The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
morosco
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
#1The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 7/29/09 at 9:42amIt's been almost a year since a new "state-of-the-art" sound system was installed at Broadway's PHANTOM and I haven't heard any discussion on the results. Has anyone here heard the new sound system? Is there a big difference in quality?
#2re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:13amI saw a Wednesday matinee just after it was installed - as it happened both Sir Andrew and Harold Prince were there for that performance - and it was terrific. Clean, bright sound that revealed bits of orchestration etc. that I had never noticed before.
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BrianS
Broadway Star Joined: 10/8/07
#2re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 7/29/09 at 11:56amand now it goes to 11.
If the audience could do better, they'd be up here on stage and I'd be out there watching them. - Ethel Merman
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#3re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 7/29/09 at 12:54pmDoes it still sound horribly 80s?
#4re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 7/29/09 at 1:16pmunfortunately it does, well in the title song anyways, they kept those awfyl clapping sounds and added what sounds like some accoustic guitar bits and electric guitar riffs near the end.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27199361@N08/ Phantom at the Royal Empire Theatre
Cape Twirl of Doom
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/2/05
#5re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 7/29/09 at 2:05pmI saw Howard McGillian's last show on Saturday night, the first time I'd been back since they installed the new sound system, and what struck me right away was how crisp & clear everything sounded.
"It's Phantom meets Hamlet... Phamlet!"
#6re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 7/29/09 at 9:47pm
The difference is pretty astonishing. The first time I saw Phantom at the Majestic, I swear I was missing half the show through those tinny gray speakers. Then I saw the show last fall, and it was a whole new experience, so many things you'll be amazed you missed. If you're a fan of the show, definitely see it now.
(Though for the best experience, see it in Vegas. Where it's only 100 minutes. Just sayin'...)
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
#7re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:03pmWell, yes, the Vegas production is just infinitely better. I don't think I could go back to see the New York production...
#8re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 7/29/09 at 11:25pmThat's how I felt, too. The Vegas one is incredibly stupid and SO MUCH fun.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#9re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 7/29/09 at 11:26pmI think my favorite is the cage that traps Raoul (replacing the Punjab lasso) and, as I remember, brings him into the air. Weren't there some sort of swinging blades on it, or is that my memory embellishing it? I just remember thinking, that is SO UNNECESSARY...and AWESOME.
#10re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 7/29/09 at 11:27pmNo, there are blades! Complete with *SHING!* sound effects. I couldn't stop laughing.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
justafan2
Broadway Star Joined: 3/25/04
#11re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 7/30/09 at 12:24pmI thought the new sound was very good----a "surround" sound, especially when the Phantom got ticked off in the 2nd act.
#12re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 7/30/09 at 12:31pmThey are also using it on the tour now and it sounds wonderful.
Just give the world Love.
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#13re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 7/30/09 at 1:21pm
Too bad the sound is the ONLY new thing on the tour.
The automated set is still a creaky, groaning, mass of greasy chains.
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
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-whatever2
#14re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 7/30/09 at 2:46pm
It was fine when it was here in Denver. Since we are talking Phantom, I will repost the interview I did with the Advance Tour Mangage, David Hansen (A really cool guy!)
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/The_Technical_Side_of_THE_PHANTOM_OF_THE_OPERAs_North_American_Tour_20090422
Just give the world Love.
eatlasagna
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/6/04
#15re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 8/1/09 at 12:27pm
is there any way to make some of the changes from Las Vegas to new York? seriously... the spiked cage is much cooler... and plus, that fireball scene is just really cheesey... did it EVER look cool?
anyway... was this sound system ONLY for phantom? were they ever planning on installing it in any other theaters or are most theaters sound system really good...
secondly... and excuse my ignorance... but have orchestras always utilized a sound system? i was always under the impression that the sound came directly from the orchestra pit and not being amplified from speakers? i mean on national tours it amplified through speakers but i'm assuming it's becase tour orchestras are smaller... just wondering
AwesomeDanny
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/30/09
#16re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 8/1/09 at 12:36pmWhat other changes did they make in Vegas? How did they cut down the run time? Did they cut a few songs?
#17re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 8/1/09 at 12:47pm
eatlasagna: Well of course back before we had the technology, orchestras used natural acoustics, but that was back before singers used microphones, too. There's a reason the larger instruments are in the back... it made for a better mix, and you had to be careful in your orchestrations not to drown out the singer since they had no amplification either.
But with the advent of microphones, synthesizers and electric guitars, which have to come out of somewhere, the need to balance everything became very important. You're just not going to be able to hear a single flute over three keyboards blasting out of a speaker. So yes, there are microphones set up in the pit (although not necessarily one per musician) and they all filter through the sound board, so the Sound Guy (patent pending) can mix it to his/her liking against the vocals.
eatlasagna
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/6/04
#18re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 8/1/09 at 4:22pmso does west side story and south pacific use any synthesizers or is it purely just an orchestra
#19re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 8/2/09 at 12:27amI know West Side Story uses a piano and a keyboard... I'm not sure about South Pacific, but I didn't mean to imply only shows that use synths use sound systems. Even a show that used a full orchestra without electronic instruments would still need to use a sound system in the pit to balance it again the singers' microphones.
SweeneyPhanatic
Broadway Star Joined: 1/4/06
#20re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 8/2/09 at 12:47am
AwesomeDanny: From what I can remember, no full songs have been cut, just bits & pieces of songs, ans well as some of the dialogue. There is no intermission. After the rooftop scene, there is a blackout, and an abridged entr'acte plays. A facade of the opera house appears as fireworks go off. The facade is removed, and 'Masquerade' begins like normal. The chandelier crash happens as in the movie, after 'Point of No Return.' It falls straight down at the audience (VERY qickly!). There's a blackout, and suddenly the chandelier is gone.
Those are the major changes. There are, of course, changes to the special effects, but I'm not going to just tell you everything!
-- SDG
#21re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 8/2/09 at 7:22amMy take on the sound system is, it's great because you can hear everything, and it's terrible because you can hear EVERYTHING, including those crazy guitar riffs.
I killed the boss, you don't think they're gonna fire me over a thing like that!!!!
ThankstoPhantom
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/05
#22re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 8/2/09 at 2:36pm
Eatslasagna: To answer your question about the fire balls: YES! There actually was a time when the fire ball effect was executed differently. I myself only saw the original effect once back in 1995, so bear with me if I get a piece of this story wrong...
Initially the skull sent out massive spark fire balls that consistently nearly reached the stage floor (unlike the current version). However, in the late 90s, fire laws were beginning to change around the country, so it was decided to dampen down the effect (but its disadvantage).
How to properly use its/it's:
Its is the possessive. It's is the contraction for it is...
#23re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 8/2/09 at 6:33pmNow, when Phantom closes, if it ever does, will the sound system go with it? Or is this property of the Majestic?
tking001
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/3/09
#24re: The new sound system at Phantom of the Opera
Posted: 8/2/09 at 6:39pmi wonder when Phantom will close
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