Multichannel sound has come a long way since the 4-channel LCRS Dolby Stereo system made popular by 1977’s Star Wars. Today, with object-based control, the possibilities in live or event playback audio are nearly endless, ideal for bringing a realistic sonic palette to museum or art expositions, live theater, concerts and houses of worship — to name a few. The trend for immersive production shows no signs of slowing down. We checked into some recent projects that are taking audio to that next level.
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
With the installation of L-Acoustics L-ISA Hyperreal Sound Technology at its 1,460-seat Musical Arts Center (MAC), Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music is at the forefront of immersive audio education. The new system delivers superior sound experiences for performances and provides students hands-on experience with technology that’s rapidly becoming the industry standard.
Modeled after New York’s Metropolitan Opera House, the MAC serves as a premier performance venue and an advanced learning environment. Solotech performed the installation and integration, based on specs from project consultant Sound Associates.
“We’re giving our students experience with technology that’s defining the future of live sound,” says Michael Stucker, chair of IU’s Music Industry Department and the Jacobs School of Music. “L-ISA is the future, and our students will graduate with a significant competitive advantage having worked with this system.”
Domonic Sack of Sound Associates, who worked on the system design with noted Broadway sound mixer Ty Lackey (Roald Dahl’s Matilda: The Musical) said: “localization of sound on stage is something that audiences are coming to expect without even being aware of it. Students having the tools and becoming familiar with L-ISA will bring more than sound reinforcement to IU; it will help students create sound for the future of theater and opera.”
Stucker added the move to immersive sound is “not a light undertaking, financially or technically, so we seriously looked at several immersive system brands first.” he says.
L-ISA stood out for several factors, including the fact that the school has a Kudo rig installed in its 3,200-seat IU Auditorium and found it to be dependable and great sounding.
The system features five identical Scene arrays of five L-Acoustics A15i Focus over one A15i Wide each, spread out above the stage. Eight KS21 subs are flown in two hangs of two on either side of the center A15i array, while a single vertically oriented A15i Wide per side is flown on the perimeters of the second and fourth A15 arrays to supply out-fill coverage.
Fifteen ultra-compact 5XT coaxial systems lining the stage lip provide spatialized front-fill, while a pair of Syva colinear columns complemented by six X8 are in place for stage monitoring. The system is powered by seven LA7.16i amplified controllers and one LA12X. System management and processing is via an L-ISA Processor II and the P1 Milan-AVB processor.
Stucker notes that so far, the shows produced with L-ISA, including weekly jazz performances and two operas, have been crowd-pleasers. But just as important is “the students have been engineering everything so far,” he says. “In fact, “all of us faculty are kind of jealous because we haven’t got to mix on it yet. The students are having all the fun.”
Indiana University Musical Arts Center
- Capacity: 1,460
- Key Products: L-Acoustics L-ISA
- Integrator: Solotech
Teatro Real, Madrid, Spain
Situated in the heart of Madrid, Teatro Real has elevated its audio production with the integration of immersive audio technology from Lawo. Recognized as one of world’s best theaters (in 2021 awarded the title as the best opera company in the world), Teatro Real’s technical upgrade meets the demands of modern productions while preserving its rich heritage.
Teatro Real chose Lawo’s IP audio solutions by acquiring Lawo mc² consoles, stageboxes, HOME platform and routing units to enhance its audio capabilities. The integration was executed by Telefónica, a leading systems integrator and technology partner renowned for its expertise in audiovisual engineering, also providing the network infrastructure with a Cisco solution.
Key components include two 32-fader mc²56 MkIII consoles and a 16-fader mc²56 MkIII, powered by six A__UHD Core audio processing engines in redundant design, each boasting 1024 DSP channel processing. Seamlessly integrated with Waves SoundGrid server, these consoles provide operators access to Waves’ extensive plug-in library for real-time signal processing, allowing them to conveniently control reverbs, multi-tap delays, graphic equalizers and multiband compressors directly via the console’s keyboard and touchscreen. All plug-in settings can be easily stored and recalled with the console’s snapshots.
The consoles are integrated into and supported by the existing audio infrastructure via audio stageboxes with Lawo A__stage64/80. This combination and the integration via Lawo’s HOME management platform for IP-based media infrastructures ensures seamless communication and efficient distribution of audio signals throughout the theater infrastructure. The installation features desk mirroring and signal ownership, resulting in a user-friendly, efficient workflow.
“The Lawo mc²56 MkIII consoles were the natural choice for Teatro Real’s audio infrastructure upgrade,” remarked Fernando Valiente Uceda, head of audiovisual resources. “Their unrivaled performance and modular design not only meet the demands of our current productions but also flexibility for future endeavors. All desks can now access the same central infrastructure, which we see as a big step forward for our workflow.” He added: “At a time when immersive audio is increasingly integral to the theatrical landscape, Teatro Real’s investment in state-of-the-art systems sets a new standard for innovation and quality.”
Teatro Real
- Capacity: 1,746
- Key Products: Lawo mc² MkIII consoles
- Integrator: Telefónica
DND CLUB, Maoming, China
When DND CLUB opened its doors in Maoming, China, it wasn’t just the impressive 3,000-square-meter design or $7.7 million investment that caught people’s attention. Instead, it was the immersive audio experience that established DND as a unique destination in the nightlife scene. At the core of this remarkable experience is KV2 Audio’s flagship VHD5 system, a high-definition, point-source system that sets new standards for sound clarity and impact.
“Our goal was to create an atmosphere where every beat and every note feels alive,” says Peter Chen from YueShun Entertainment Company, the club’s investors. “We needed a system that could deliver not just volume, but clarity, even at peak energy levels.”
The DND CLUB aims to provide a high-energy environment where patrons can truly feel the music. “From day one, we knew the audio system had to be exceptional,” shares Alexander Wong, KV2’s clubs market manager in China. The quest for the ideal system led the team to the VHD5, a system known for its cutting-edge point-source technology that produces crystal-clear sound over large distances without the need for extensive line arrays.
The setup includes two VHD5.0 Mid-Hi loudspeakers powered by dedicated VHD5000 amplifiers, a pair of VHD8.10 Low-Mid loudspeakers, and an array of 40 ESD1.18 subwoofers. The choice of KV2’s VHD5 system stemmed from a visit to the Wuhan FOREVER Club, where DND’s team first encountered the system’s capabilities. Captivated by its sound quality, they sought out KV2 to replicate that magic in DND CLUB. In addition to the main hall, DND CLUB offers five private rooms, each equipped with KV2’s ESD12 loudspeakers and ESD1.18 subwoofers.
“Building a venue of this magnitude and achieving such refined sound quality was challenging but incredibly rewarding,” notes Wong. “The configuration we used at DND CLUB is the first of its kind in Maoming and one of the most ambitious setups for KV2 in a club environment.”
Since opening, DND CLUB has exceeded expectations, captivating artists and patrons alike with a sound that feels immersive and expansive. “For artists, the audio clarity allows for true creative expression,” concludes Peter Chen. “For guests, it’s about the quality of the experience. They don’t just hear the music — they feel it.”
DND CLUB
- Size: 3,000 sq. meters
- Key Products: KV2 Audio VHD5 System
- Integrator: KV2 Audio China
Unlimited Worship, Jakarta, Indonesia
Unlimited Worship is a Jakarta-based ministry dedicated to empowering worshipers via music and production in Indonesian churches, training in various music disciplines, organizing conferences, and fostering community engagement.
Designed for Waves’ eMotion LV1 live mixer, the eMo IEM upgrade provides immersive 360-degree panning for in-ear mixing without the need for external hardware. This straightforward software lets users set the LV1’s monitor output to immersive, enabling performers to experience rich, immersive sound directly in their in-ears. eMo IEM enables 360 panning of all mix elements, allowing both live sound engineers and performers to control the exact location of each instrument in the immersive mix. Panning is easily controlled from eMotion LV1’s mobile/tablet remote control apps, MyMon and MyFOH, as well as from the LV1 mixer itself.
eMo IEM is powered by Waves’ proven Nx binaural technology, which recreates an immersive acoustic environment over headphones and in-ears. eMo IEM replicates the natural auditory experience of a real-world 3D environment, offering performers a comfortable in-ear sound with more realistic detail than traditional stereo monitoring.
Church’s FOH and monitor engineer Yedidyah Yehezkiel notes, “My overall experience using the eMo IEM at the show was incredibly satisfying for everyone involved (performers, sound engineers and system integrators). The 360 panner is fantastic! It provides performers with more space to hear themselves, simplifies the sound engineer’s positioning tasks, and integrates seamlessly since it is built into the Waves eMotion LV1.”
On the plug-in’s user-friendly interfaces, he remarks, “Compared to other solutions, I find the eMo IEM much easier to use. Both engineers and performers using Waves MyFOH find the eMo IEM’s 360 interface intuitive and familiar, thanks to its seamless integration within the apps. This zero learning curve translates to zero downtime, ultimately saving a significant amount of production time.”
Yehezkiel explains how 360-degree panning transforms the live performance experience for both engineers and performers: “From an engineer’s perspective, the flexibility to pan from any point of contact—whether it’s the LV1 application, MyMON, or MyFOH — is incredible.” The consistent interface across all applications makes it much easier for engineers to make adjustments on the fly. This capability also opens up new possibilities for broadcast mixes using the LV1, allowing for surround panning like never before.”
Unlimited Worship
- Key Products: Waves eMo IEM Immersive software
- Integrator: In-house
