BEIJING, China — The theatrical production Going Rural made its debut at the prestigious China National Opera House this fall, featuring an L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound configuration with a BlackTrax tracking system that transformed the traditional theatrical experience into a 360° immersive audio journey that placed audiences at the heart of rural China’s agricultural evolution.
The production team’s decision to implement L-ISA immersive audio technology for this production demonstrated both the flexibility of L-ISA and its ability to revolutionize theatrical productions. Going Rural tells the story of Yuan Di Village, an apple-producing region along the Yellow River, as it faces agricultural challenges and finds renewal through technological innovation—a narrative made more immediate and engaging through immersive audio technology.
“I have many years of experience in this industry, yet I was still amazed by what L-ISA brought to this theatrical production,” said Han Hongzhi, Vice President of China Society of Stage Art and Director of Audio Professional Committee. “The sound on stage and the actors’ subtle expressions achieved perfect harmony. The vocal clarity was exceptional, and the positioning accuracy brought audiences directly into the story. As a national theater company, China Coal Mine Art Troupe has achieved remarkable results with this production.”
Technical Innovation Meets Theatrical Vision
Sound designer Zhang Haikun worked with L-Acoustics certified system engineers to create a sophisticated sound system that could meet the production’s creative demands while working within the venue’s physical constraints. The team used L-Acoustics Soundvision 3D simulation software to precisely calculate coverage requirements and optimize speaker placement.
The resulting 360° L-ISA configuration featured five main arrays, each comprising two A15 Focus and two A15 Wide enclosures, chosen specifically for their compact 35kg weight and medium-throw capabilities. Two hangs of two KS21 subwoofers were positioned behind the center A15 array. Ten 5XT speakers were evenly distributed across the stage lip for spatial front-fill, while ten X8 enclosures spaced around the side and back walls provided surround sound. The entire system was processed through dual L-ISA Processor II servers with Milan-AVB networking, utilizing L-Acoustics LC16D network audio bridge for seamless signal conversion and redundancy.
This arrangement provided spatial coverage across most of the audience area, creating an expansive soundstage that maintained clarity and precision throughout the performance space
Precision Through Integration
Performers wore BlackTrax beacons that communicated real-time positioning data to the L-ISA system, ensuring that dialogue and vocals maintained accurate spatial positioning regardless of stage movement. “The combination of L-ISA and BlackTrax technologies represented a significant advancement in theatrical sound design,” explained Zhang Haikun. “This integration allowed us to create a truly immersive environment where the audience experienced complete synchronization between what they saw and heard, bringing them closer to the performance than ever before.”
Immersive Storytelling
The production’s creative team utilized L-ISA technology’s object-based mixing capabilities to create a detailed sonic landscape that enhanced the narrative. Environmental effects such as the flowing Yellow River, wind, rain, and thunder enveloped the audience from all directions, while maintaining perfect clarity for dialogue and musical elements.
The system’s spatial audio processing capabilities enabled precise positioning of sound elements throughout the performance space, creating distinct acoustic environments that shifted with the story’s location changes. This technical innovation served the broader artistic goal of connecting audiences more deeply with the rural development narrative at the heart of Going Rural.
Going Rural, co-produced by China Coal Mine Art Troupe, Shaanxi People’s Art Theatre Company Limited, and People.cn Co., Ltd, received funding from the China National Art Fund 2023. The production’s successful integration of advanced audio technology with traditional theatrical storytelling sets a new standard for immersive theatrical experiences in China.
The production’s premiere at the China National Opera House marked a significant moment in the venue’s history. The architectural splendor of the opera house, which opened in July 2022, provided an ideal setting for this technological and artistic achievement, with its sophisticated design complementing the production’s innovative approach to theatrical sound.
“This production demonstrates how L-ISA immersive audio technology can transform traditional theatrical spaces into immersive environments,” noted Han Hongzhi. “The technology’s ability to create precise, spatially accurate soundscapes while maintaining perfect intelligibility represents a significant advancement in theatrical sound design.”
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