The Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo) centre – offering space for meetings, events and arts performances in Indonesia’s capital city – was enhanced in late 2019 with a new theatre. Among the first events held there was a concert by illustrious cellist Yo-Yo Ma, whose dynamic performance showcased the venue’s Meyer Sound Constellation acoustic system.
Constellation and the complementary direct reinforcement system – based on Leopard line-array loudspeakers – were provided through Meyer Sound’s national distributor Mega Swara and installed by Jakarta-based integrator Kairos Multi Jaya. With a capacity of 2,500, the JIExpo Theatre now ranks as the largest venue in the Asia Pacific region to offer Constellation.
JIExpo is a private enterprise, owned by the Murdaya family. From the outset the theatre’s managing director, Prajna Murdaya, was committed to achieving the highest level of excellence in all technical aspects of the project, including audio and acoustics.
“The venue was originally specified to be just a theatre, but I saw the potential to make it also serve as Indonesia’s largest concert hall,” said Murdaya. “When I heard about Constellation and its worldwide base of existing high-profile installations, that became a key factor in deciding to go ahead and offer it here as well.”
Prior to his final decision, Murdaya auditioned a Constellation system at the Singapore International School. “I was floored by the drastic difference it made, both on stage and in the audience,” he recalled. “A music teacher was singing an art song, starting with Constellation on. They turned it off in the middle, and her face showed bewilderment. The effect was dramatic – and hilarious!”
Of course, for Ma’s concert – his first in Indonesia – the Constellation system remained on throughout, extending the theatre’s RT60 baseline physical acoustic from 1.2 seconds to 2.2 seconds. The flexibility of Constellation allowed the theatre’s technical manager, Bayu Wicaksana, to customise the response, adding warmth and sensitivity optimised for the cellist’s instrument. Ma’s rendition of six suites for cello by Johann Sebastian Bach drew extended standing ovations from the audience.
A total of 285 small, self-powered loudspeakers (MM-4XP miniature and UP-4XP full range plus UMS-1XP subwoofers) are deployed throughout the auditorium to create natural acoustical environments uniformly throughout the large space. The processing is handled by Meyer Sound’s multimodule D-Mitri Digital Audio Platform, with 51 microphones distributed overhead to sense the ambient acoustics.
For events requiring amplification, the JIExpo Theatre provides a direct-reinforcement system anchored by Leopard line-array loudspeakers, with arrays of 12 per side to cover the first two levels and an additional set of four per side for the uppermost level. Deep bass is supplied by a cardioid configuration of five 1100-LFC low-frequency control elements flown over centre stage. Centre-channel loudspeakers are UPQ-1P, with UPJ-1P loudspeakers as side fills and UPM-1P loudspeakers for front fills as well as under- and over-balcony fills. The system can be used with Constellation off, or with subtle acoustical enhancements added for a variety of pop, rock, jazz and musical theatre performances.
“Using Constellation lets us ‘wrap’ the PA sound into the room for the best effect,” noted Wicaksana. “Working together, these two systems are setting a new and higher standard for theatres and performing arts centres in Indonesia.”
Although open for only a few months before events were suspended by the pandemic, JIExpo Theatre was rapidly gaining a reputation as a premier location for arts performances, educational events and political gatherings. Murdaya attributes the early success in part to the venue’s sound technologies.
“The Meyer Sound team was very responsive in meeting our requests,” he said. “Their team was great to work with, and I could tell they have a passion for taking on very innovative projects. Vendors usually balk at unusual requests, but Meyer seems to get excited by them.”
Other key contributors in the design phase were theatre consultants Philip Soden and WSDG acoustic consultants. The Meyer Sound contingent was led by Constellation project director John Pellowe with design and tuning of the direct reinforcement system supervised by Bob McCarthy, director of system optimisation.
JIExpo Theatre boasts one of the largest stages in Asia, measuring 48m (157.5ft) wide by 16m (52.5ft) deep and expanding up to 21m (69ft) deep following renovations, with the orchestra pit covered. The theatre is the latest addition to the larger exposition complex, first opened in 2010. JIExpo also offers 100,000m² (10 hectares) of exhibition and convention space, incorporating five exhibition halls along with ballrooms, meeting rooms and support operations.
Photos: JIExpo
