cases

Technology inherits the classics, Gao'an tea-picking opera

CADAC classic case

In Gao'an, Jiangxi, there is a voice that has traveled through a century and remains charming and moving - that is, the "Gao'an Tea-Picking Opera," listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage. Its melodious vocals and rich orchestral music, every vocal detail, embody the soul of this traditional art form. However, how to faithfully reproduce traditional opera in modern theaters has become a major challenge for the Gao'an Tea-Picking Opera Art Center.

When traditional art meets modern technology

The Gao'an tea-picking opera not only features complex vocal styles but also boasts an extremely rich combination of musical instruments, ranging from high-pitched suona horns to low-pitched gongs and drums, covering a vast dynamic range. Traditional sound systems often struggle to balance the clarity of high pitches and the richness of low pitches, leading to issues such as sound distortion and uneven sound field coverage. Additionally, the frequent movements of actors during performances can affect sound image localization, all of which places higher demands on the live sound reinforcement system.

Tailored professional sound reinforcement system

To address this challenge, the CADAC project team, a British high-end audio brand, conducted multiple on-site inspections at the project location. By combining the theater environment with actual usage requirements, they tailored a stable, reliable, and high-quality immersive sound reinforcement system solution for the venue.

The system is equipped with CADAC's CP32 immersive audio processor, which utilizes the HOA (Harmonic Order Analysis) spherical harmonic immersive sound algorithm as its computational core and operates with an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) processing mechanism. This ensures that no additional redundant data is generated during high-frequency and long-duration operations, thereby maintaining the overall system stability. Furthermore, the digital vertical audio link system significantly enhances project debugging and delivery efficiency. The immersive sound processor upgrades the original two-dimensional 5.1 format audio source to three-dimensional immersive sound effects through rendering, achieving uniform sound field coverage and accurate sound image localization, ultimately delivering an immersive audio-visual experience to the audience.

▲ CP32 Immersive Sound Processor ▲

The main sound reinforcement system has chosen the SPECTRA 212iXW three-way line array speakers and SEQUENZA 10W line array speakers from the renowned German loudspeaker brand Kling & Freitag (K&F).

Left: SPECTRA 212iXW

Right: SEQUENZA 10W

For low frequencies, we have chosen K&F's dual 18" NOMOS XLT ultra-low frequency speakers. For sound reinforcement in the stage lip and orchestra area, we have opted for K&F's SONA 5 speakers. The stage monitor speakers are K&F's GRAVIS 12+W. K&F speakers are known for their excellent sound quality, quick installation, stability, and reliability, making them an excellent match for the CADAC immersive sound processor.   

Figure 1: NOMOS XLT

Figure 2: SONA5

Figure 3: GRAVIS12+W

Sound field reconstruction, revitalizing the classics

Nowadays, at the Gao'an Tea-picking Opera Theater, whether it's classic plays like "Sun Cheng Buying Wine" or newly created modern dramas, the CADAC immersive sound reinforcement system can deliver every line of lyrics and every piece of music to the live audience with its original flavor. "The sound is much more transparent, with bright highs that are not harsh and steady lows that are not dull," which has become the most intuitive feeling of many audiences.

Let traditional voices march towards the future

The charm of Gao'an tea-picking opera lies not only in its century-old historical accumulation, but also in its sustained vitality and adaptability. With the aid of CADAC's advanced immersive sound reinforcement system, this traditional art not only retains its original charm, but also gains the ability to express itself in a way that faces the future. A good sound reinforcement system is one that allows technology to remain hidden behind the scenes, allowing the charm of drama to penetrate deep into people's hearts. And this is precisely the highest mission that CADAC has achieved in the Gao'an tea-picking opera project.