2 minute read
Republika
from MIX 557 - May 2023
by publications
Tribute Rocks in Immersive
First formed during the Communist regime in 1978, Polish art-rockers Republika always pushed boundaries with the eight hit albums they released between 1983 and 2002. The band’s music pushed some different boundaries recently, however, when former members Leszek Biolik and Zbigniew Krzywański teamed with the group Czarno-Białe Ślady (Krzywański’s current band) and a number of regional stars to perform Republika’s music in one of Poland’s first immersive-audio live concerts. Using Adamson’s FletcherMachine, the show presented Republika’s music through a modern multichannel sound system for the first time.
To cover the 1,800 sold-out seats inside the ICE Krakow Congress Centre, ProAudio AVT supplied an extensive Adamson P.A. of 45 S10 cabinets for the main array, seven S10s for front fill and CS10p for auxiliary fills. The sub arrangement included eight S119s. Handling the immersive processing was the FletcherMachine Traveller, which was teamed up with a DiGiCo Quantum5 console at FOH, provided by sound rental company Airpol.
The event marked the first time that some of the audio team members had worked with the FletcherMachine. System engineer Jakub Mikołajczak said, “I didn’t expect that working with the FletcherMachine immersive system would be so easy and friendly. After one day of training with Jochen Sommer [Adamson’s Director of Operations EMEA], we were able to set the sound system and be ready to work in what is a very difficult venue.”
FletcherMachine Traveller and Stage versions vary in channel count, the number of processing layers and VCA support, but both units feature Dante or AVB/MADI. FletcherMachine Virtual is a free version of the rendering engine that allows a sound engineer or system engineer to experiment with immersive audio and the FletcherMachine system. n
L-Acoustics, Soundforms Partner for Outdoor Venue Sound
Having first collaborated on the sound of San Diego’s high-profile, $85 million Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, sound reinforcement manufacturer L-Acoustics and London-based performance shell designer Soundforms have now entered a partnership to develop audio solutions for open-air performance spaces worldwide.
The companies will create applications that integrate L-Acoustics’ L-ISA immersive sound technology into the acoustic and aesthetic properties of Soundforms Performance Shells with the aim of providing facilities with turnkey solutions for open-air performances.
At the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, home of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, Soundforms designed the shell enclosure and L-Acoustics audio systems were employed for the audiences.
“This partnership with Soundforms is an exciting opportunity to bring our L-ISA immersive technology and Ambiance Acoustics system to innovative venues around the world,” said Tim Boot, Business Development Director, Acoustics Solutions at L-Acoustics. “The combination of our audio solutions and Soundforms’ beautiful-looking and beautiful-sounding outdoor performance shells will offer audiences inspiring new live experiences.”
The acoustics within the Soundforms shell reportedly allow musicians to hear themselves and each other more clearly, while also projecting the sound produced from the performers to the audience, generating a clearer, louder and more reverberant acoustic than can be achieved by using traditional transparent tents.
Mark Stephenson, Executive Chairman, Sound Forms Ltd., said, “As an orchestra conductor, I am all too familiar with the challenges musicians face when performing outdoors. I am thrilled that the Soundforms technical design team is collaborating with the brilliant sound technology experts at L-Acoustics. This promises to be a groundbreaking partnership.”
L-Acoustics will work with Soundforms and its partners, which include ARUP Acoustics, ES Global, Flanagan Lawrence, and Expedition, as part of a consortium capable of offering technology required to create open-air concert venues around the world. n
