Consultants to the Arts and Culture
EXPO 2020 DUBAI
Events and Entertainment
Our work with Expo 2020 Dubai Events and Entertainment team started in 2019 with a review of the planned immersive audio system which we redesigned into a 27-channel L-ISA system.
Our work continued with the Events and Entertainment team to include the event-time audio and show control elements for Al Wasl Plaza and 11 other venues across the site.
AL WASL PLAZA
Our scope for Expo 2020 Dubai centred around Al Wasl Plaza and its supporting spaces including the space itself, the control rooms, the basement, the Creative Suite, the Events and Entertainment office and the Dubai Exhibition Centre rehearsal facility. We designed all audio and show control systems for all activities in these spaces and provided audio design management and audio editing services to support the daily activities.
Our scope was extended to include the design and management of multiple other venues across the site as detailed below. All audio systems for Al Wasl Plaza were supplied by Agora. All comms and video surveillance systems were provided by Riedel.
PERFORMANCE AUDIO SYSTEM
The performance audio system in Al Wasl is the temporary deployment of L-Acoustics A15 and KS21 mounted to a truss ring suspended from the trellis structure.
The system consists of six main arrays, two fill arrays, front fill and delays. Each main array is three A15-Focus over one A15-Wide with a pair of KS21 subs either side. Each fill array is a pair of A10-Focus over one A10-Wide. The front fill consists of 50 X4i loudspeakers with four Syva and eight X8 loudspeakers for delays.
STAGE SYSTEMS
The stage systems consisted of custom connection panels for daily use as shown in the photo. A system of 12 L-Acoustics X12 monitor speakers were deployed around the perimeter of the stage with additional systems installed as needed.
Overlay stage racks and input frames can be added to the network by connecting to the fibre ports on the stage panels which connected to Optocore Autorouter devices. This enabled concert events to be deployed quickly during an overnight load in.
AUDIO CONTROL SYSTEM
The main console was a dual engine DiGiCo Qantum 7 as shown in the photo with a mirrored backup located in the ground floor rack room. Each console had an L-Acoustics L-ISA Processor and was connected to the main Optocore network that provided the primary signal transport for the venue, including the legacy immersive system and the overlay.
The stage systems were fed from the sub-stage audio racks which contain SD Racks and Optocore network interfaces. A wider network of singlemode fibre distributed throughout the venue enabled the temporary deployment of consoles, stage racks and network devices as required for special events.
AUDIO EDIT SUITES
We designed and constructed two audio edit suites within the Creative Suite. The suites were designed for the creation of immersive audio content for the 27.6 environment of Al Wasl Plaza. Each suite consisted of a ProTools HDX system with 3 HDX cards, an MTRX interface and a SyncHD device, an L-ISA Processor and controller, a DirectOut M.1K2, an RME M32 Pro and a monitor system of 27 L-Acoustics X8 loudspeakers, a pair of L-Acoustics Syva Subs and a nearfield pair of X8 to simulate the truss system.
Each edit suite had a MADI and Ethernet link to the main Al Wasl control system to enable editing of the session in the space with a laptop remote. We developed a bespoke workflow to ensure external content creators could bring their session into our studios and have our team spatialise the content.
SHOW CONTROL SYSTEMS
The show control systems consisted of digital matrix panels, full-duplex wireless, interfaced trunked radio, interfaced analog radio, time code distribution and show video surveillance.
The show control systems linked three control room spaces, the basement and the DEC rehearsal spaces, all performance venues and the spaces between to provide a robust voice communicaitons system to over 900 users.
REPLAY SYSTEMS
The audio replay system was Merging Technology Ovation. Four systems were deployed in the control room to allow dual-redundant operation whilst simultaneously loading new content into the unused machines. The Ovation systems were also the Time Code host which was used to synchronise the audio, video projection and other technical services. MIDI and OSC triggering was also used for lighting and other technical departments.
TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT
We were very fortunate to have been invited to join the team of three key consultants including Wonder Works and WBD who, with the EVE leadership team, developed the technical framework and systems for Expo 2020 Events and Entertainment.
During the final preparations and for event time we had Ethan Curry onsite as the Audio Design Manager and Steve Logan as the Senior Audio Editor.
MAJOR EVENTS DURING EXPO
We worked with several event producers to design and deliver the audio for major events staged in Al Wasl Plaza over the course of Expo 2020 Dubai including Artists In Motion, David Atkins Enterprises, Five Currents, BRAG and verious others.
OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONIES
Created and produced by Five Currents and Expo 2020 Dubai EVE
We supported the Technical Director Nick Eltis and Sound Designer Sebastian Hammond from Five Currents in the design, engineering, deployment and operation of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. We also supplied the audio operators including Martin Dineley as Systems Engineer, Richard Sharratt on FOH, Ben Milton on Monitors, Luis Miranda and Simon Sayer on replay.
SAMI YUSUF - BEYOND THE STARS
Produced by Artists In Motion
Scott Willsallen was the Sound Designer for the concert working closely with Sami and his production team. We also provided systems engineers for FOH and Monitors for the rehearsals in DEC and the shows in the venue.
WHY? THE MUSICAL
Created by Shekhar Kapur and A.R. Rahman.
Produced by Artists In Motion
Scott Willsallen was the Sound Designer for the show working closely with Shekhar Kapur and A.R Rahman, and the senior team from Artists in Motion including Richard Lindsay and Liz Goodyer. We also supplied Martin Dineley as audio editor in the spatialisation of the session into the 27.6 immersive system.
UAE GOLDEN JUBILEE
Created and produced by David Atkins Enterprises
We provided an audio design and operation team for the special event which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the United Arab Emirates. Our team was lead by Toby Chester as Audio Designer working with Creative Director David Atkins and the Musical Director Dave Pierce.
IMMERSIVE SHOWCASES
Created and produced by Artists in Motion
Scott Willsallen and Richard Sharratt worked very closely with Richard Lindsay and Christian Steinhauser from Das Dur to mix the music and sound design content for the immersive showcases which entertained millions of guests throughout the Expo event period.
CONCERTS IN AL WASL PLAZA
We supported the team from BRAG and Expo 2020 Dubai Events and Entertainment in the production of multiple concert events in Al Wasl Plaza during Expo.
COLDPLAY
The February edition of Infinite Nights saw Coldplay perform to a capacity audience in Al Wasl Plaza.
Brag engaged us to provide FOH and Monitors systems engineers to help the mix engineers integrate into the Al Wasl house systems.
BLACK EYED PEAS
The January edition of Infinite Nights saw Black Eyed Peas perform to a capacity audience in Al Wasl Plaza.
Brag engaged us to provide FOH and Monitors systems engineers to help the mix engineers integrate into the Al Wasl house systems.
ALICIA KEYS
The December edition of Infinite Nights saw Alicia Keys perform to a capacity audience in Al Wasl Plaza.
Brag engaged us to provide FOH and Monitors systems engineers to help the mix engineers integrate into the Al Wasl house systems.
NANCY AJRAM AND RAGHEB ALAMA
The November edition of Infinite Nights saw Nancy Ajram and Ragheb Alama perform to a capacity audience in Al Wasl Plaza.
Brag engaged us to provide FOH and Monitors systems engineers to help the mix engineers integrate into the Al Wasl house systems.
KADIM AL SAHIR
The October edition of Infinite Nights saw Kadim Al Sahir and orchestra perform to a capacity audience in Al Wasl Plaza.
Brag engaged us to provide FOH and Monitors systems engineers to help the mix engineers integrate into the Al Wasl house systems.
PERFORMANCE VENUES
Beyond Al Wasl Plaza, we also supported Expo 2020 Dubai Events and Entertainment team in the design, deployment and management of many other performance venues across the Expo site.
JUBILEE PARK
20,000 pax outdoor concert venue
Jubilee Park Stage was the largest venue at Expo and hosted music and cultural events from all over the world. The audio and communications systems were designed by our team.
The system consisted of a pair of L-Acoustics K1/K2 main arrays with K2/Kara delays, KS28 subs, DiGiCo Quantum 7 consoles and L-Acoustics monitor systems. The equipment and crew was provided by Neumann & Mueller Dubai and the venue was managed by Flash Entertainment.
DUBAI MILLENIUM AMPHITHEATRE
900 pax outdoor theatre venue
DMA hosted music and cultural events of a more theatrical nature. The audio and communications systems were designed by our team.
The system consisted of an arrangement of five L-Acoustics Kiva II arrays in an L-ISA Wide configuration with flown and stacked out-fill arrays of A15 loudspeakers. The control system consisted of a pair of DiGiCo Quantum 7 consoles and L-ISA Processors. The equipment and crew was provided by Neumann & Mueller Dubai and the venue was managed by Flash Entertainment.
THE FORUM
Small music venue
The Forum was a small music and plenary venue in the Opportunity District beneath the Opportunity Pavilion. The audio and communications systems were designed by our team.
The system consisted of a pair of L-Acoustics Syva and Syva Low, with a pair of X8 flown front fill and a small monitor package. The control system consisted of a DiGiCo SD9 mixing console. The equipment and crew was provided by Neumann & Mueller Dubai.
DISTRICT STAGES
Three small outdoor performance spaces
The District Stages were small outdoor multi-use venues with one in each District. The audio and communications systems were designed by our team.
Each system consisted of a pair of L-Acoustics Syva, Syva Low and KS21, with 5XT or X8 front fill and a small monitor package. The control systems consisted of DiGiCo SD9 mixing consoles. The equipment and crew for each venue was provided by Neumann & Mueller Dubai.
DEC HALL 2A SOUTH
600 seat plenary and performance venue
DEC Hall 2A was an indoor theatre venue constructed within Dubai Exhibition Centre South for music, plenary and cultural events. The audio and communications systems were designed by our team.
The system consisted of L-Acoustics Kara arrays, Syva and X8 front fill, KS28 subs and a small monitor package. The control system consisted of a pair of DiGiCo Quantum 338 mixing consoles and SD Racks. The equipment, technical crew and venue management was provided by Agora LLC Dubai.
DEC HALLS 3 AND 4
Expo rehearsal venues
Three independent rehearsal rooms were created for use by various producers prior to and during Expo event time. Each venue was provided with an audio system using overhead loudspeakers, Qlab replay, DiGiCo SD9 consoles, wireless mics and IEM systems. Show control systems included wired and wireless comms devices for voice communications within and between rehearsal venues, and to Al Wasl Plaza.
The audio and show control systems were designed by our team and were supplied and operated by Agora and Riedel.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The people and companies that made it happen.
A huge thanks to Tareq, Amna, Kylie, Kate, Bill and the whole Expo Events and Entertainment team for getting us involved in the project. Our thanks also to AIM, Five Currents, DAE and Brag for involving us in their contributions to Expo 2020 Dubai.
Our Client
This project was a massive undertaking for us and a huge thanks to Ethan Curry and Steve Logan who spent a year working on the project on a full-time basis. Our senior team included Scott Willsallen, Luis Miranda, Martin Dineley and Richard Sharratt.
Our Team
Thanks to Agora, Neumann & Mueller and Riedel for their remarkable efforts on the project in supplying, installing, maintaining and operating their respective systems for such a large and complex event.