Inavate had the opportunity to attend an exclusive event hosted by d&b audiotechnik that discusses the power of immersive audio in the hit musical “Into the Woods” by Pangdemonium, a Singaporean theatre company.
Held at the newly opened Singtel Waterfront Theatre, the event was attended by art practitioners, sound engineers and system integrators.
The event consisted of sharing sessions and a Q&A discussion with two distinguished speakers: Tracie Pang, renowned theatre director of Pangdemonium as well as Jing Ng, seasoned sound designer based in Singapore.
Ng took the stage to share his experiences on how d&b audiotechnik's Soundscape Series played a pivotal role in enhancing the auditory experience of "Into the Woods” from a technical perspective.
Ng illuminated: “Immersive audio experiences are not new in the art scene. There is, however, a common misconception about immersive audio in that it can only support immersive performance formats – rather, it can be used in any theatrical space. The end goal for theatre is to create communal, shared experiences. When immersive experiences are supported by immersive audio designs that consider sonic depth and direction like d&b Soundscape series, audience members can connect with the dynamic nature of the performance happening in front of their eyes.”
From the point-of-view of artistic directing, Pang expounded on the synergy between art practitioners and sound designers: “As a director who does not come from a sound background, I know what I want to hear but I do not know how to attain that sound from a technical standpoint. Just like me, a lot of directors are dependent on sound designers to be able to achieve the desired end-result. Having said that, auditory experiences are subjective to each individual.”
Looking towards the future, Pang discussed what she hopes to see in the future of sound in theatre: “Bringing in more and more new equipment is undoubtedtly going to cost a lot of money, and that is a perennial fear for all producers. A lot of theatre companies are run by charities so it becomes a question of how we can afford to keep up with new technology. At the same time, there is a lot of value in innovation with audio technology. I believe there has to be a balance and we need to evaluate at which point is it worth making an investment.”
Following the sharing sessions, attendees were treated to an exclusive behind-the-scenes demonstration of the sound design of “Into the Woods” with performances held by cast members. Attendees were also given the opportunity to listen to the differences in the sound powered by stereo speakers versus d&b audiotechnik Soundscape series.
To conclude, Royston Tan, head of education and application specialist of d&b audiotechnik, reflected on the success of the Soundscape series in the musical: “I am appreciative of the working relationship we have with our sound designers. It is always a collaborative effort that requires both parties to sit down together and discuss the best possible outcome, even if compromises must be made.”