AVI Systems, St Louis, Missouri, handled the extensive audio-visual work for the complex and selected the Symetrix SymNet modular audio mixing, routing and digital processing system as a core technology for managing the complexities of its design.
Michael McNeil, who helped design and install the system, says: "SymNet was virtually the only product on the market with the ability to discretely and intelligently perform multiple tasks," McNeil says. "It's the core of the whole system design."
Four 8x8 SymNet units, two Break-In 12 boxes and two CobraNet units handle the mixing, processing and routing of audio to the convention center ballroom area, which can be partitioned into four smaller rooms, or to seven separate meeting rooms, which can then be combined, plus other ancillary areas. All of the SymNet units are linked via SymLink.
"SymNet ties about 25 of these areas together, controlling all the audio inputs and outputs across the entire facility," McNeil says. "A control system identifies what rooms are in use and configures the system appropriately."
While SymNet's major role is in processing and routing, it doesn't work alone. Equally important in AVI Systems' custom solution is a control system from Pacific Interactive, which works hand-in-hand with the SymNet processors and SymNet ARC (adaptive remote control) units placed in each of the venue areas.
Via the Pacific Interactive system, which employs an interactive touch screen, SymNet can be quickly configured to match inputs that include background music, wired and wireless microphones, CD players, DVDs, VCRs and satellite-based content to the proper mix of outputs. Volume, auto mixing, feedback elimination control and muting are some of the functions that SymNet can be programmed to control based on the how the facilities are being used.
The pairing of SymNet with the Pacific Interactive system gives the user an unprecedented degree of control, McNeil says. "Where the magic is with this pairing of SymNet and Pacific Interactive is the ability, through 'broker' software in the Pacific Interactive system, to have more than 2,000 control points managed by SymNet discretely and reliably," He continues. "This is a departure from the type of control system in which there are presets. This solution is very user friendly because the interface is intuitive and common sense oriented. SymNet is the ideal processing system for this link up with Pacific Interactive because it has a better control algorithm than most others on the market."The use of the Pacific Interactive control system with SymNet also produces higher quality sound, McNeil says. One of the reasons they work well together is that everything is controlled within SymNet.
"Our approach with this job was to get everything in SymNet and not have it come out until the audio goes to the amplifier," he says. "By not converting from digital to analog until the sound is ready for the speaker, there are less artifacts and better quality sound."In place and operating successfully since the spring, the hotel/convention center's new AV system is now helping to win back much of the business lost while the facility was out of commission.
"Any time you're dealing with combining that many rooms, setting up an audio system that can work in that environment is a challenge," McNeil says. "But working closely with Symetrix to get deeper into the functionality of the SymNet box we were able to make routing, mixing and processing audio as transparent to the user as possible."
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
