L-Acoustics unites centuries of cultural heritage with innovative audio solution

The project has been carried out in the Grande Halle de la Villette, a space that has consolidated its position at the forefront of technology for the performing arts with a hyper-realistic immersive L-ISA sound system from L-Acoustics, including the new eco-friendly L-series line source arrays.

To meet the growing demand for live events with spatial audio, the iconic Parisian cultural monument in La Villette has been modernized with L-Acoustics L-series line source arrays.

In the northeast corner of Paris, Parc de la Villette has become one of the most dynamic cultural districts in Europe, where science converge, music and art. An urban park that houses an exceptional concentration of cultural institutions, from the Paris Philharmonic to the largest science museum on the continent, the City of Sciences and Industry.

Dominating the landscape is the Grande Halle de la Villette, with its distinctive 19th century industrial architecture, with imposing glass and an intricate cast iron structure. Originally commissioned by Napoleon III as a slaughterhouse in 1867, this structure of 20.000 square meters was reinvented as a versatile cultural space in 1985, hosting everything from international art exhibitions to rock concerts and avant-garde theater productions.

Based on a long collaboration with L-Acoustics, which began with one of the world's first V-DOSC installations in the mid-1990s. 90 and continued with the update of the K3 system in 2022, la Grande Halle has consolidated its position at the forefront of technology for the performing arts with a L-ISA immersive hyper-realistic sound system de L-Acoustics, featuring the brand's new eco-friendly L-series line source arrays.

The L Series combines sustainable manufacturing practices with energy-efficient amplification technology, reducing the overall system carbon footprint and delivering high audio performance.

The facility also includes a dedicated pre-production studio with L-Acoustics X-series coaxial loudspeakers, that complete the complete L-ISA ecosystem in the Grand Halle.

The semi-permanent performance space Charlie Parker, with capacity for 1.400 personas, It is built every spring and operates for six months. It is the headquarters of the new L-Series L-ISA system, continuing the tradition of audio innovation that began when the venue hosted the first major live event powered by L-ISA technology during the festival Jazz in La Villette of 2016.

“We have seen a significant change in production requirements in recent years”, explains Olivier Olry, audiovisual director of La Villette. “Dance and theater companies, increasingly sophisticated, specifically request immersive audio capabilities in their technical riders. Instead of simply keeping up with this trend, We decided to position ourselves at the forefront by investing in a complete L-ISA ecosystem”.

This ambitious project arose from the collaboration between the technical team of La Villette and B Live, certified L-Acoustics partner.

“The requirements of both the Charlie Parker Theater and the dedicated pre-production studio required meticulous planning to seamlessly integrate with existing workflows, while offering unprecedented spatial audio capabilities”, explains Alexandre Tramontin, B Live technical director.

Implementing immersive audio technology in a listed historic building presented considerable challenges. The imposing glass ceiling and metal structure of the Grande Halle required a creative solution to offer a uniform spatial image throughout the performance space.

“Physical limitations were significant when planning the five L2 array positions needed for L-ISA implementation”, explica Olry. “Beyond the usual acoustic considerations, we needed to respect the architectural integrity of the building while maintaining ideal sight lines. The exceptional size-performance ratio of the L series was crucial, allowing us to achieve adequate coverage without visually overloading the space”.

The performance space Charlie Parker It has five systems of one L-Acoustics L2 about a L2D distributed throughout the stage, while 13 X8i along the edge of the stage provide a front-fill space. Of the matrices cardioides of three subwoofers KS28, centrally flown, Provide controlled low frequency reinforcement. Sweet X12 coaxial speakers (four on each of the side and rear walls) provide surround sound. The entire system is controlled by eleven LA7.16 amplified controllers, of the LA12X and three LA4X.

L-ISA technology at La Villette radically transforms the way different types of shows connect with audiences. For dance productions, choreographic movements can now be accurately tracked and sonically reproduced throughout the space, creating a synesthetic experience where sound follows movement.

Theatrical performances benefit from voice localization, that anchors the position of the artists regardless of the audience's line of sight, while contemporary music performances can now envelop listeners in three-dimensional soundscapes that transcend traditional stereo limitations.

“What is particularly revolutionary is how L-ISA adapts to each artistic discipline”, Tramontin points out. “From the subtlest theatrical whisper precisely placed in space to explosive musical moments that completely envelop the audience., the flexibility of the system is on par with the creative versatility of La Villette's programming”.

He pre-production studio, designed specifically for this purpose, features a permanently installed L-ISA coaxial configuration using X8i and X6i loudspeakers and Syva subwoofers.

Thanks to L-ISA scale simulation, the studio environment can imitate the Grand Halle, making it easy to transfer and optimize during pre-production. Both environments employ the L-ISA II processor for spatial audio rendering and signal management.. A digital mixing console Yamaha PM7 Rivage with integration L-ISA DeskLink offers intuitive control of spatial parameters directly from the mixing console.

With the system already in operation, La Villette's technical team has begun exploring additional technologies, including artist tracking systems for real-time dynamic spatial positioning. The initial response from the creative teams has been very positive.

The function L-ISA Stereo Mapper, of the L-ISA platform 3.0 allowing users to integrate existing stereo content into an immersive L-ISA speaker setup, provides an additional safety net, ensuring consistency of productions even when converting to traditional stereo formats.

“With this emblematic installation, La Villette is not only home to one of the most complete L-Acoustics ecosystems in Europe, but also serves as a model for the future of immersive performances”, concludes Olry. “The L series with L-ISA technology not only reproduces sound, but radically transforms the way the public connects with artistic expression in this historic space, uniting centuries of cultural heritage with a sonic innovation that must be experienced to fully understand”.