CLIENT
Astiana
LOCATION
The Roman Theatre, Amman, Jordan
YEAR
2025
PROJECT TYPE
Live Concert
Scope
Full audio system design, show control, live mixing and recording
Services Provided
- →Audio system design
- →Show control design
- →Front of House mixing
- →Monitor mixing
- →Systems engineering
- →Recording
- →Project management
The Brief
Auditoria were engaged by Astiana to design and deliver the full audio and control systems for internationally acclaimed artist Sami Yusuf’s concert at the Roman Amphitheatre in Amman.
The performance brought together more than 40 musicians, including a 24-piece string section, an eight-member choir, six backing vocalists, and a wide range of traditional instruments from across the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe. The goal was to deliver a transparent, natural sound that honoured the cultural diversity of the music while enhancing the experience for audiences in one of Jordans most extraordinary historic venues.
The Challenge
The 2,000-year-old Roman Amphitheatre presents both a remarkable and demanding acoustic environment. Built entirely of stone and curved by design, the space produces strong reflections that return directly to the stage, making microphone placement and system tuning extremely sensitive.
Adding to the complexity, many of the instruments used, such as the Balaban and other delicate string and wind instruments, are naturally very quiet, requiring careful microphone choice and positioning to capture detail without introducing feedback.
Being an open-air venue in the heart of Amman, background noise from the city was another factor that had to be managed during quiet passages of performance.
Our Approach
With the historic nature of the site dictating system placement, Auditoria worked within strict venue guidelines to deliver a refined audio systems design and precise on-stage configuration.
The team selected microphones that could withstand outdoor conditions while offering maximum gain before feedback, often orienting them not toward the instrument itself but away from the PA, aligning rejection points to minimise captured reflections.
Balancing traditional instrumentation with orchestral and choral elements required a thoughtful approach to both monitoring and front-of-house design. Auditoria’s experienced engineers made careful EQ and dynamics decisions during rehearsals, anticipating how the sound would change once the audience filled the amphitheatre.
Despite the venue’s restrictions, the team achieved excellent clarity and balance across the wide dynamic range of Sami Yusuf’s performance, from the quietest instrumental textures to full ensemble crescendos.
Technical Highlights:
Audio Design
Loudspeaker systems design sympathetic to the historic architecture
Careful microphone selection and positioning designed for maximum gain before feedback
Over 110 live input channels and 60 stereo outputs from the monitor console
Comprehensive Optocore signal distribution
Real-time recording of all channels for post-production and live album release, and virtual soundcheck
The Results
The concert was a powerful celebration of Sami Yusuf’s music and message, a fusion of classical, spiritual, and cultural influences performed in one of Jordan’s most iconic venues. The team delivered an immersive and emotionally resonant sound experience, perfectly suited to the amphitheatre setting.
Taking place at a particularly meaningful time for the region, the performance carried an added sense of connection and hope, a reminder of how music can transcend borders and bring people together.
Acknowledgements
Our Client
Astiana
Our Team
Scott Willsallen – Sound Designer
Richard Sharratt – FOH Mix Engineer
Martin Dineley – Monitor Mix Engineer
Luis Miranda – Replay Operator
Ben Milton – Recording Engineer
Amman Organisers & Production
Friends of Jordan Festivals
RB Productions Amman
With Support from: Clair Global, UAE
Related Projects
