USA - Martin Audio partner, Audio Video Electronics (AVE) has successfully upgraded the technical infrastructure at the Word of Faith Dominion Church (WOFD) in Lake Mills, Iowa.
Based in Brooklyn Park, MN the integrators opted for a Torus constant curvature array solution after their engineering team had reviewed a number of possibilities.
According to AVE sales consultant, Kerry Graffunder, the church’s existing PA had reached end of life and was no longer delivering the coverage or clarity required from a worship establishment that is just 25 years old. “The pastor merely requested some ‘thump in the trunk’ … and the intelligibility has greatly increased also,” he said.
This result was obtained by hanging a pair of Torus, left and right of the stage, with a Blackline X218 subwoofer in the centre. Nearfield coverage is provided by a pair of Martin Audio’s differential dispersion DD6 under two angled scrims at the front of the stage. The new set-up is powered by a pair of Martin Audio’s iKON iK42 multichannel power amps.
Project lead, Karl Selander, explained how they had arrived at this solution. “We have many different HoW installations using [Martin Audio] CDD point source under our belts, but this was our first time wetting our feet with Torus. We had not really had an opportunity to explore the TORUS line previously, but when we looked at the different options, it was clear that a CDD solution wasn’t the right fit for the room.”
Instead, by placing a T1215 (15° vertical pattern atop a T1230 (30°) he knew he c
UK - Occupying three floors of a Grade II listed building, Brewski Chester is a restaurant on a mission to ‘provide happiness through hospitality’. With its North American lodge-themed interior and soul, jazz and funk soundtrack, the recently opened venue (the brand’s third in the UK) has proved to be an instant hit in the city.
For the team at Brewski, the soundtrack to accompany its generously portioned American comfort food needed be as on point as the cuisine, so as the new site was in development, they engaged Manchester-based specialists Hollowsphere to install a Pioneer Pro Audio sound system.
Experienced installers Hollowsphere recommended loudspeakers from the Pioneer Pro Audio CM-Series of commercial audio products. Drawing on the company’s heritage of manufacturing dynamic club speakers, the CM-Series delivers outstanding audio from units that visually complement the interior design of any space.
Hollowsphere discreetly installed a total of 25 CM-S54 4” surface mount speakers across the three floors, to include the bar, dining areas, corridors and rest rooms. The CM-S54’s U-bracket and rear mounting points enabled the units to be installed quickly and easily for a job which took place during night-time hours to allow daytime access for other trades. The system is powered by a single four-channel Powersoft Mezzo amplifier controlled by two WM Touch panels.
The Brewski team is very happy with its new audio system according to co-owner Steven Stockton-King: “Hollowsphere are very reliable and trusted partners, so we went
Thailand - L&E Beyond, a division of the Bangkok-based Lighting and Equipment Co. Ltd. (L&E), established by industry professionals over three decades ago, has unveiled the largest LED Volume in Southeast Asia (ASEAN). Elevating the region’s virtual production experience to world-class standards, and by using familiar, high-calibre equipment, it aims to attract both local audiences and international clients.
Contributing to its appeal are Brompton’s Tessera LED video processing solutions, which offer unprecedented colour management capabilities and an ultra-realistic visual experience, thus supporting the production of creative content such as music videos, live shows, events, award ceremonies, films and product launches, amongst other projects.
Measuring an impressive 18m wide by 7m high, with a curvature adjustment of up to five degrees, the LED Volume is powered by four 4K Tessera SX40 LED processors in conjunction with eight Tessera XD 10G data distribution units, plus two Tessera S8 LED processors. The LED panels comprise AOTO RM 2.3 for the LED wall and AOTO MH 3.7 for the ceiling and movable panels, totalling 30m2. All LED panels have been meticulously calibrated with Brompton’s advanced Hydra measurement tool to maximise colour saturation, brightness, and balance to deliver the best possible image quality and make the LED panels Brompton HDR-ready.
“The ASEAN region's largest LED Volume, equipped with top-notch specs and maximum resolution, is finally here,” says Arocha Kittivittayakul, manager of the Entertainment Lighting
Italy - MovieChrome, a video production company located in the heart of Milan, has transformed its facilities, integrating a virtual production studio to enhance its offering to clients. The first virtual studio to use Absen’s Pixel Reality (PR) series, the team at MovieChrome is now fully equipped to bring to life visionary projects.
Based in the creative centre, in Milan, MovieChrome has established itself as an innovative video production house, launching its tabletop department back in 2018, which has since become a benchmark service in the international special effects market. With six studios, a video/audio equipment rental service, and a team of high-end professionals, the company has a strong pedigree offering competitive and progressive services to its clients. Its latest evolution has seen the launch of the MovieChrome Pixel Reality Studio, an impressive, purpose-built studio complete with Absen’s latest LED, the PR series, designed specifically for VP.
“Going into the project, we wanted our virtual production setup to be state-of-the-art, really push the boundaries and enhance our filmmaking capabilities,” explains Edoardo Mari, partner and executive producer at MovieChrome Milan. “We chose to work with Absen due to their reputation for delivering high-quality, reliable LED solutions tailored for the film industry. The Pixel Reality LED wall really stood out for its exceptional image quality and the flexibility it offered for various types of production.”
The setup now consists of 75sq.m of Absen’s PR 2.5 with a striking cur
UK - With over 40 Popworld late night bar/discos in their estate, leisure operators, Stonegate Group, recently refreshed the brand by unveiling their next generation interior.
Popworld Bournemouth, like most of the others, has benefitted from a creative and immersive audio-visual integration courtesy of Martin Audio partners, Middlesex Sound & Light (MSL).
Occupying the site of a former Walkabout Inn, which had also been equipped with Martin Audio, MSL were able to service, recondition and redeploy some of the pre-existing kit across the five-zone interior. Where auxiliary sound has been required, they have met the challenge by specifying Martin Audio’s compact but high output Adorn series in the shape of A55T surface mount and ACS-40TS ceiling speakers.
The operators have made their heaviest investment yet in audio visual, flipping their earlier concept of an illuminated dancefloor, and now running a fluid overhead pixel-driven lightshow to create a party vibe, while cheesy pop music is played out through a combination of the new and redeployed Martin Audio enclosures.
“Martin Audio dominates nearly all of the Popworlds we’ve fitted out,” confirms MSL project manager, Toby Jones. “It is our go-to brand because it delivers good quality, with excellent sonic response; it’s also reliable and represents fantastic value for money.”
From an audio perspective, Jones designed the venue into a five-zone interior, plus a separate one for DJ monitoring, where he has specified a pair of powerful Blackline X10.
Assigned to th
South Africa - The colourful eye-catching architecture of the Soweto Theatre stands at the centre of Jabulani, an area fast developing into a bustling future Central Business District. For the last 10 years, the venue, designed by Afritects, has provided a lively performing arts hub and forum for creative expression reaching into the heart of the local community.
In 2023, the lighting department, headed by Nkululeko Mazibuko, received 12 new Robe Esprite moving lights as part of a technical upgrade which was co-ordinated by the venue’s technical manager, Lebugang Andrew Mnisi.
The lights were delivered by Robe’s South African distributor, DWR, and join the original Robe LEDWash 300 and 600E Spot moving lights that have been working hard in the theatre since it opened in 2012, together with the LEDBeam 150s that were purchased in 2019.
The Esprites, which will be deployed in the Soweto Theatre’s largest closed performance space, the Gibson Kente Theatre, are “a big leap forward”, says Nkululeko.
The theatre hosts a diversity of theatrical and drama performances and is also regularly used for concerts, music-based TV programmes, gospel shows, musicals, DVD shoots and festival events so Esprites were chosen for their multipurpose nature.
They are also bright enough to be rigged on the outside amphitheatre stage. Now at the back part of the Theatre, this was Soweto’s original performance space and can accommodate up to 10,000 people in its current format, complete with sweeping views of the hills and south part of the city.
The Netherlands - In collaboration with FullAVL, Prolights distributor in the Netherlands, Lichtpunt Theatertechniek delivered a cutting-edge Prolights lighting system to the Concert Hall Theatre in Tilburg. Renowned for its versatility, the theatre hosts a diverse array of theatrical performances, dance shows, concerts, musicals, and cultural events.
Given its dynamic and eclectic programme, the theatre had a pressing requirement for an entirely new lighting system. This system needed to meet the highest quality standards while offering adaptability to cater to various productions and events.
FullAVL supplied Lichtpunt with a range of Prolights projectors tailored to meet the client's specifications, including the EclFresnel 2KTW and Astra Wash7Pix models.
The Prolights ECLFresnel 2KTW, a 500W luminaire has distinguished itself by excelling in both light intensity and colour mixing quality. This innovation has empowered Tilburg's technicians with greater flexibility, enabling them to craft high-quality lighting scenes. The Astra Wash7Pix, known for its colour mixing, high light output, and virtually silent operation, emerged as the best choice for an environment where audio quality is a must for the viewer's experience.
Germany - Samsung has collaborated with KSCAPE to transform the meeting room experience at the Samsung Display Experience Centre in Frankfurt. The result is a solution based around KSCAPE Rail, which aims to eliminate the chaos of cables via integrated lighting and audio capabilities within a single dedicated product.
The inspiration for this project can be traced back to conversations between Kris Hogg, head of partnerships at Samsung, and Tom Ríby, global sales and marketing manager at KSCAPE.
“Kris and I shared a frustration with modern meeting room disorganisation and complexity. It was clear to us was that the productivity buzzkill caused by cable clutter and technological issues during video calls was a massive time and money drain to businesses,” explains Ríby. “We started discussing how Rail and Samsung could be used together to create an intelligent, elegant yet simplified meeting space - free from cables and with effortless plug-and-play connectivity.”
A key focus of this project was to challenge the existing norms of the meeting room experience. With the meeting space at Samsung's Experience Centre due for a refresh, the opportunity presented itself to showcase a new take on an advanced meeting room experience.
Within the meeting space, two Rail units with symmetric, tunable lighting are installed above the table. A Truffle-KTR25 subwoofer from K-array, positioned under the table, adds depth to the audio experience. A K-array Kommander-KA04 amplifier powers both Rail and Truffle.
“Rail takes the necessary component
UK - London’s Royal Albert Hall has continued its progressive upgrade to LED with the installation of 80 Martin Professional ELP PAR fixtures. The fixtures were supplied by White Light, via Martin’s UK distributor Sound Technology.
Jon Vivash, lighting operations manager, Royal Albert Hall, confirmed the new fixtures have been installed in six groups of six in the gallery, a further six groups of six in the circle, and an additional four either side of the organ for the choirs. All are predominantly used for the lighting of audience seating areas.
“The Martin ELP PARs have opened up a huge range of looks in the house for both spoken word, when soft audience glows are required, to rock’n’roll ACL looks and strong saturated colours immersing the audience,” Jon explained.
The initial decision to upgrade the existing tungsten fixtures was partly influenced by the cost increase in PAR lamps, and their ever-decreasing availability, plus an active drive by the Royal Albert Hall to reduce power consumption and carbon footprint by switching to LED.
In search of the most suitable replacement PAR, the team at the Royal Albert Hall, including Jon Vivash and RAH lighting designer Richard Thomas, organised on-site comparison of five different fixtures. Rigged alongside a traditional PAR fixture, Richard tested dimmer curves, output, beam angles, colours, and throw distances.
According to Jon, the Martin ELP PAR was chosen due to “weight, form factor, beam angle, colour mixing and intensity."
“The colour calibration between each u
Canada - The Wolf Performance Hall is a concert hall, theatre, and meeting facility in downtown London, Ontario, located within the London Public Library. A fully accessible 369-seat theatre and cultural hub, Wolf Performance Hall’s tiered seating, excellent sightlines and outstanding acoustics make it one of the city’s most sought-after venues for performers and audience members alike.
The venue recently upgraded to a full EM Acoustics sound solution, installed by local integrators, Armor Pro in collaboration with OCTAV Integrated Design and Contact Distribution.
“The venue required a system that would provide even SPL coverage front to back without obstructing sight lines. Due to the multi-use nature of the venue, a left-centre-right configuration with a centre cluster dedicated to lecture and movie applications was also part of the initial brief,” explains Vaino Gennaro of Contact Distribution who was responsible for specifying the system. “EM Acoustics was chosen because of the precise tonal balance and coherent sound signature between all the different models in the product line.”
EM Acoustics’ flagship Reference series loudspeakers were chosen as the foundations of the system, with EM R12s installed in the left, centre and right positions, with the centre further reinforced by one R8. EMS-81s and EMS-51s were installed for out-fill and front-fill, and in the FOH sound booth. The EM Acoustics system was completed by EM DQ20 amplifiers, offering extremely high-power density in a convenient and flexible format.
“Through the
France - A grand, Italian-style theatre dating from 1899, the Casino Grand Cercle Theatre in Aix-les-Bains is considered a masterpiece for both its architecture and its decoration.
As part of a sympathetic renovation of this historic and much-loved venue, operators called in local technical solutions specialists Groupe Elypse to design a sound system that would equip the 830-seat venue for a varied programme of productions ranging from drama and operetta to concerts, without detracting visually from the sumptuous internal decor of a venue with no hanging points for line arrays.
“We have a long-established relationship with the Théâtre d'Aix and considered carefully both the technical requirements and the available budget,” reports Bruno Favre-Martinoz, founder and CEO of Groupe Elypse. “For this project, Nexo proposed to us the ID84 column loudspeaker which impressed us with both its performance and cost. Nexo also has a very complete range of products with good availability and excellent technical support, which is important for an integrator.”
Using an array of dome tweeters rather than a compression driver significantly lowers HF distortion and gives the ID84 a ‘hi-fi-like’ sonic character, while a switch on the rear of the cabinet controls a passive filter which effectively changes the HF vertical dispersion from broad (0˚ to -25˚) to narrow (0˚ to -10˚).
Accompanied by their partner IDS312 subs to extend LF performance down to 40Hz, left and right pairs of ID84s address each of three seating tiers, with an additional pa
USA - Gore Arena has a seating capacity just under 3,100, and is used by basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams, as well as to host other indoor events, across Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina.
In the process of revamping the auditory experience at the Gore Arena, it was crucial to address specific challenges posed by the former sound system. Community loudspeakers from Biamp were chosen as the solution.
The Community loudspeakers from Biamp helped address one of the most evident issues - the inconsistent sound quality across different seating areas, which often left sections of the arena audience straining to discern announcements, commentaries, or even the ambiance of the sporting event. Equally, the old system lacked the desired clarity, muddling certain frequencies and diminishing the overall auditory experience.
“Once we understood the needs for the Gore Arena, Biamp’s Community loudspeaker product family was the obvious choice,” said Joe Andrulis, executive vice-president of corporate development, Biamp. “Through Biamp Community loudspeakers, athletes, students, and visitors can be assured every announcement and song will come through crystal clear.”
"Before the installation, the depth and clarity of the sound system was a challenge,” said Charles Phillips, director of A/V, Campbell University. “Now, every word from the PA announcer and the lyrics in the music are clearly heard. The installation has significantly improved our in-venue experience at Campbell University. There isn't a bad seat in the b
South Africa - Founded in Randburg in 1979, the Rhema Bible Church is one of the largest church organisations in the Southern Hemisphere and was one of the first churches to defy Apartheid laws, offering non-segregated services as a precursor of what was to come in the new South Africa.
In May 2022, founder Pastor Ray McCauley handed the reigns of the organisation over to his son Pastor Joshua McCauley and his wife Pastor Tara McCauley, and it is under this new leadership that the church decided to update their flagship venue’s AV system with the assistance of South African AV distributors Audiosure.
“This is one of the largest churches in the world, so they needed an audio solution to match,” explains Audiosure digital mixer specialist, Lesedi Maponya. “The church was already running FOH, monitors and broadcast systems, but having grown a sizable online congregation, they desperately needed a modern update to provide the best possible audio quality across all platforms. Additionally, the system needed to be easy to use for both technical and non-technical operators.”
To replace the church’s ageing FOH, monitor, and broadcast studio systems, Maponya and the team at Audiosure recommended Allen & Heath’s flagship dLive platform for all three roles within the church’s audio infrastructure. “As soon as the church’s engineers road-tested a dLive, it was a no-brainer to go ahead and integrate it,” adds Maponya.
At FOH, a 28-fader dLive S5000 Surface is deployed alongside a DM64 MixRack for audio processing and analogue
Canada - Situated in the Beaches neighbourhood in the east end of Toronto, History is a 2500-capacity live music venue. Run by Live Nation, its packed programme of events sees a wide variety of artists from all genres pass through the venue, with bills often featuring multiple acts.
These multi-band events present audio challenges all of their own. Often, each band on the bill will bring its own mixing console, which requires patching into the venue sound system for each soundcheck and between each set.
Technicians are only too aware of the pressure points that this can create, so to meet the demand for a solution to potential disruptions in this area, UK manufacturer, XTA, created the MX Series of DSP enabled console switching systems. The team at History recently invested in the MX36 to address the ever-increasing number of shows carrying multiple consoles.
The MX36 is essentially a 4 buss switcher/mixer working across aes/analogue/Dante. The unit can be remotely monitored/switched by control software if required. When fitted in live venues it allows both house console and multiple touring consoles to be patched directly to the house system. It allows all inputs to be monitored/line checked from its front panel meter and headphone socket prior to routing to a system - an invaluable feature on a festival stage.
Dave Thiel, front of house engineer at History explains: “The MX36 came to our attention by way of a simple Google search. After the venue opened, we were quick to discover what lacked in the initial package - a simple way of connect
Japan - Zouk Tokyo is within Granbell Hotel Ginza’s new commercial complex, the latest luxury hospitality launch from Granbell Hotel Group.
A Void Acoustics sound system has been installed across Zouk Tokyo’s two basement floors, one of which has a lounge space, premium bar and VIP seating, while the floor beneath contains an impressive dance hall and stage. Altogether, the space offers a 600m2 capacity, capable of holding 1,000 people.
Black and gold interior design contrasts with a distinct lack of pillars, the sprawling atrium, and a giant 5m wide lighting system called the Mothership, custom-built by a specialist lighting team in Barcelona, Spain.
The audio installation is by eastaudio, a Tokyo Sound System Laboratory member, a sound system production team responsible for many of Japan’s famous nightclubs.
Satoru Tocci Tochibori explained: “Years of planning have gone into Zouk Tokyo, and we were asked to accommodate a variety of function types from the hotel group such as nightlife, corporate events and live shows. This meant carefully blending sound across multiple environments, tight spaces, unusual angles and a desire for the Void system to subtly match the overall look and feel of Zouk Tokyo. We paid particular attention to balancing the sound pressure and power within the main floor and the rest of the corridors. We’re really proud of the outcome.”
Inside Zouk Tokyo is a custom-coloured Void Incubus System as the main speaker on the lower floor and Tri Motion as the rear speakers. Numerous Airten V3, Venu 10/8 V2 a
USA - Texas Motor Speedway’s (TMS) new Big Hoss TV debuted in September for the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 NASCAR Playoff weekend. Sited on the backstretch of the track, it is made up of digiLED Vision Ultra panels, measures 23,000sq.ft, stands 11 storeys high and, with over 8.2m pixels, it is the equivalent of 4,331 42” TVs. All of this makes it one of the largest screens in the world.
Committed to TMS and partner and installer for the project, GoVision, digiLED custom engineered Vision Ultra, which features specially designed cabinets to enable a 1:1 replacement of the old display.
A key criterion for the replacement screen was to reuse all of the existing steel structure, which in turn removed the need for TMS to repurchase about 15 tons of steel - the existing layout meant that the original power supplies could also be repurposed, all thanks to digiLED’s cleverly designed Vision Ultra cabinets.
The screen was built, tested and shipped within 60 days of the order being placed and Vision Ultra’s cabinet design helped GoVision reduce installation time to five weeks.
While reusing the existing steel was integral for completing the project on time and had the advantage of bringing it in under budget, digiLED was also mindful of the importance this had on reducing environmental impact. The steel industry is responsible for around 7% of CO2 emissions globally, making it one of the world’s top three highest emitting materials, and whilst the industry is working on reducing emissions during production, re-using the existing struc
Vietnam - Located in Rạch Giá, the capital city of Kiên Giang province in southwestern Vietnam, the Kiên Giang Music Theatre plays a significant role as a cultural and artistic hub - not only within the province but also throughout the wider region.
In addition to presenting contemporary programme material, the venue has gained recognition for its commitment to preserving and promoting the revered folk-art form of ‘cải lương’ - a complex artistic genre that blends traditional melodies with various musical instruments. The theatre therefore serves as a prominent focal point for national cultural exchange and enrichment, and audiences can expect performances and production values of the utmost artistic quality.
When the time came to modernise the sound system at the large theatre, many considerations came into play. Beyond the seamless coverage and sonic finesse required to clearly convey the nuanced content and powerful emotions of the traditional performances, the system also needed to provide ample output capacity for contemporary program material.
To achieve this goal, integrator Truong Thinh worked closely with experts from Electro-Voice and Dynacord to specify a solution including two hangs of nine Electro-Voice X1 line-array loudspeakers supported by 10 X12-128 dual-18” subwoofers, all driven by Dynacord IPX series power amplifiers, along with multiple Electro-Voice ETX and EKX powered speakers serving as fills and stage monitors, and a selection of Electro-Voice wired/wireless microphones to capture every detail on stage.
Belgium - The historic Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles has upgraded its digital communications to a Green-GO system as part of a wider investment in its AV and IP infrastructure.
Green-GO distributor Luc Buytaert, manager of the technical department at Audio Visual Lighting bv was approached by the theatre and Riva Audio AudioVisual Solutions to design and specify a new IP-based digital system, to replace an older setup that was no longer supported or fit for purpose. It was part of the second phase of the theatre’s complete AV upgrade.
“The brief was to provide the users and technicians a more flexible and integrated communication solution, replacing the old system which was limited to a single line party extension,” says Frederic Vard, managing director at Riva. “We analysed a range of possible technologies and found that Green-GO products met all the requirements of a full IP integration. For example, the ability to add macro at every push of a button allowed us to achieve all of what was required, and we’re impressed by the power of the system and the ease of use of the configuration program.”
Green-GO stations are now installed in multiple positions in the theatre, including the front desk, stages, offices, changing rooms, and using mobile devices, meaning the entire team is making use of the new system.
The theatre has invested in 12 Green-GO Beltpack X devices, one Dante Interface X - which links up to eight audio streams from and into the Green-GO network and converts with quality loss - and four Slim Audio Interface
UK - Multi award-winning Scarisbrick Hall School in Ormskirk, Lancashire has just opened Oak Theatre & Studios, where an Audient ASP8024-HE has been installed, along with 33 iD4 audio interfaces in a dedicated music programming Mac lab.
The opening of the newly built theatre and arts buildings heralds the beginning of a new era for the school. It not only puts music technology firmly on the curriculum, but also provides a high-end studio for hire with a gothic-style backdrop.
Oak Theatre & Studios was designed from the ground up with recording flexibility in mind. The fact that it is available for commercial use as well as teaching is something technical manager Ross Krige was careful to consider when specifying the Audient console. “Overall I’ve tried to keep the studio very simple for learning but still accessible for external hire,” he explains.
For the 10-13-year-olds, Ross has set up a Music Technology Club, with a view to demystifying the song recording process. Here the youngsters “start learning how songs are recorded and what ‘that person sat behind the desk’ does at theatre shows,” he explains. “The students will be recording some songs of their choosing - within reason - and I’ll be teaching the basics of mic-ing and how to use a console.”
Older students (GCSE/A-Level) have the option of joining the more advanced club where they pick up more professional techniques around the studio as well as in the theatre. “The aim of this club is for them to be able to participate in the shows and/or recordings we
UK - Global management consulting firm Oliver Wyman, with over 6,000 employees across 70 offices in 30 countries, has recently revamped its UK head office on Baker Street, London. Seeking audio-visual solutions for the second and third floors, Oliver Wyman partnered with AV experts Insight Visual Systems.
The ambitious project aimed to outfit over 60 spaces of varying sizes and functions, ranging from expansive meeting rooms to more intricate and flexible audio solutions for smaller spaces. With a substantial £1m budget, Insight proposed a solution featuring industry-leading brands to align with global standards and seamlessly integrate with the office's fresh decor.
On agreement of the proposal, Insight engaged distributor Audiologic to help facilitate and source equipment for the project. According to Matthew McGill, managing director, at Insight, "The Audiologic team supported the project throughout, advising on solutions and ensuring competitive pricing and timely stock delivery, for a smooth project execution."
A major highlight of the installation is the video conferencing solution in Oliver Wyman's Large Standard Meeting Room. The setup features Sennheiser Team Connect 2 beam-forming array microphones, with coverage of up to 80m2 and QSC AD-C6T-LP ceiling loudspeakers, QSC Core Nano audio processor, Audinate Dante AVIO 2 Channel Adapters, and a QSC SPA2-60 amplifier. Audio control is facilitated through a QSC TSC-70-G3 touch panel.
To ensure consistency and user-friendly experiences, most spaces are equipped with the same technology, o
France - ETC’s automated fixtures range Halcyon has been selected by the noted Parisian theatre, la Comédie-Française.
A total of 27 Halcyon Platinum fixtures and 12 Halcyon Gold fixtures have been installed at the famous theatre, which has several productions including French plays by Molière, Racine, Corneille and others. A cultural institution, la Comédie-Française is the only French national theatre since 1680 to have a permanent drama troupe.
Sales manager for France Nicolas Da Canal comments: “la Comédie-Française already has High End Systems SolaFrame Studio, SolaFrame 2000 and SolaFrame 3000 moving lights installed which have been particularly appreciated for their colour-mixing quality. The team at the theatre were therefore happy to again proceed with High End Systems automated lights in their process of further transitioning to LED.”
The Halcyon Gold fixtures have been integrated in the over-stage rig on the first electric position and the Halcyon Platinum fixtures are further upstage at higher trim heights.
"The advantage of the Platinum is that even in the High Fidelity version, you still get 38,000 lumens as standard, and up to 46,000 when you use the boost mode. That is less than the 70,000 lumens of the Ultra-Bright version, but it's enough to make the fixture very versatile. And above all, the High-Fidelity engine has a CCT of 6,000K, which is close to HMI sources making this move over to LED a little smoother," adds Nicolas Da Canal.
B-Live, one of ETC's commercial partners in France, delivered the fixture
USA - Snowbird Restaurant & Lounge opened aiming to bring the cocktail lounge scene to Frisco, a suburb of Dallas, Texas where the dining scene is booming. This 4,100sq.ft space includes dining seating, lounge seating, and a 35ft-long bar, aiming to set a sultry lounge setting with cocktails as the star. Bespoke Technology Group based out of Dallas, was contracted to bring this after-dinner destination to life by integrating the audio system.
Snowbird has DJ booths upstairs and downstairs and had to have an audio system fit for dinner ambiance as well as for private events and all-day brunch events. Bespoke chose to go with 1 Sound premium loudspeakers for this lounge to offer high-fidelity sound quality and sonic intelligibility but with the capacity to get louder for high-energy nights. This was accomplished by utilising the Cannon Coaxial Series.
The Cannons are known for their sonic quality and extended low-end, with the 6-inch coaxial version being capable of having a max SPL of 114dB. For the main bar/lounge space and the upper level, Bespoke implemented Cannon C6i’s utilising C-Clamp accessories for mounting and aiming. The C6i’s were complemented by SUB12 reflex subwoofers, for the bass.
For the private VIP room in the back, four Cannon C5i’s were deployed with no subwoofers. For the outdoor patio, six Cannon C4’s were used. 1 Sound’s construction allows for all loudspeakers to be IP55 rated to withstand outdoor usage. Since opening, Snowbird has expanded its open hours due to its popularity and success.
USA - Tempest enclosures have been used to protect Epson projectors at a projection mapping installation in Carmel, Indianapolis. EOS: The First Dawn is a permanent installation created by Blockhouse Studios and features 12 Epson EB-PU2220B 20,000-lumen large venue laser projectors, each safeguarded by a Tempest Cyclone enclosure to ensure they run at peak performance.
Mounted on the roof of the James and Tarkington buildings, these powerful projectors tell the theatrical story of Eos, Greek Goddess of the Dawn, presented in a dream-like projection onto the face of the Carter Green Palladium.
Blockhouse Studios owner, Kevin Winkler comments: “We have four full seasons in Indiana. Temperatures can range from -15 or more in the winter, and upwards of 100 degrees F in the summer, with high humidity. The Cyclone enclosures are perfect for these tough conditions that can change rapidly with up to a 30-degree fluctuation in one day.
“We use Tempest because their design and service is top notch. They respond to our suggestions and actually are willing to make design changes for us, with no hassle. We anticipate using Tempest enclosures consistently for many years to come.”
The installation incorporates themes of nature and astrology, and paired with dazzling state of the art technology, the audience is transported to a place of vibrant visual storytelling and mythological wonder. Telling the tales of Eos, Helios and Selene, the installation finds a wonderful balance between creative cinematography and superb special effects.
UK - Georgia Browns in the town of Hindley, Greater Manchester is a destination sports and entertainment venue. Recently re-furbished and re-launched, and featuring a large media wall, the venue also hosts multiple additional screens showing a wide range of sports, as well as staging live bands, DJ sets and karaoke.
The team at Georgia Brown gave careful consideration to its technical needs, and having invested in its media wall through Richer Sounds, consulted with the company’s custom installation design team over the best way forward for its audio requirements.
Richer Sounds recommended an Optimal Audio system to deliver the venue’s requirement for background and party level music. Custom installation manager Tim Smith and his team designed the system in conjunction with the venue, and engaged experienced subcontractor James Mahon of Hi-Tech AV to install the system. Tim felt that for a large space like Georgia Browns, an Optimal Audio solution would reliably provide the necessary quality at high SPL to meet the all-round challenge.
The install was James Mahon’s first experience of the brand: “Right out of the box, you could tell they were going to be good. The build quality looked superb and the speakers duly delivered sound to match.”
Two Cuboid 15 and two Cuboid 10 passive on-wall loudspeakers were installed in the demanding areas of the room close to the stage, with a further eight Cuboid 8 units taking care of the rest of the space. A single Sub 15 and a pair of Sub 10 units were discreetly located beneath seating areas to de