Resorts World Theatre gets immersive with L-ISA
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Resorts World Theatre is home to the first fixed install of L-Acoustics L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound technology in Las Vegas. More than 200 loudspeakers comprise an immersive aural environment that stands out on the Las Vegas Strip.
Montreal-based Scéno Plus served as the theatre designer, further overseeing the venue’s technology, while L-Acoustics certified provider (CPi) Solotech integrated the 14.1 audio system with design support from the L-Acoustics application team.
The system consists of an L-ISA Scene setup of seven arrays of 14 K2 enclosures flown across the stage width, left-right out-fill arrays of 12 Kara, plus two centre-flown arrays of eight KS28 subs each. Twenty-four KS21 subs are located under the stage, and 16 5XT five-inch coaxials are positioned across the stage lip, functioning as spatial front-fills thanks to a new L-ISA algorithm.
Many A10i Wide enclosures provide delay and seven channels of surround for each of the three balconies, with additional A10i found in the lighting booth. A combination of LA12X, LA4X, and LA2Xi amplified controllers drive the system, which also uses the new L-ISA Processor II - the device’s first permanent install. Plus, there are 11 P1 processors installed that enable bridging of AVB, AES/EBU, and analog audio with time-aligned redundant signal distribution.
“The client, in this case, was looking for an advantage, something that would set the venue apart from everything else in Las Vegas, which is not an easy task,” says François Blais, vice president of technology and specialized equipment at Scéno Plus. “We could have simply tried to increase the quality of the sound, but we wanted to do that and to create a better sound experience. That is what L-ISA can do.”
That decision was taken after Blais and his team experienced an L-ISA demo at Solotech’s facility in Montreal. From there, they coordinated with Solotech VP of R&D François “Frankie” Desjardins and L-Acoustics’ André Pichette to design and configure the system to best fit the new Resorts World Theatre.
A major part of the process onsite was to address the room’s acoustic needs. This included absorptive treatments on the venue’s walls and ceiling and making some architectural adjustments, such as changing the shape of the front edge of the balcony to avoid reflections. “With 98 speakers in the main system alone, we’re putting a lot of energy into the room, so we had to measure the room’s response carefully,” he explains.
Aaron Beck, business development manager and senior engineer at Solotech, comments: “Our live production division had some experience using L-ISA, but this was our first time using the technology on a permanent installation. What was different this time was that the new installation versions of the A Series speakers were available, replacing the X8 and X12 enclosures for rear surrounds and delays in our previous design. As a result, we were able to reduce the overall count of speakers with the slightly larger A Series, which saved the client some costs.
“The new L-ISA Processor II is also more powerful and includes the ability to bring an immersive experience even down to the front-fill speakers. It is a fantastic system that provides an exceptionally engaging experience to all listeners in the venue.”
AEG Presents senior vice president John Nelson observes: “When you have music’s biggest superstars performing in the newest, most technologically advanced theatre on the Las Vegas Strip, the sound system has to be the best in the world. L-Acoustics has taken performance audio to a completely different level, treating guests at Resorts World Theatre to a fully immersive audio experience and an ultimate night of entertainment.”
