom and proprietary software to decode. Go figure.
The difference would be in the processing.
Yeah, but not really. The initial processing is likely a fair bit different than what we have in homes, but the post processing really isn't different than what many good venues have in it. JBL/Crown have been at it for years and they do custom build for different scenarios as they have for decades. Touring rigs need a lot more durability. Concert speakers run thousands of watts through the line arrays, while a commercial theater may hit a thousand or two on the big speakers but are limited to hundreds on the side speakers. Large venue setups which are installed don't require road worthiness in terms of the case, but may require greater reliability. So, costs stay the same, but priorities shift.
If I've got 2,500 theaters to re-sound over the next 10 years; do you think I pay retail? I doubt real prices have much relationship to listed prices.
Online pricing is sometimes within 10% of standard cost. But, yes, there will be some cost variance depending on just about every factor. It can become pedantic to consider really. 10% or 20% savings will be had with enough volume while still providing healthy profits to manufacturers and installers.
But, these are LONG term costs. You may have a $80K+ projector along with the same expense for audio and another $100K+ in the theater itself. Half a million to do a theater. It's all in line.
An interesting aside: I work in commercial AV. That means, typically, boardrooms. When I entered the business some 16+ years ago, my number one complaint was that the only amplifiers available to a boardroom which had half a dozen speakers in it, was two rack unit 500+ watt JBL/Crown/etc. amplifiers. They had loud fans, were heavy and bulky, and cost in excess of $1,000. Often these were single channel amps as well.
Now, we have half rack width (or smaller) single rack unit height amps with 100 watts or less. Often two channels (or more) and can run a dozen 70v speakers in a typical boardroom without issue and cost under $500. Cooling has switched to quiet systems as well with small fans or passive cooling. JBL/Crown still doesn't make this type of product though. It comes from companies that specialize more in the commercial/boardroom marketplace. Extron, Crestron, Biamp and others.
I do think that these manufacturers are making products that utilize a lot of off-the-shelf electronics, but the products are tailored for the industry they are in and extremely reliable or high quality. They have guys who have been doing it for years (or decades) so while the boards are being custom assembled, the electronics aren't so much 'custom' as 'purpose' built. We've definitely seen an overall improvement over the last twenty years in reliability and functionality with price decreases overall, but amplifiers still cost a pretty penny and there's a lot of speakers to drive.
