Area15 achieves immersive sound with Meyer Sound

The Portal attraction has used the Spacemap Go sound design, as well as 12 Ultra-X42 speakers in a grid pattern of 3×4.

Area15 is the new arts and entertainment district, located near the Las Vegas Strip, where visitors should expect the unexpected.

Inside 60.960 square meters houses a collection of themed retail and entertainment options, all surrounded by an air of cosmic mystery. One of its main attractions is The Portal where, behind towering metal doors, Visitors can immerse themselves in a video projection experience of 360 degrees with immersive audio support, enabled by the new Spacemap Go sound design of Meyer Sound and the live mixing tool.

This space of more than two thousand square meters was initially conceived to hold meetings and events, in a bid to compete with the elegant ballrooms of the Las Vegas Strip hotels, while offering its own atmosphere.

To this end,, The projection systems were designed for four-wall coverage that allows immersive video for the entire space or for one or two walls, when the room is subdivided into smaller spaces.

"When we originally designed the audio systems for The Portal, Our goal was to provide a very high-quality ceiling system with great flexibility to adapt to different room configurations, as well as offering surround sound 5.1 for cinema screenings and function as a delay system for a main front PA", says Aaron Beck, Business Development Executive and Senior Engineer at Solotech Las Vegas, The System Integrator. "Dynamic and immersive sound was not part of the original plan. It came as a free bonus with the introduction last year of Spacemap Go”.

The opening of Area15 was delayed by the pandemic, and when it was finally admitted to the public, The total number had to be limited to approximately 25% of the capacity. That left most meetings and events out of the picture.

Fortunately, with a boost from Spacemap Go, The Portal was transformed into an immersive experience where visitors could stay away in the spacious room.

"When Steve Ellison of Meyer Sound first introduced me to Spacemap Go, I didn't quite understand it", admits David Johngrass, production manager at Area15. "I thought I could do the same thing with our digital console. But he noted that he would have to do things like bounce a new track and then put it back into the program file. But with Spacemap Go I was able to do it on the fly, in real time”.

Some basic spatial sound paths were incorporated into the first experience at The Portal, Gallerie 360, a light and sound display of 30 minutes by digital artists Darpan and Max Cooper.

"We just scratched the surface with Spacemap Go", says Johngrass. “But over the next few months, as we move toward full reopening, We'll use it in a big way as we start producing more theatrical shows where we can fully utilize these tools”.

Sound infrastructure

The Meyer Sound Ceiling System That Supports Spacemap Go, along with the other presentation modes, Understand 12 Ultra-X42 speakers in a grid pattern of 3×4.

Deep bass is boosted with two 750-LFC low-frequency control elements, while the Galaxy network platform 816, Originally specified for speaker processing only, now also adapts to Spacemap Go's spatial sound mix.

In addition to the aerial system, pre-COVID-19 blueprints also called for a direct booster system, Suitable for both meetings and disco-style celebrations.
For this application, Solotech specified a Meyer Sound system anchored by 10 Leopard in-line array loudspeakers, reinforced at the lower end by four 1100-LFC and two 900-LFC low-frequency control elements.

The system is completed by four Ultra-X40 speakers for the filling, four MJF-210 stage monitors and a second Galaxy 816 for driving and system optimization. With The Portal, Now transformed into an immersive experience, the Leopard system has been repurposed to provide support for external events, including the 'Wanderland' experience.

David Johngrass joined as production manager long after Solotech specified the systems, but for his theatrical experience, I knew very well what I would be working with. "When I accepted the job, I was glad to hear that it was a Meyer solution. The same applies to all the guys on my team. We know that everything we get from Meyer will be top notch and sound amazing”.

The system integrator for the Meyer Sound facility was Solotech, under the general direction of Aaron Beck, Business Development Executive and Senior Engineer. Also contributing were design engineer and programmer Brandon Andreasen and project manager Kevin Roberts.

At the beginning of 2021, the Meyer Sound systems at AREA15 have been upgraded with the addition of a distributed system comprising eight MM-4XP miniature powered loudspeakers and four MM-10ACX miniature powered subwoofers for the outdoor Art Island interactive location.

Area15 is a joint development of Fisher Brothers and Beneville Studios.

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