The Czech Republic’s JK Tyl Theatre (Josef Kajetán Tyl Theatre) is the city’s largest and an important regional cultural centre. Its façade – a city landmark, nicknamed ‘Swiss cheese’ by locals – is crafted from cast cement with 28 irregular bubbles, representing the theatre’s grand stage curtain. Inside, the venue is divided into two primary buildings, the Great Theatre and New Theatre, which host opera, drama, musicals and ballet.
An ideal setting for technologically advanced performances, 460-capacity The New Theatre required a flexible audio system, and has installed the first permanent L-Acoustics Ambiance Acoustic System in Europe.
Striving to provide optimal acoustics for a diverse range of performances, including unamplified concerts such as string quartets, the New Theatre team sought means to offer ideal room acoustics to both performers and audience. As changeover times between shows are limited, instantaneously variable acoustics were a crucial element in their choice.
New Theatre Technical Manager Igor Staškovič and the venue team partnered with Daniel Krčmář of L-Acoustics Czech distributor ProMusic overthe Ambiance Acoustic System. With it, the reverberation time can be varied between 0.95s up to 2.0s at the press of a button on the L-ISA Controller. This activates the appropriate pre-tuned configuration for orchestral music, opera or theatre production.
‘Ambiance represents the cutting edge of active acoustics, offering a unique combination of premium acoustics and immersive audio realism,’ says L-Acoustics Application Project Manager, Julien Laval. ‘The Ambiance Acoustic System features an immersive loudspeaker design that requires both surround and overheads to create a proper acoustic field, providing a rich and immersive audio experience. The loudspeaker and microphone systems are designed using Soundvision, L-Acoustics 3D-mapping design software, ensuring the system is tailored to fit the geometry and volume of the room.
Ambiance uses an array of strategically placed microphones to capture the existing acoustical energy of the venue and processes the signals through the L-ISA Room Engine within the L-ISA Processor II to shape the venue’s acoustic identity by adjusting three key types of reflection.
Each Ambiance preset or ‘Signature’ is designed to meet the performance requirements of the venue, from simple acoustic enhancement to high-performance immersive hyperreal productions. Ambiance and L-ISA can operate independently or be combined to create endless sonic possibilities, allowing extensive flexibility in system design. Six Ambiance Signatures enable the end user to find the best match for the various event types. Residual noise is minimised during acoustic concerts.
The L-ISA system comprises 71 loudspeakers. In the main audience area of the theatre, the flown L-ISA Scene system uses five arrays of two A10i Focus and two A10i Wide each, with two further extension arrays of A10i (Wide and Focus) flanking the stage. Spatial front fill is provided by 5XT across the stage lip, with 19 X8 dotted around the theatre for surrounds and overheads. KS21i subs provide low-end extension.
For the Ambiance Acoustic system, the set-up includes 12 omni and cardioid microphones; eight omni microphones placed at front of house, above the audience, and four cardioid microphones above the performers. LA4X and LA2Xi amplifiers drive the whole system.
‘Concertgoers can look forward to an exceptional audio experience at the theatre, thanks to L-ISA Ambiance,’ Laval says. ‘This innovative system enables the theatre’s acoustics to be tailored precisely to the specific genre and work being performed. As a result, visitors can expect outstanding acoustics for a range of performances, including drama, opera, musicals, and ballet, as well as large-scale philharmonic or symphonic concerts.’
The New Theatre’s sound system has already received praise from both local and international theatre groups, making it a coveted venue for various productions. The seamless integration of live orchestral performances with exceptional acoustics creates a captivating and immersive experience.
‘The new system ensures that each individual artist on stage can be heard with clarity and precision from their corresponding location, creating a seamless audiovisual experience for the audience,’ says ProMusic engineer and certified trainer Petr Šťásek. ‘Through the built-in reverberation system, the listener is surrounded by sound, providing a sense of complete immersion in the performance.’
Theatre Director Martin Otava notes that it provides a unique and unmatched listening experience for audiences at The New Theatre. ‘The exceptional feature of the system lies in its ability to function seamlessly with artists, with or without direct sound reinforcement,’ he explains. ‘The built-in reverberation system creates a truly immersive experience, enveloping the audience in sound from both the stage and auditorium. The system’s greatest advantage is its ability to produce entirely natural sound, allowing the listener to feel completely integrated with the action on stage without any artificial sound effects.’
The system also brings the possibility of easily creating various sound effects: ‘For example, we can create the illusion that the ghost of Hamlet’s father is walking around the audience without changing the colour or level of his voice,’ Otava adds.
‘We’re thrilled to see both ProMusic and the theatre embracing the possibilities of L-ISA Immersive sound and Ambiance technology,’ Laval says. ‘The combination has helped The New Theatre solidify its position as a leading destination for theatre productions, offering state-of-the-art sound quality and unparalleled facilities. We look forward to seeing how the L-Acoustics Ambiance Acoustic System enhances the overall atmosphere of the theatre, creating a truly unforgettable experience for all who visit.’
More: www.l-acoustics.com
