58 REP ORT: T H EME PARKS & AT T RACT IONS
D R E AM BAC K TO THE TA N G DY N ASTY COMPANY: SE AUDIOTECHNIK LOCATION: XIAN, CHINA
SE Audiotechnik’s compact yet powerful M-F3A PRO has been key to the success of an immersive production of Dream Back to the Tang Dynasty. Taking place at the Fengming theatre, sound designer Tian Chensheng wanted to create an immersive audio environment for the large-scale fantasy production but without having the technology on show. Dream Back to the Tang Dynasty incorporates poetry, musical drama and traditional song and dance in a production that completely immerses its audience in the story. The theatre itself has been designed to become integrated into the 180º video wall that creates much of the scenery, but a 360º immersive audio solution was required to complete the audience experience. Tian explored the structural characteristics and the sound field in the theatre and decided that it would be possible to adopt an immersive solution.
However, the 30-year industry veteran did not want to break the immersive environment by having large amounts of technology on show. “In the selection of loudspeakers, on the one hand we needed to meet the sound effect requirements, but on the other hand, we had to hide the installation,” he explained. “However, these two aspects are against each other. Hiding requires the box to be small, but the small size will reduce the sound pressure and the sound quality.” To overcome this challenge Tian and the technical team researched various potential solutions before choosing the M-F3A PRO from German pro audio manufacturer, SE Audiotechnik. The small size and high SPL of this ultra-compact two-way active line array element with a unique hornless design was the perfect choice for the complex environment within the theatre. Weighing in at just 8.3kg, the 210 x 317 x 369mm
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enclosure houses eight high-efficiency 2.8-inch neodymium low/mid-frequency drivers and seven one-inch direct radiation dome tweeters that could deliver the audio quality that the sound designer was looking for. While with much of the electronics inside the cabinet, such as a 600W Class-D amplifier and plug and play DSP, it was possible to conceal a relatively large system throughout the venue. Integrating the technical lighting, video and audio solutions into the overall stage design proved to be a challenge for the team behind the production. But careful planning led by the director ultimately ensured success. Inside the theatre almost 300 loudspeakers have been concealed in various staging and structural elements around the venue to create the immersive sound system, with results that have been celebrated by every audience. www.se-audiotechnik.de
