In a groundbreaking fusion of music, dance, and visual storytelling, “Bob Marley: Hope Road” at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas has brought the reggae legend’s story to life. The production, which spans six immersive spaces, relies on a sophisticated sound system to seamlessly integrate into its narrative. Veteran sound designer Jason Pritchard, alongside Technology West Group, turned to Meyer Sound to meet these complex demands.
Pritchard, who served as both sound designer and consultant, emphasized the importance of aligning technology with the creative vision. “I am the sound designer, and I am also the consultant for the construction aspects of the production,” he explained. This dual role became critical when structural limitations of the venue necessitated a shift from a single sound system to six distinct systems across five rooms.
Challenges and Solutions
The compressed timeline presented additional challenges. According to Andrew Rutkin, Vice President of Engineering at Technology West Group, the project was initially slated to take six to nine months but was completed in just three. This urgency made the choice of Meyer Sound crucial. “First of all, the speakers sound fantastic,” Pritchard noted. “Knowing that we were going to be on a tight schedule and the P.A. just has to work … Meyer Sound just sounds so good out of the box.”
The Meyer Sound system includes 29 ULTRA‑X23 compact point source loudspeakers, 15 ULTRA-X40s, and two ULTRA-X20s, complemented by two MM-4XP miniature self-powered loudspeakers and five USW-112P™ compact subwoofers. The low frequencies, essential in reggae music, are reinforced by five 2100‑LFC low-frequency control elements and 15 900-LFC compact low-frequency control elements.
“The Meyer Sound system has gotten nothing but raves, especially the 2100-LFCs as the subwoofers in the main performance spaces. It really brings out the emotional effects, especially in some of the more dramatic scenes towards the end of the show.” — Andrew Rutkin
Innovative Integrations
One of the most creative integrations is found in the Trenchtown room, where a Volkswagen microbus is outfitted with Meyer Sound speakers. Hidden ULTRA-X20 loudspeakers fire through the grille, while a USW-210 compact narrow subwoofer is embedded within the center console. “The bus has its own P.A., wireless systems, and everything,” Pritchard explained. “It needs to blow your socks off, and it does.”
The show’s finale features a massive 3D LED video wall paired with an audio design inspired by Meyer Sound’s Ultra Reflex system. “When Bob starts singing, his voice comes from the center of the screen,” Pritchard said. “It tricks your brain into thinking sound is coming from a place where there isn’t a speaker.”
System Management and Flexibility
The entire audio setup is managed through two Galileo® GALAXY 816 network platforms and Meyer Sound’s NADIA integrated digital audio platform. NADIA plays a crucial role, handling playback, routing, and partitioning resources across multiple rooms. “NADIA is doing a bunch of jobs for us,” Pritchard stated. “It’s handling the routing for everything.”
The flexibility extends to mixing and operations, with all live microphones managed by an Allen & Heath D-Live console. “There’s one D-Live engine and we’ve got a control surface in each room,” Pritchard added. “That allows five front-of-house positions plus iPads.”
“The show intent morphs as we go along. That is where NADIA and the whole Meyer Sound infrastructure, AVB and Milan, really help us. We are able to move things around, adjust all the timings, adjust the levels, adjust the EQ very quickly and get the show back rolling the way they want it to be.” — Jason Pritchard
Audience Experience and Future Implications
For Rutkin, the ultimate success is an audience that remains immersed in the experience, unaware of the technology behind it. “The Meyer Sound gear is so transparent and neutral that it disappears into the environment and lets you focus on the artist, the singing, and the dancing, which is always the goal,” he concluded.
The “Bob Marley: Hope Road” experience at Mandalay Bay not only celebrates the life and music of a cultural icon but also highlights the potential of innovative sound design in immersive storytelling. As technology continues to evolve, productions like this set a new standard for integrating audio systems into live performances, promising exciting developments for future shows.
