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Seeing the first performance take place in that space... where every seat had clarity and impact – it reminded me why we do what we do. But, honestly, every installation where we help create an environment in which people connect through music, speech or shared experience is meaningful and becomes a favourite. Scott Lau My favourite installation that I’ve worked on would have to be either Illuminarium or Tony Robbins’ studio in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Illuminarium was an ambitious project that sought to bring amazing, immersive experiences to the public and allowed people of all ages to let their minds and imaginations wander. While it was anything but easy to bring that installation to life, seeing kids and families be awestruck by the experiences and content in that space made me so incredibly happy to have worked on the project, and proud of my role on the Disguise Services team. Before I joined Disguise, I was brought onto the Tony Robbins’ crew in 2020, when he was struggling to reach his audience during Covid-19. I designed and programmed a new immersive stage that allowed Tony to interact with attendees across the world, all from the comfort of a stage in West Palm Beach. I gained a lot of satisfaction in seeing how the crew and attendees loved the stage design and witnessing it effectively bring people together at a time when we were all meant to be apart. I also helped turn this immersive stage into a hybrid stage and programme once Covid-19 restrictions were lifted. My project design and show file has remained largely unchanged since 2020 because it has been so successful and well reviewed by his team and his fans.
layouts tailored to each zone. The impact on Theater an der Wien’s productions has been profound, giving unparalleled flexibility and artistic impact. The system delivers tailored acoustics for a diverse repertoire, ranging from historical operas to concert performances. Unlike proprietary systems, Amadeus’s brand-agnostic approach allowed the venue to select the best-performing equipment, ensuring a bespoke solution that integrates perfectly with the architecture. The system’s unique geometric modelling of reflections and sound propagation ensures that the active acoustics blend naturally with the venue’s existing characteristics, creating an organic and immersive experience where audiences are unaware of the enhancement system. Furthermore, the system enables powerful dramaturgical effects, which provides the sound engineers with an intuitive toolkit for crafting immersive soundscapes with real-time spatial positioning, offering them unparalleled creative control and endless depth for sonic storytelling. Christopher Weatherford It’s tough to pick a favourite when you’re fortunate enough to work on such a wide variety of projects; each one brings something unique to the table. That being said, one that stands out was a large performance hall where the team was tasked with modernising the Audio System all within a very challenging architectural space. What made it memorable wasn’t just the project’s scale, but the collaboration. The venue’s technical staff, consultant, integrator and my application engineers were all deeply involved, and together we navigated tight timelines, complex rigging challenges, as well as strict aesthetic requirements.
Christopher Weatherford The increasing acceptance of AVB Milan in the industry has opened many doors for further technological advancements. For Adamson users, it allows them to control, and simultaneously integrate, the entire system from a single piece of software – our proprietary Array Intelligence. Fabio Kaiser Several key trends are profoundly reshaping approaches to AV installations today, driving innovation and demanding greater versatility. Firstly, there’s a strong and undeniable convergence of active acoustics and immersive audio. Clients are increasingly seeking comprehensive solutions that not only enhance the natural acoustics of a room for live performances but also create dynamic, object-based 3D soundscapes for immersive experiences or effects. Our ART platform, for instance, is designed to operate both functions seamlessly and simultaneously. Secondly, the demand for advanced spatialisation and 3D workflows is rapidly growing; including real-time positioning of sound sources, dynamic movements of audio objects in 3D and sophisticated virtual speaker configurations simulating various surround formats. This requires powerful processing and intuitive visual 3D workflows and plug-ins for digital audio workstations. A third trend is the rise of voice lift technology. Venues are increasingly looking to enhance speech clarity and ensure uniform sound levels for presenters without needing intrusive body-worn microphones. This delivers greater comfort and freedom for the speaker while ensuring consistent amplification throughout the audience. Scott Lau Trends that seem to be impacting the industry are the use of AI for creating content, larger LED stages as costs slowly come down, XR and VR stages and more dynamic content using Unreal Engine, Notch and Unity. What are some trends currently reshaping teams’ approaches to installation projects?
I gained a lot of satisfaction in seeing how much the crew and the attendees loved the stage design and witnessing it bring people together
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