What powers Polygon? The tech behind the experience

Weeks before an event, when the festival site is still an ordinary field, Polygon starts to erect its trademark dome. Once up, this large truss structure, 25m in diameter and 9m high, is populated with a world-class L-Acoustics professional sound system and a huge network of LED lights. Next come the engineers — gurus, every one of them, to tune, tweak and programme. By the time the first music lovers step into the space, it has systematically become the enormous spatialised sound and synchronised lighting rig Polygon is known for.

The process is no small feat. And it involves some of the most cutting-edge technology in audio.

A sound partnership

Since its inception, Polygon has depended on industry-leading sound company L-Acoustics for all its spatial audio needs. Polygon not only uses L-Acoustics speakers exclusively at its events, but perhaps even more importantly, relies on L-Acoustics L-ISA Immersive suite of tools to spatialise its artists’ music and provide a truly immersive 3D sound environment. 

“Our long-standing relationship with L-Acoustics is critical in bringing our stage to life,” says Polygon CEO Nico Elliott. “We consistently rely not only on L-Acoustics’ exceptional products and services, but also on the team's innate curiosity and interest in experimenting and pushing things further. Whenever we’ve said, ‘What if…?’ L-Acoustics has met us with, ‘Let’s try!’ It’s helped us to create one of the most boundary-pushing sonic experiences in live events today.”

Polygon and L-Acoustics first came together at Thailand's Wonderfruit festival in 2018, when Polygon used L-Acoustics L-ISA Immersive sound technology to create its distinctive 360° sound experience. When the festival returned after the pandemic in 2022, the partnership continued — and it has flourished since.

In recent years, Polygon and L-Acoustics have also collaborated at MDLBeast in Saudi Arabia, AFTER2049 in Singapore, and the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) in Amsterdam. ADE comprised several industry-leading events, including a spatial audio demo and panel discussion and two nights at L-Acoustics L-ISA-fitted club, The Other Side, with live fully spatialised performances by artists like Christian Löffler, Stavroz, Stimming, O/Y and Judith Ahrends.

“At the intersection of innovative stage design and revolutionary sound technology, Polygon and L-Acoustics have forged a partnership that’s redefining how audiences experience live music,” says L-Acoustics Director of Creative Engagement, Amber Mundinger. “This collaboration represents a shared commitment to creating multisensory environments where sound is the key to connecting people.” 

How it works

Polygon’s process starts long before its events kick off — even before the truss goes up. It begins when Polygon’s spatial audio engineers step into studio with performing artists, using L-Acoustics L-ISA to break down each track into individual elements so that the artist can reimagine each element in a 360° hemisphere of moving, living sound. "This process got me to think critically about the spatialisation of every sound in my tracks," said DJ and musician Viken Arman, who has performed at Polygon’s stage at Wonderfruit several times.

“Polygon has always been pushing boundaries by putting a big focus on immersive pre-production and supporting the artist onboarding with L-ISA technology,” says Mundinger. “This allows the artist the time to really understand how spatial audio can contribute to a truly breathtaking, fully immersive experience while retaining the punch, timing and overall integrity of their tracks.”

By the time all of this is executed in the dome, the music is moving through the audience in exquisite and complex ways.

From 2 to 4 May 2024 at Crystal Palace Park, Polygon and L-Acoustics will bring this experience to UK audiences for the very first time at Polygon Live LDN. If you’re interested in geeking out with us for a moment, here’s a glimpse of what the hardware at this particular event involves.

The main system comprises a frontal system of four hangs of L2D, L-Acoustics’ latest speaker technology, while the surround system is eight hangs of three A15 (two Focus and one Wide), and the heights amount to four hangs of four A10 Wide. Low-end is provided via an endfire array of 18 KS28 subwoofers, which is Polygon’s preferred deployment for large sub arrays since it pushes all of the energy into the audience and keeps the stage sonically clean.

“This is Polygon’s ultimate design,” adds Elliott. “We’ve always wanted to deploy these exact speakers and it’s a dream that it’s come together for Polygon Live LDN.” There’s also a VIP area, complete with its own private spatial audio listening space, as well as immersive monitoring for the artists. To allow more space for the audience, a separate, fully spatialised FOH area has been set up outside of the main dome.

While it’s possible to write about Polygon’s collaboration with L-Acoustics and the high-tech innovations the team are deploying, the real proof is in the hearing. And the feeling. This is the latest frontier in live events — and to truly understand it, you’ve got to experience it for yourself.

Final tickets for Polygon Live LDN are still available via the Polygon website.