A former bicycle workshop in the Netherlands, The Other Side been transformed into a nightclub as well as being home to record label and agency representing DJs and producers, The club has put itself at the forefront of European nightlife with a new L-Acoustics L‑ISA spatial audio system – the world’s first nightclub to offer an L-ISA immersive experience.
The Other Side’s main, 900-capacity room boasts a fully immersive 14.1.5 L-ISA configuration designed to wrap the audience in 360° sound.
‘The Other Side is a place where artists grow, creativity flows, and self-expression is the name of the game,’ explains Doeshka Vrede who, with Jasper Löwik, are the duo behind the venture. In addition to owning and managing the club, both are producers, musicians, and artist managers, from the outset, had an optimum audio system at the forefront of their thinking.
‘If you start a club like this, the main product has to be sound,’ Vrede says.
The pair have worked with Stefan Liem, sound engineer and spatial audio expert, to achieve their vision. Already familiar with L-Acoustics and L-ISA spatial technology, Liem relished the opportunity to deploy the groundbreaking technology.
Working with Netherlands-based L-Acoustics Certified Provider Audio Solvation, Liem designed a 5.1 Scene system comprised of one A15 Focus and one A15 Wide per hang. Nine X12 coaxial enclosures provide surround, three each on the left, right, and rear walls. Five further X12 boxes are mounted in the ceiling. Two stacks of four KS21 subwoofers are additionally placed on either side of the stage for low-end extension, with two X8 coaxial ludspeakers near the DJ booth for front fill. The system is powered by a single L-Acoustics LA7.16i and five LA4X amplified controllers.
Visiting DJs choose how they wish to use the technology – they can perform in stereo using L-ISA’s Stereo Mapper or they can delve into the full immersive capacities and explore the creative potential of L-ISA with Liem’s guidance. ‘He’s our sound wizard – he uses the space as an instrument,’ says Vrede.
‘L-ISA is amazing,’ says Liem. ‘It was really important for The Other Side to be at the forefront of technology, to bring new experiences to our audience, and to have a high level of involvement from the artists who want to use it. All the right assets were there to get this whole project moving, and L-ISA has been much more stable than other immersive technologies that I’ve worked with. We needed everything to work seamlessly, and L-ISA does that.’
Looking ahead, Vrede is excited about what the future holds for The Other Side and how they can continue to push boundaries. ‘Since opening in November, we’ve created a big buzz,’ she says. ‘Many people talk about the sound system being the best in Amsterdam. It’s a new experience for both the audience and the performers. Everyone is excited to be a part of it.’
More: www.l-acoustics.com
