L-Acoustics, industry leaders in designing and manufacturing sound systems and technology, has provided its L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound Technology to a new theatrical show in Saudi Arabia.
Created by Dragone, Terhal is an original show that honours and celebrates Saudi Arabia‘s rich culture and features stunts, aerial performances, acrobatics and special effects as well as traditional Saudi art and dance. Dragone chose L-Acoustic’s L-ISA Spatial Audio system to create an immersive sound experience for the audience.
The show is temporary but takes place inside a purpose-built venue to ensure a memorable performance. This meant it was a challenge for the sound team to deliver the large-scale production within the allotted time frame. The sound team included Sebastian Hammond, sound designer, Adriaan van der Walt, L-ISA engineer, and Andy Tsang, mix engineer.
Pushing the limits
Hammond has created many immersive sound experiences using L-ISA spatial audio, such as the opening and closing ceremonies for Expo 2020 Dubai and a previous Dragone show, La Perle. He says that Dragone shows always push the limits of an audience’s experience.
“Although this was a temporary show, I wanted to deliver the complete residential theatre experience for the audience via the immersive sound design’s detail and live sound technology,” he explained. It was vital to maximise the design possibilities of the performance space during the initial design, meaning collaboration was crucial. “L-Acoustics and L-ISA were part of my plan from the beginning, providing the tools I needed to immerse the audience in the performance and deliver exceptional clarity, depth, and dynamics.”
Furthermore, Hammond knew that during pre-production, the show would change many times, meaning the sound design had to be easily adaptable. The L-Acoustics team offered to trial its new L-ISA 3.0. This new release had many updated features such as a new FX Engine that enables reactive moments and trajectories.
Dynamic soundscapes
Hammond explains that the FX Engine “can create dynamic soundscapes that move with the action on stage, creating an atmosphere of suspense and excitement to keep audiences on the edge of their seats”. He adds: “Additionally, it adds subtle details and spatial effects that help bring the world of Dragone’s immersive shows to life. These enhancements significantly improve the immersive audio experience at Terhal, allowing us to elevate the creative concept even further.”
Van der Walt agrees with Hammond, saying that “the one thing that stood out for me was how well the room engine transformed the sonic landscape beyond the venue’s actual acoustics”. He adds: “It brought another dimension into the mix, creating so much more depth – which, with the help of the new FX Engine, could be automated to follow trajectories.”
For Hammond, L-ISA technology was essential to bring Terhal’s immersive experience to life. He said: “The dynamic fusion of the system’s adaptability, coupled with the innovative application of sound, lighting and video, perfectly captured the exhilaration of the story, resulting in a profoundly impactful and immersive performance. The final result was a transformative and breathtaking experience that is a testament to the creative potential of collaborations between pioneers in their respective fields.”
As the weight of the sound system was important, Hammond chose a combination of L-Acoustics K2, Kara II and Kiva II. The system was provided and installed by Clair Global, a local, certified L-Acoustics partner.
L-Acoustics recently attended InfoComm 2023 and showcased several new products that were announced at its April keynote at the Hollywood Bowl. This included the L-Acoustics L Series line source array and the new LA7.16 amplified controller, as well as the L-ISA 3.0.
