SANTIAGO, Chile – The 875-seat, $22 million Teatro Municipal de Las Condes is home to the first Meyer Sound Constellation acoustic system in South America. The audio system includes 41 compact UPM-1P and MM-4XP loudspeakers for mid-high frequencies and six UMS-SM subwoofers.
Sixteen miniature cardioid microphones also link the hall's physical acoustics to three Constellation digital processors, which, in turn, use Meyer Sound's VRAS algorithms to adjust how the room sounds. Operators have five presets to adapt its acoustics to suit anything from the spoken word to symphonic and choral works.
"Constellation is a powerful tool for multipurpose theatres like ours," said Miguel Angel Latapiat, sound engineer at Teatro Municipal de Las Condes. "The effect is absolutely faithful to the natural sound of the music, yet it seems as if the wall materials have changed or the room has expanded in volume."
"Some artists and orchestras were reticent at first, but they were convinced once they heard it," noted Antonio Monasterio of Santiago-based Audiopro, the system integrator for the project and Meyer Sound's Chilean distributor.
"I've had positive comments from conductors of large orchestras and small ensembles," added Latapiat. "They are happy that the room can be adjusted to suit their needs. I don't hear comments from audiences, however. Constellation is so natural they don't realize it is even there."
As a fully independent acoustical system, Constellation is most often used for performances that are not amplified by a traditional reinforcement system. In some instances, however, such as amplified jazz, folk, and musical theatre performances, Constellation can add subtle enhancements, as has been done at Las Condes.
For amplified events, the main sound reinforcement system at Teatro Municipal de Las Condes includes dual hangs of 12-each Meyer Sound M'elodie line array loudspeakers, with low-frequency augmentation by two 700-HP subwoofers. Ten UM-1P stage monitors provide performer foldback, and a Galileo loudspeaker management system consisting of one Galileo 616 processor supplies system drive.
The Constellation system at Las Condes was designed and calibrated by the Meyer Sound Constellation team, working closely with acoustical consultant Leonardo Palma, who had carefully optimized the hall's physical acoustics to work seamlessly with Constellation.
The hall is designed with relatively "dry" physical acoustics to be well-suited for uses that include the spoken word, drama, and amplified music. With Constellation's ability to enhance a theatre's acoustical characteristics, Las Condes can also exhibit the sonic signature of a richly reverberant concert hall for symphonic and choral music presentations.
The hall also features automated mechanisms for reconfiguration of stage elements, front seating, and the orchestra pit, allowing for up to three entirely different stagings in one day.
For more information, please visit www.meyersound.com.
