L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound in the round at Salzburg's OVAL

L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound in the round at Salzburg's OVAL posted: 12/11/2020

From left to right: Tim Vermeer (Pansound), Martin Rode (L-Acoustics), Martin Rieder (Pansound), Rupert Pichler (Pansound), Martin Wurmnest (L-Acoustics), Tom Erlinger (Pansound), and Flo Pichler (Pansound)

November 2020 - In 2005, the OVAL, designed by lauded Roman architect Massimiliano Fuksas, opened its doors at the EUROPARK shopping mall in Salzburg, Austria. The 227-seat cultural showcase stages unique shows ranging from music, drama, cabaret, cinema and more, and has earned a firm place in Salzburgs already rich calendar of events. Under the direction of EUROPARK Managing Director Christoph Andexlinger, the OVAL has added another attraction to its offering since July 2020: L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound technology from L-Acoustics.

Right from the start, the room's extraordinary architecture, which features a steep atrium grandstand and a 13-meter-wide stage that is only 15 meters from the control room, posed significant challenges to conventional L-C-R sound reinforcement systems. Thanks to L-ISA, not only was the conventional technology replaced, but a completely new, immersive listening experience was created at every seat, explains Rupert Pichler, Managing Director of Pansound and project manager for the L-ISA conversion in the OVAL.

The L-ISA system, designed by Martin Rode, Head of Application Install D-A-CH, comprises a five-part Scene system. Copyright: Andras Hauch

The sound design by Martin Rode, Head of Application Install D-A-CH, comprises a Scene system with five arrays of three A10 Wide, evenly hung above the stage and across its entire width, along with two sets of three KS21 subwoofers each, flown horizontally behind the Scene system and configured in an end-fire cardioid array. Five 5XT placed in front of the stage serve as frontfill. Three coaxial X8 per side are placed along the walls, with a further two X8 on the rear wall, and five ceiling-mounted 5XT create surround and overhead sound. The entire system is driven by LA4X amplified controllers.

Signal Sound & Light Distribution, L-Acoustics Certified Provided Distributor for Austria, provided the OVAL system.

Even before the final choice of L-ISA was made, the project team played with the idea of immersive sound reinforcement. The central requirement was, and is, the optimization of the listening experience, says Rupert Pichler.

The L-ISA design creates a completely new, immersive listening experience for every seat

Pichler and Andexlinger first heard the L-ISA immersive sound technology at a demonstration in the L-Acoustics Creations headquarters in Highgate, London. Their decision to opt for L-ISA was based on the flexibility of the technology as well as the audio quality of L-Acoustics systems. When Rupert Pichler told me about this completely new kind of sound, I didn't think that it was possible, explains Andexlinger. So we went to London to get to the bottom of this auditive mystery and experience it live. It was breathtaking. Never before had I heard music from loudspeakers in such a clear way.

The EUROPARK shopping center is considered the most successful mall in Austria. With the OVAL, we wanted to expand the offer for our visitors to encompass both art and culture. Initially, we were met with skepticism from artists and artist agencies, says Andexlinger. However, we didnt want an artistic fig leaf in a shopping center, but a stage with its own personality for jazz and world music on the one hand, and a programme of cinema and cabaret on the other - and all this in a combination that makes it possible for both art lovers and newcomers to feel comfortable and be inspired.

L-ISA is outstanding, concludes Pichler. You hear what you see, and you hear it at every seat in the room. L-ISA technology has brought a completely new listening quality to the OVAL.

About L-Acoustics

Founded in 1984 near Paris, France, L-Acoustics is the market leader in professional sound reinforcement technologies. With over 550 team members worldwide and offices in Paris, London, Los Angeles, and New York, L-Acoustics is present in over 80 countries via our network of Certified Providers. Focused on solutions that elevate the audience experience, more than 20% of L-Acoustics' talent is devoted to R&D in the areas of acoustics, applications, mechanics, electronics, signal processing, and software development. In recognition of creating innovative professional sound technology, L-Acoustics was named as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2020.

Recognized for pioneering the line source array, L-Acoustics continues to shape the future of the professional audio industry with L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound technology, a multidimensional, object-based approach to designing, mixing, and processing sound that results in extremely natural and intelligible audio, and a more vibrant, authentic connection between artists and their fans. Now also available for exceptional private sound spaces with L-Acoustics Creations designs.

L-Acoustics technologies can be heard in places like the Hollywood Bowl, Dickies Arena, Allianz Arena, home of Bayern Munich, or the Philharmonie de Paris, as well as the world's top-grossing festivals, and on tour with world-class artists such as Mark Knopfler, Aerosmith, and P!NK.

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