Bose Professional Systems Division carried out the audio installation, which covers 31 zones including receptions, shops, changing rooms, toilets, corridors, restaurants, lifts, conference facilities and the main pool area. Four iDR-8 networked units were installed at three stations around the complex, providing up to 27 inputs/outputs for the numerous audio requirements. PL-4 wall plates give rotary, switch and infrared control and access to the system is also available via a laptop from any of the three racks, enabling changes to parameters such as EQ, volume and routing to be made remotely. Furthermore, local monitors in each rack can source from any part of the system.
The installation makes extensive use of the iDR Switch, as switch closures operated from pager panels, conference room dividers and the pool's panic buttons, change patches in the system to allow announcements, zone configuration and messages. The venue also uses mobile racks containing equipment such as a mixer, CD and mics; these connect to 5-pin XLR wall plates with pins 1, 2 and 3 carrying audio with 4 and 5 shorted in the output lead from the rack. Pins 4 and 5 are connected to the iDR Switch so that when the rack output cable is inserted into the wall connector, the appropriate patch setting is activated.
Glenn Rogers, managing director of Allen & Heath commented: "iDR is a cost-effective, flexible solution that can be custom built to suit the needs of the customer. The system can be easily expanded, as units can be daisy-chained together to provide more input and output options and it can be programmed, managed and controlled away from the control room either via a PC or a PL remote control wall plate. Furthermore, the sophisticated patch manager - including partial savings and crossfade between settings - enables the client to programme timed events such as background music or activity announcements, eliminating the need for manual maintenance."
(Lee Baldock)
