Brazil. Unica, Powersoft's third-generation installation amplification platform, delivers intelligent, intelligible audio at the newly renovated Cine Teatro Liz Bastos in southeastern Brazil.
A quad-amp configuration provides enough power for an immersive Dolby Cinema experience, while offering the flexibility to handle theater, music, dance, and conference programming with high power.
After years of closure, the cinema was acquired by the mayor's office and completely rebuilt and modernized, reopening with great enthusiasm earlier this year. As part of the renovation, local consultant Leonardo Pavanello Projetos was tasked with designing a completely new AVL system for the 571-seat venue, located in Itabirito, in the state of Minas Gerais.
For the audio component, the consultant specified a 7.1 surround sound configuration capable of delivering a comprehensive 3D audio experience for moviegoers, but which, if necessary, would also enable the use of spatial sound on concert tours and other live events. The system also needed to be compact and energy-efficient without compromising audio quality.
To fulfill this demanding order, system integrators Multicom Engenharia and Universal Music Brasil selected the Unica platform as the engine for this new comprehensive sound system.
Unica's native AES67 connectivity allows for seamless integration with the Liz Bastos Theatre Cinema's Dolby Cinema processor (the technology behind Dolby Atmos surround sound), while Powersoft's ArmoníaPlus software allows for simple, intuitive channel connection and easy daily control of the amplification system.
Maximum efficiency is achieved through Unica's built-in power distribution capabilities. Thanks to Powersoft's Power Sharing tool, the teams at Universal Music Brasil and Multicom Engenharia were able to use the same amplifier to power and process subwoofers and high-frequency speakers, reducing rack space and the total cost of the system, while maintaining the power needed for both movies and live shows.
According to Universal Music's Gera Vieira, the result is a completely new experience for the inhabitants of Itabirito, bringing a precious venue back into the city's cultural life. "The 7.1 surround sound system has made a huge difference to the cinematic experience, and the ability to use it for live shows is a whole new perspective," he says.
As well as improving the experience of going to the cinema and concerts, the new system offers cinema staff a true plug-and-play experience that does not require in-depth technical knowledge. "Once the system is connected, no complex configuration is needed," Vieira explains. "The automatic switch from digital to analogue allows for an ultra-fast transition from films to musical shows."
The audio installation combines two Unica 8K8 amplifiers (8 × 1000 W) and two Unica 12K4 amplifiers (4 × 3000 W) with LS Áudio speakers and subwoofers and a Dolby Cinema processor.
Since its reopening in early 2025, the redesigned Liz Bastos Cinema Theater has received constant praise for the quality of the visitor experience and its state-of-the-art immersive audiovisual system.
Carluccia Carrazza, cultural director of the Secretariat of Heritage, Culture and Tourism of the city of Itabirito, sums up the local response to what she describes as "the wonderful immersive sound system": "No matter where you sit, you feel like you're inside the film."
