The beloved Broadway musical Little Women recently graced the stage of the historic Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara, captivating audiences with its heartwarming tale and immersive soundscapes. This tour stop was even further elevated by Ocean Way Audio’s cutting-edge AeroWave speaker system, which delivered an unparalleled auditory experience.
Designed by renowned speaker manager Ocean Way Audio, AeroWave’s innovative horn-loaded point source design uses precise wave guides to minimize interference and balance stereo coverage throughout an entire audience.
Jonah Verdon, touring audio engineer for Little Women, expressed astonishment at the AeroWave system’s performance. “I walked into the theater and looked at the PA, and I had never seen anything like that before,” recalled Verdon. Despite its unique form factor, the system produced a sound quality that exceeded all expectations. “I started tuning the system and it was crazy how much high end came through,” said Verdon. “It’s key in these classic Broadway shows to have vocal sibilance for intelligibility, and a lot of house PAs tend to lose that – requiring heavy processing to get it back. That wasn’t the case with AeroWave.”
Verdon, who had previously faced challenges with phase coherency and system tuning in other venues, noted that the AeroWave system required minimal adjustments to achieve optimal sound. “A lot of times we’re dealing with weird phase pockets in the mid-to-rear orchestra,” Verdon added. “This system was so quick to configure, and everyone in the audience was able to get a little bit from every speaker. It only took about one song to tune, whereas usually it takes about an hour.”
The musical’s intricate sound design, featuring effects that traverse the sonic landscape, found a perfect match in the AeroWave system’s full LCR (Left, Center, Right) configuration. This setup allowed for a seamless and natural panoramic control of audio cues, ensuring that every rustle of leaves and wind effect was heard with crystal-clear precision. “The wide center channel on AeroWave allowed me to include more of the band in the center without overpowering the vocals,” explained Verdon. “The overall sound of the show was more full as a result.”
Little Women‘s tour continues with dates in Ohio and Indiana before a brief stint in Ontario, Canada.