"With Constellation, we can offer the optimum acoustical environment for any type of performance," says Shax Siasoco, technical director for the venue. "We have the most advanced theatre in the Philippines."
The complete theatre technology package was designed and specified by Las Vegas and Hong Kong-based Coherent Design, with principals David Starck and Kevin Potts working in consultation with the Singapore office of Aedas, theatre design architects.
"Constellation is now a prime calling card for the venue but there was some scepticism when Coherent proposed the system, as nobody in top management had heard a Constellation system before," says Dale Schulz, the resort's technology director. "It wasn't until the system was installed and tuned that they were finally convinced it was the right decision. You can see the audience react with astonishment. It certainly is satisfying for all of us involved with the project."
To make the room amenable to Constellation's capabilities, Coherent's Starck worked with the architect to achieve a reverberation time of less than one second in the 1,761-seat venue. Adjustable acoustics are then provided by a Constellation system comprising the D-Mitri digital audio platform with the patented VRAS acoustical algorithms, while ambient acoustics are captured by 63 miniature condenser microphones. Early reflections and reverberation are delivered by 93 MM-4XP self-powered loudspeakers, 55 Stella-4C and 41 Stella-8C installation loudspeakers, 24 UPJunior-XP VariO loudspeakers, and 16 UMS-SMXP subwoofers.
For amplified performances, the venue features dual hangs of 12-each MICA line array loudspeakers and a flown directional array of six 1100-LFC low-frequency control elements. A UPQ-2P loudspeaker supplies centre-fill, six UPM-1XP loudspeakers provide front fill, and a Galileo Callisto loudspeaker management system with three Galileo Callisto 616 array processors handles drive and optimization. Both the Constellation and reinforcement systems were installed by Manila-based All Visual & Lights Systems.
(Jim Evans)
