Enhancing Into The Woods Musical Experiences with zactrack

In Pangdemonium’s production of Into the Woods, zactrack SMART played a pivotal role in enhancing the immersive audio experience powered by d&b Soundscape: Sound designer Jing Ng integrated real-time tracking to seamlessly localize actors’ voices, creating a deeply captivating atmosphere that drew the audience fully into the story’s world.

Into the Woods intertwines familiar fairy tales in a dark journey where wishes come true—but at a cost. For this production, sound designer Jing deployed zactrack SMART. © Pangdemonium Theatre Company

In an interview, Jing highlights the significance of a tracking solution in their production, emphasising the immersive audio precision and definition provided by the d&b Soundscape system. Managing an extensive cast of 17 members in a musical demands precise localization of each object and performer. This precision became the key to delivering the immersive quality the team envisioned.

While tracking services were uncharted territory for Jing, he engaged in a discussion with Royston Tan, a representative from d&b audiotechnik APAC. Royston introduced Jing to various technologies compatible with d&b’s immersive audio solution, Soundscape, sparking Jing’s interest and paving the way for a promising collaboration.

The musical is filled with beloved fairy tale characters, including Cinderella and her Prince, the Witch, Jack (from Jack and the Beanstalk), and Little Red Ridinghood. The sound design plays a particularly valuable role in creating a sense of unity, highlighting the emotional and narrative connections between the characters through carefully crafted sound synchronization. © Pangdemonium Theatre Company

Flexibility in Performance Dynamics

zactrack’s flexibility stands out as one of its best features. Jing explains how they seamlessly adapt trackers to different fixtures, citing an example involving a character, the cow, who doesn’t have a tracker. By attaching the baker’s tracker to the cow’s fixture, the team ensured that the cow’s movements synchronised with another performer on stage, enhancing the overall performance dynamic in real time.

Workflow Efficiency and Precision

zactrack SMART significantly improved the overall workflow for Jing’s team. With no concerns about delay timings or specific group assignments, they could focus on utilizing the d&b Soundscape to its full potential. zactrack’s ability to pinpoint performers in an X-Y axis – that integrated seamlessly with the d&b Soundscape mapping planes, simplified the production process, and contributed to a more efficient workflow by eliminating extensive programming requirements.

A unique aspect that Jing appreciates is the ability to hide zactrack’s small trackers within costumes. Working closely with the costume department, they successfully integrated the lightweight, compact trackers onto the performers, achieving both functionality and aesthetic harmony.

Their minimal size and unobtrusive shape of the zactrack SMART trackers make them ideal for seamless integration into costumes, wigs, or props without affecting movement or aesthetics on stage. For strategic anchor placement, Louis and Syah from Total Solution Marketing supported the team on site. © Pangdemonium Theatre Company

Exceptional Support from Total Solution Marketing

Jing expresses gratitude for the outstanding support received from Total Solution Marketing. Through workshops and meetings, the team gained a comprehensive understanding of zactrack’s capabilities. Louis and Syah from Total Solution Marketing played a pivotal role in helping the team explore the full potential of the tracking system, ensuring a seamless integration into the musical performance.

In conclusion, Jing enthusiastically recommends zactrack to anyone seeking top-notch tracking solutions: “zactrack not only met but exceeded the expectations of the sound design team, enhancing the overall immersive experience for both creators and spectators in the world of musical theatre."

Klick here to read the original article by Total Solution Marketing.

Watch the full documentary on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GMuaT6XSgA