Dedicated to the preservation and performance of traditional Polish folklore, the Mazowsze National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble has completed upgrades to the sound provision at its Mazowsze Auditorium including two DiGiCo Quantum 852-T consoles and two further DiGiCo Quantum338 consoles, equipped with Theatre software and Pulse upgrades for touring.
These are part of major changes made to the sound system under sound designer, Krzysztof Polesiński, which inclue an L-Acoustics L-ISA immersive loudspeaker set-up. ‘The flexibility, layout design, and quick access to functions are the DiGiCo Quantum features I like the most,’ he says. ‘The Theatre automation is also crucial, as it accelerates the workflow significantly, allowing us to meet the increasing demands for high-quality audio and ensuring that we can focus on what matters most – delivering an exceptional performance.’
Part of the Karolin complex, the Mazowsze Auditorium is used by the ensemble to present dance, drama and music, as well as hosting art and, running arts and crafts workshops. ‘Sound is the medium of every artform, so we take the upmost care,’ says Jacek Boniecki, Maestro and Director of Mazowsze, explaining the impact of the changes. ‘Today’s audience’s demands are very different to even ten years ago, so our investment must reflect that. We want the beautiful sound of Mazowsze to represent the next step up in what is possible.’
Polesiński is a keen advocate of DiGiCo, and a renowned sound designer. Head of Audio Technology at the Mazowsze Auditorium, he has designed immersive sound systems around the world.
The experience for the artists is just as important as the audience’s experience, so Polesiński assembled a team that would be able to provide a fully immersive experience for the musicians and performers. Piotr Przedbora, FOH engineer and Head of Sound Engineers at the Mazowsze Auditorium, is also well known for his Dolby Atmos immersive mixes and mastering.
‘DiGiCo consoles are basically the only choice for me – I’ve used them for years, whether here or on other projects and they are great for our applications,’ Przedbora says. ‘The sound of theses consoles is second to none, they offer more than enough channels, and the addition of mustard processing is great. Our performances are very dynamic and the Quantum 852T can deliver exactly what I imagine.’
To achieve an immersive experience, the Mazowsze system uses three Fourier Transform engines, two at FOH, and the third dedicated to touring. Training for this cutting-edge system was provided by Polsound. The monitor system incorporates Klang:konductor, offering engineers IEM control from the console.
‘With the immersive sound system in the auditorium, we anticipated the need for immersive monitoring, so we have prepared for this with Klang:konductor,’ notes monitor engineer, Mikłaj Grzebieniowski. ‘Klang integration is an easy way to offer a truly immersive experience for artists and a simple way to control it.’
‘The flexibility of the DiGiCo consoles allows us to control multiple devices from a single position,’ Przedbora continues. ‘For example, we can integrate the Quantum 852 with the L-ISA system, Klang, Fourier and Waves servers, seamlessly controlling everything with just a few clicks. This streamlines our workflow and ensures that we can deliver the highest quality experience to both the performers and the audience.’
Coupled with the immersive experience offered to the audience, this system has future-proofed Mazowsze’s audio needs, and established the venue as a leading provider of Polish cultural experiences. As Polesiński concludes, the upgrades have worked seamlessly to improve the audio experience for everyone visiting or working at Mazowsze.
‘The Mazowsze Ensemble has made incredible changes and our DiGiCo consoles are at the heart of them,’ he says. ‘The Theatre software has been a great choice for us. Piotr came up with a very cool idea for the use of liquid sonic plugins, seventh heaven and cinematic room in particular, and it does a tremendous job via the Fourier transform.engine in creating the correct feel for our artists.’
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Poland’s Mazowsze theatre adopts L-Acoustics L-ISA
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