How does it work for the venue (operationally)?
Before opening night: the venue sends XPERT the script in the original language plus the list of languages it wants to offer (e.g. English, Russian, German, Italian). XPERT translates the script and prepares the synchronisation data. This is normally done once per production and re-used across the entire run.
During the show: a single host PC runs the OWL software, connected to the venue's sound console via the supplied audio interface. The PC listens to the actor's voice live, AI matches it to the script in real time, and pushes the next line to every active glass in the room. One operator runs everything — typically the existing surtitle technician.
Between shows: the glasses charge on the 10-prong charging stations. No special storage, no calibration drift, no daily setup beyond plugging audio in.
Does this work with operatic vocal? Vibrato, ensembles, full orchestra?
Yes. The AI engine has been trained on live performance audio including operatic singing. It uses voice-to-script matching rather than pure transcription — it identifies the position in the libretto rather than trying to transcribe every word. This handles vibrato, choral passages and orchestral accompaniment correctly.
How is the audio captured when soloists don't wear microphones?
OWL supports multiple configurations: overhead stage microphones, a direct feed from the mixing console (if the venue records the performance), or a dedicated microphone placed in the auditorium. The optimal setup is determined during the technical assessment before each pilot.
What happens when a performer deviates from the script?
The voice-to-script matching algorithm continuously re-evaluates the position in the text. If a singer skips a passage or the conductor adjusts tempo, the system adapts within seconds. It follows the actual performance, not a fixed timeline.
How does the system push the right subtitle line in real time?
The host PC receives the actor's voice live via your sound console. AI matches the voice to the script and pushes the next line forward in real time to every active glass simultaneously. One operator runs everything.
How does it work for the audience member?
Step 1 — At the box office: the audience member rents a pair of glasses for ~€10 (whatever the venue sets), takes them, and walks into the auditorium.
Step 2 — In the seat: they download the free OWL app on their own smartphone (Android or iOS, takes 30 seconds — or the venue prepares a QR-code link). The app pairs with the glasses via Bluetooth in two taps.
Step 3 — Choose your language: the app shows the languages prepared for tonight's production. The viewer picks one. Their language only.
During the performance: subtitles appear directly in the viewer's field of vision, in their chosen language, perfectly synchronised with what is happening on stage. The phone stays in their pocket — only the glasses are needed for the experience.
After the show: the audience member returns the glasses to the box office on the way out. That's it.
How does it work for the producer / festival programmer (commercially)?
You own a new revenue line. The glasses become a product your audience pays for, like a programme or a drink. With 70–90% uptake at typical multilingual events, a 100-seat investment generates €60,000–80,000 in audience revenue per season after the first year. After break-even (typically 3–6 months), every show is profit.
You expand your reach. Productions in foreign languages — opera in Italian or French, touring shows in their original language, international festival programming — open to audiences that previously stayed away. The audience that comes is also more diverse internationally, raising the cultural profile of the venue.
You eliminate translator labour. Once the script is translated and uploaded, every subsequent show in the run runs on the same data. No surtitle operator typing in real time, no risk of human error mid-show, no separate operator per language.
You strengthen accessibility compliance. OWL also covers deaf and hearing-impaired audience members in the venue's primary language — without separate equipment, separate seats, or separate scheduling.
How is the audience-pay model supposed to work?
The venue places a small kiosk or counter in the lobby. Audience members rent the glasses for €10 (or whatever the venue sets) before entering the auditorium. Show your ticket, get a pair, return after the show. Once the venue has bought the glasses outright, the €10 audience price covers the per-show license (€2/glass) and goes straight to the venue's bottom line. With 70–90% uptake at a typical mid-size house, the glasses pay back in 3–6 months and continue generating revenue for years.
Does OWL require Wi-Fi? What about venues with thick stone walls?
Wi-Fi is needed only for the host PC running the OWL software — a standard router is sufficient. Audience members use their own smartphones via mobile LTE to receive subtitles, so no high-capacity Wi-Fi infrastructure is required. For buildings with limited cellular reception (thick walls, basement venues), a local LTE repeater or dedicated network can be configured. Connectivity is verified during the technical assessment before any pilot.
How many glasses can work simultaneously? Will it scale to a 2,000-seat hall?
No hard limit on simultaneous connections. With audience members using their own mobile LTE, the number of seats is not a constraint at all. If dedicated Wi-Fi is used instead, a high-capacity access point — similar to what you'd find in a convention centre — can support a 2,000-seat auditorium with ease.
Who prepares the multilingual scripts for each production?
Most opera houses and theatres already have libretto translations — we work with your existing materials and format them for the OWL system. If translations are needed, we coordinate with professional translators experienced in performing arts terminology. Once prepared, the script files are reused across the entire run.
What does the full setup process look like, end-to-end?
Six steps: (1) Collect the script, translation languages, poster and performance information. (2) Input everything into the OWL admin page. (3) AI translation is processed automatically. (4) On-site installation of PC and audio interface. (5) Rehearsal — audio is recorded for voice-recognition calibration. (6) Script optimisation within the OWL program to maximise recognition accuracy during the live performance. All steps are handled as part of the deployment.
Why is OWL more expensive than Rokid retail ($599)?
OWL retails at €750/pair from Mine Global Ltd (the European distributor) — that includes the same Rokid hardware platform plus the proprietary OWL software stack (AI subtitle synchronisation, multilingual translation pipeline, mobile companion app), European after-sales coordination, and the distributor margin needed to fund operations on the ground. The Rokid consumer retail figure you may have seen is for a different product: the same hardware shell, but loaded with consumer software (camera, GPT chat, AR navigation) and sold without the theatre-grade subtitle stack and venue support that comes with OWL.
Is there really no minimum order?
For non-exclusive purchase, no minimum. You can buy 1 unit, 10 units, 100 units. For exclusive city distribution rights, the MOQ is 50 units (~€30,000 commitment). Rental has a soft minimum of 5 units / 3 days.
What about Greek / Russian / [my language]?
27 languages already work. Greek and Russian are in active development — XPERT will add them to the roadmap when there is committed demand from the local market. If you commit to a deployment, the language gets prioritised.
Can I get the glasses for free?
Yes — government-owned cultural institutions can apply to the K-Inno Global Pilot Programme (Korean government). Up to 300 pairs free for 12 months, devices become permanent venue property after. Apply here.
How is shipping calculated?
FOB Korea. Final freight cost is included in the formal quote — typical air-freight ranges: EU 5–7%, UK/CH 7–9%, US/Canada 8–10% of hardware value, with a €150 minimum.
Who do I sign the contract with, and who is responsible if something breaks?
Your purchase contract is between your venue and Mine Global Ltd (Cyprus, registration HE430465), the authorised European distributor of OWL. Mine Global Ltd handles your sales conversation, your quote, your invoice, your delivery scheduling, and your day-to-day relationship in Europe — all in English, in your timezone, with one human point of contact.
The hardware itself is manufactured by XPERT INC in Seoul, Korea, and they are the legal warrantor for everything technical:
- 2-year hardware warranty — frame, electronics, display, battery, charging components — covered by XPERT
- Software, firmware, AI subtitle pipeline — built and maintained by XPERT; updates are delivered automatically
- Repairs and replacements — defective units are forwarded to XPERT (Mine Global Ltd will help coordinate the logistics from Europe)
- Technical support escalations — first-line questions go through Mine Global Ltd to keep things in one place; specialist resolution comes from XPERT's engineering team
- Initial on-site installation, language QA, and operator training for the first deployment — provided by XPERT directly (subsequent deployments can be coordinated through Mine Global Ltd or directly with XPERT)
What this means in practice: you have one European phone number to call for sales, scheduling, and routine questions, and a clear escalation path to the manufacturer for anything technical. Mine Global Ltd does not act as the warranty guarantor — that role sits with the manufacturer, where it belongs.
Full details in our Terms of Sale.
What's included in the price?
Per glass: 49g smart glasses + Type-C cable + protective case + 2-year warranty.
Per deployment: audio interface + charging stations + on-site setup training (1 week with XPERT engineer for first deployment). Audience members use their own smartphones (any modern Android or iOS) with the free OWL app — no companion mobile required.
Are the OWL glasses approved for use in the European Union?
Yes — OWL glasses carry CE marking and are certified for sale and use within the EU. Relevant electrical-safety and radio-equipment directives are covered.
Which AI model powers the subtitles?
A proprietary AI speech-recognition and translation model developed in-house by XPERT INC (Seoul), trained specifically for live performance environments (stage acoustics, vocal projection, multi-actor scenes, sung text). It is not a generic consumer ASR — it is tuned for theatre.
How is data processed? Is OWL GDPR-compliant?
Audio and text are processed via XPERT's servers in real time for script-matching purposes only. No session data is stored once the performance ends. No audience personal data is collected at any point. Because nothing is retained, no audio or text from your performance is used to train AI models. This processing model is consistent with GDPR principles of data minimisation and purpose limitation.
How are the glasses stored, charged, and disinfected between performances?
The glasses live in your venue's own storage — typically the same area used for headsets or other audience equipment. Charging stations are included with each deployment. Disinfection is carried out by your front-of-house staff between uses, following the same protocols you already apply to shared audience devices.
Can a human editor or translator review subtitles live during a performance?
Yes. The OWL operator console allows a translator or editor to review and correct AI-generated subtitle output in real time — directly during a live performance. This is comparable to the editorial workflow used by traditional surtitle providers in France and the Netherlands, with the added benefit that the AI handles the first-pass transcription and translation, dramatically reducing the operator workload.
What happens after the K-Inno pilot ends?
The K-Inno pilot runs for 12 months at no cost to the venue (hardware and software fully covered by Korean government funding). After the 12 months: the hardware (the glasses themselves) becomes the venue's permanent property at no further cost. Continued use of the software requires a per-session licence fee of approximately USD 1.40 / KRW 2,000 per use — no mandatory subscriptions or ongoing contracts beyond that.
