'Tiffany’s Show' reborn with sound from Martin Audio

‘Tiffany’s Show Pattaya’, one of Thailand's most iconic and longest-running theater productions, commemorates its 50th anniversary with an update to the audio system with a project led by the production company Mr. Team, based in Bangkok, in collaboration with Martin Audio, TiMax and regional partners Far East Fusion y Generation AV.

For five decades, The Tiffany's Show has earned an international reputation for its spectacular choreography, its dazzling costumes and high production quality. In recent years, The venue had already made significant investments in visual production with large format LED screens, new video content and renewed props. However, the sound system (based on an old traditional stereo public address system) I hadn't kept up.

Pok Sutat Kohkiat, deMr. Team Productions Co., points out that “The system had been running eight hours a day, every day, for almost a decade", explains . "It had fulfilled its function, but with the arrival of the 50th anniversary, the owners knew it was time to update it. At first, The idea was to simply replace the existing stereo system. But once we analyze the production, We realized that there was an opportunity to do something much more ambitious”.

Over time, Tiffany's had gone from using generic backing tracks to multi-track music composed custom for each show. This provided Mr.. Team the basis they needed to propose a TiMax-based immersive solution and a new Martin Audio system.

“For its 50th anniversary, we encourage you to do something truly special, especially because the video, LEDs and lighting were already at a very high level. The audio had to be at the same level”, Señala Sutat Kohkiat.

A completely new experience

To demonstrate the potential, Mr. Team set up an immersive demo in their studio. “We configure an environment 7.1.4 using TiMax SoundHub as a processor and prepared A/B comparisons between stereo and spatial mixes”, remember. “We wanted them to experience the difference in a controlled studio environment before we talked about changing anything in the theater”. Once the Tiffany's team heard the spatialized mix, the reaction was immediate: “They described it as a completely new experience”.

In close collaboration with Fuzion Far East and Generation AV (regional partners of Martin Audio and TiMax), Mr. Team developed a fully immersive design for the theater. The main public address system now consists of a system Martin Audio Torus LCR composed of elements T1215 and T1230, chosen to accommodate the relatively shallow depth of the auditorium while providing wide, uniform coverage.

“The distance from the stage to the last row is not very far”, Señala Pok Sutat Kohkia. “The Torus is perfect for that curvature and reach. It has a lot of punch and offers a solid and stable image throughout the room”.

The LCR system is supported by subwoofers Martin Audio SX218 suspended in the center, behind the main cluster (a necessity in a theater where the floor space is dedicated entirely to choreography and stage movement). Immersive coverage is provided by speakers Martin Audio Adorn A80 deployed as surrounds and delays, including coverage of the balcony and two VIP rooms, where speakers are used Adorn A55.

“The theater is not huge, so we relied on the A80s spread around the room to create the surround field”, explains. “We needed a lot of speakers because there is a balcony and several rows of seats, and we had to respect the lines of sight and the choreography. Everything is suspended, with custom attachment points”.

A logistical challenge

The installation represented a significant logistical challenge. The Tiffany Show is performed every day with no nights off, and production could not be interrupted. “We had almost two weeks to run completely new wiring and install the speakers, but the old system had to continue operating during that period”, explains. “We only had one night to make the final change from the old system to the new LCR and TiMax infrastructure. That meant removing and replacing speakers, reconnect the amps and match all the original routing and presets, in addition to introducing the new immersive routes. As a producer, We are used to those types of intense changes overnight., but it was still a big challenge”.

All show content is managed from QLab, which provides the time code to the TiMax SoundHub and other systems. Mr. Team is also responsible for remixing selected material from the show into immersive formats in their studio, to then scale and adjust the movement of objects and images in situ at Tiffany's.

“The customer loves it, the public feels a much more immersive experience and, for Tiffany's, This is a great statement of intent on its 50th anniversary., especially as a flagship destination in the LGBTQ+ and tourism sectors”, concluye Pok Sutat Kohkia.