A meticulously engineered 19.1 L-ISA immersive sound system has been deployed at the MGM Theatre in Macau's MGM Cotai for the screening of Director Zhang Yimou's multimedia production Macau 2049.
Designed and deployed by L-Acoustics certified provider distributor Rightway Audio Consultants (RAC), the system creates a hyper-realistic sonic environment that integrates traditional Chinese artistry with audio technology.
The immersive multimedia experience, which runs until the end of April, brings together an international creative team of 600 world-leading artists and technical professionals.
Chinese sound designer and engineer Jin Shaogang has collaborated with RAC to present this visually artistic spectacle through an L-ISA immersive audio experience that complements the vision of Zhang Yimou, a director renowned for cinematic masterpieces and spectacular live productions.
The production demanded exceptional audio clarity and spatial precision to support its fusion of ancient cultural elements and technological complexity. The show features synchronised robotic performances of Yangge folk dance, percussion drumming, and laser technology animating traditional Shanbei storytelling, all supported by a 900-square-metre backdrop of 4K LED screens.
Jin Shaogang and the RAC team faced unique acoustic challenges in the MGM Theatre. Despite excellent inherent acoustics, the complex production required meticulous attention to multiple aspects of its spatial audio implementation.
Nan Hu, marketing director at RAC, commented: "Our approach leverages Soundvision software's precise SPL and coverage predictions to address critical elements including audience and performer positioning, frequency response, latency, and reflections. This sophisticated deployment manages the operational noise from the theatre's extensive stage technology while delivering uncompromising audio quality."
RAC's solution incorporates over 70 L-Acoustics enclosures in a 19.1 L-ISA configuration. The Scene System features five hangs of 10 L-Acoustics Kara speakers, complemented by an Extension System of two additional hangs of 10 Kara speakers. Low-frequency enhancement comes from two groups of four flown SB28 subwoofers positioned behind the Scene System while four SB28 subwoofers are ground-stacked under the front stage and eight SB18 subwoofers are strategically positioned underneath audience seating for tactile enhancement. Two L-Acoustics ARCSII onstage provide out-fill while ten 5XT speakers embedded across the stage lip provide spatial in-fill.
Eight Syva are placed on the side and back walls for first-floor surround coverage, while eight with additional 8XT enclosures provide surround the balcony. Eight 5XT provide under-balcony fill. X15 HiQ monitors provide performers with precise on-stage monitoring. The whole system is processed by L-ISA Processor II over Milan-AVB networking.