When the V&A Museum played host to HEARTLINE, a groundbreaking new sound installation by artist Hannah Marshall, Delta Live was proud to help bring her vision to life.
Known for her experimental approach and deep focus on sonic intimacy, Marshall wanted visitors to experience an enveloping audio journey – one that would feel identical no matter where in the space they stood or sat.
The installation was housed in a long, narrow gallery, which posed a unique challenge: how to ensure each listener, from one end of the room to the other, was immersed in the same way. Marshall’s brief to Delta Live was clear; design and install a discreet, high-quality PA system capable of delivering a truly uniform immersive sound experience.
To achieve this, Delta Live worked closely with L-Acoustics and sound engineer Ian Caballero. The audio stems of Marshall’s score were transformed into an L-ISA immersive format at the L-Acoustics studio in Highgate, London. In just one intense programming session, due to tight schedules and limited availability, the team rendered the work down to 17 separate channels (16 full-range, plus four subs).
On site at the V&A, the playback system consisted of 16 L-Acoustics 5XT speakers and four L-Acoustics Syva subs, powered by LA4X amplifiers. A multitrack QLab session, fed through an RME Digiface AVB interface, ensured that every nuance of Marshall’s composition reached the audience exactly as intended.
While the technical complexity of the project was significant, the install ran smoothly, thanks in part to the meticulous pre-programming. The result was a seamless and enveloping sonic field that invited visitors to listen closely – not just to sound, but to their own bodily rhythms, reflecting the heartbeat-inspired concept at the core of HEARTLINE.
The response was overwhelmingly positive. Guests described the experience as deeply moving and transportive. As V&A Senior Curator Kristian Volsing noted, “Hannah Marshall’s work offers a space for focused, communal and meditative moments — an intentional intervention through deep listening”, while Hannah Marshall herself expressed delight at how faithfully the installation captured her vision.
For Delta Live, the project was a perfect example of how collaboration between artist, engineer, and technical crew can produce something far greater than the sum of its parts. By combining precise technical planning, premium audio equipment, and an understanding of the artistic intent, the team was able to transform a gallery space into a shared, deeply personal listening environment.
HEARTLINE at the V&A stands as a testament to the power of immersive sound — not as accompaniment to other art forms, but as a pioneering work of consciousness technology in its own right.
Credits
Artist: Hannah Marshall
Presented by: L-Acoustics
Composer: Lucinda Chua
Score
Cello: LucindaChua
Vocals, sound bowls, shamanic drum: Kate Fleur Young
Spatial Mix Engineer: Ian Caballero
Sound Engineer: Nat Pakula
Installation
Space and Energy Alignment: Delilah Sullivan
Microphone Light: Raw Pixels
Set Design: Shanice Rochelle
Space
Venue: Victoria and Albert Museum
Gallery: Prince Consort Gallery
Curator: Kristian Volsing
Producers: Faunsia Tucker + Adonis Fuyana
L-Acoustics
Director of Creative Engagement, Global: Amber Mundinger
Director of Creative Partnerships: Julie Blore-Bizot
Architecture Engagement Global Lead: Grace Xu
Supplier: Delta Live
Speakers: 5XT by L-Acoustics
Film
Director: Andrew Lancaster
Executive Producer: Lisa Gray at Black Meteor
Producer: Noni Couell
Editor: George Parkes