Using live performance, visual art and interactive elements to explore technology, multimedia artist Heather Shaw debuted her Circuitry of Life: A Journey Through the Evolution of Technology inside a 40-ft cube in Los Angeles. Performed inside a 40-ft cube, she mapped the story of technology using projection, sculpture and surround sound with a Meyer Sound loudspeaker system in support.
Sponsored by Red Bull at Night, the event was staged after dark, the event began with drumming from the Zadonu African Dance Company and worked through a string quartet and rock band to a performance from electronic music pioneer Jamie Lidell. The audience was then invited to create impromptu compositions by triggering percussive and melodic sounds by touching the cube’s walls.
The live music was reproduced by a multi-level surround system comprising eight UPA-1P and four UPJ-1P VariO loudspeakers and four-each 600-HP and 500-HP subwoofers. A separate system of 12 M1D line array and four UPM-2P loudspeakers supported the audio interactions. Four MSL-4 loudspeakers were placed outside the cube to deliver ambient effects. System drive and optimization was supplied by a Galileo loudspeaker management system with two Galileo 616 processors.
‘The Meyer Sound gear worked out great, considering the design required live sound reinforcement aimed into the cube from all sides,’ says John Baffa, the exhibit’s FOH engineer and system co-designer.’ ‘When you walked into the cube, you were caught up in the illusion,’ adds Joe Hesse, who provided system design consulting and worked alongside Sally Hesse at MSS Audio Services to supply the audio systems. ‘The surround sound was invisible, yet it was so clear and lifelike that you could believe it was the original instruments. It was done beautifully, and Heather Shaw was extremely pleased by what she heard.’
Daniel Tator of LA-based Launch assisted in design and voicing, while Larry McCall of MSS served as systems tech and in-ear monitor mixer. MSS also provided Yamaha M7CL-48 and LS9-32 mixing consoles for FOH and monitors, respectively, and a selection of Shure and DPA microphones.
Heather Shaw is CEO of Los Angeles-based Vita Motus, a multi-disciplinary design firm that has worked with Pharrell Williams and MIA, as well as on design projects for theatre and TV.
More: www.meyersound.com
