Located around 40 km east of Riga, in the city of Ogre, the Ogres Kultūras Centrs is a versatile venue that serves as the cultural heart of the entire region.
Built in 1988 with a striking design by architects Oļģerts Krauklis and Biruta Burčika, its nearly 14,000 square metres host 17 resident amateur arts groups and more than 200 events per year, ranging from pop, jazz, rock and classical concerts to theatre, film screenings, conferences, folk festivals and much more. Its walls, lined with perforated round bricks that absorb sound and control reverberation, also create a warm and distinctive interior.
Recently, the centre invested in a new L-Acoustics professional sound system and partnered with the right specialists to ensure proper commissioning from day one.
For a venue hosting everything from small-format chamber concerts to large-scale rock shows, consistency and versatility were essential requirements. With the new system in place, the priority was expert commissioning to ensure that all components were properly aligned, synchronized and tuned to operate as a single cohesive solution across all types of content. To lead this process, Ogres Kultūras Centrs relied on VGD Project, an L-Acoustics Certified Provider.
The right partner for the project
From its showroom and demo facilities in Riga, VGD Project specialises in solutions for cultural and entertainment venues, covering everything from initial concept and system design to technical supervision and performance validation.
For Ronalds Luknis, Application Engineer at VGD Project, the objective was clear: We wanted to achieve a system that delivers consistent, high-quality sound across the entire hall. It needed to be detailed and musical at low levels, yet powerful and controlled for live concerts. Proper calibration was key to making the system work as a unified solution.
Precision by design
The installed system comprises six L-Acoustics A15i Focus and two A15i Wide line array speakers, along with six KS21i subwoofers, a configuration well suited to a venue of this scale. The A15i, featuring a 15-inch driver, provides sufficient output and control without requiring long-throw capability, and when combined with the KS21i delivers the low-frequency power needed for modern concert applications.
Four X8i units, discreetly installed in the ceiling, serve as delay fills for the rear seating areas, while four 4Xi coaxial systems provide front-fill coverage for the first rows.
Before making any adjustments, the team carried out thorough baseline measurements across the hall. This diagnostic phase confirmed what the Soundvision model had already predicted: the components were appropriate and correctly positioned. Translating that potential into uniform performance across the space required the alignment and optimisation that only a structured calibration workflow can provide.
A structured calibration approach
The physical installation was carried out by Rock Distribution, a professional audio distributor in the Baltic market, working closely with VGD Project. This division of responsibilities—with VGD Project leading system design, modelling and calibration, and Rock Distribution handling deployment—helped meet the venue’s specific performance requirements.
L-Acoustics engineer Sergey Zhitnikov led the calibration process, establishing a clear baseline before applying adjustments.
Working from a pre-prepared Soundvision model, the team created a new file in LA Network Manager and carried out most of the fine-tuning there.
Most of the parameter optimisation was carried out directly through filter work in Soundvision. The next step involved detailed acoustic measurements using measurement microphones to refine frequency response and time alignment. Delay settings were then adjusted to bring all system elements into phase, explains Zhitnikov.
The final stage consisted of extensive critical listening using reference tracks, an essential step given that the ultimate measure of a well-calibrated system is listener perception.
Immediate results
The results of the calibration were immediate. With delays properly aligned, all components—subwoofers, front fills, delay speakers and main arrays—operate as a single cohesive system. Post-calibration measurements confirm a smooth and consistent frequency response across the audible spectrum, delivering detailed and intelligible sound throughout the venue.
“Once phase alignment and low-frequency control were addressed, the system started working as a single instrument”, says Zhitnikov. “Clarity and low-end balance improved significantly across the hall”.
A new regional benchmark
While further upgrades are already being considered, the system at Ogres Kultūras Centrs stands as a strong reference point for professional sound system installation in the region. For Ronalds Luknis, the project demonstrates the value of properly executed calibration:
The system is powerful and provides excellent coverage across the hall. It can be highly detailed at low volumes, but can also reach high levels without listener fatigue, which is ultimately what any venue should deliver.
“Calibration is not an optional step, it defines the final quality of the system”, adds Zhitnikov. “When done properly, the result is stable, repeatable and reliable for every event”.
Image captions:
- LA_Ogre_1 - The versatile Ogres Kultūras Centrs chooses L-Acoustics A Series for its professional sound system
- LA_Ogre_2 - Ogres Kultūras Centrs worked with VGD Project to deliver a consistent, high-quality L-Acoustics system
- LA_Ogre_3 - The L-Acoustics KS21i delivers the low-end power required for modern concert applications
- LA_Ogre_4 - L-Acoustics 4Xi coaxial systems provide front-fill coverage for the first rows
- LA_Ogre_5 - The L-Acoustics A15i 15” driver provides sufficient output and control without long-throw capability
- LA_Ogre_6 - Four L-Acoustics X8i units installed in the ceiling act as delay fills for rear seating areas
