Various parts of the museum have been enhanced by the new multi-zone PA system including display areas, the external Museum cafe as well as the crowd-pulling Dinosaur Garden featuring life-size dinosaurs.
Consulting Engineer firm Norman Disney & Young, was responsible for the design of the new paging and PA system and prior to specification, they conducted an acoustic assessment to determine the measures required to reduce reverberation time and increase speech intelligibility within the museum public areas.
A three dimensional modelling approach using electro-acoustic simulation software (EASE) was adopted for the project. The 3D modelling allowed for greater flexibility and improved assessment of the complex and varied acoustic environment within Museum public spaces.
The system covers four levels and is controlled from three paging consoles at the reception desks on levels one, two and three. The entire system was designed and modelled with the use of EASE modelling for speaker selection and placement.
Integration and simplicity of use were the key client requirements for this installation. A full paging system was integrated using Electro Voice, Dynacord and Bosch. An E-V NetMax N8000 was the core DSP with a Dynacord ProMatrix System integrated into it. This included a DMM4650 Digital Message Manager so the client can record several messages and play them back at the press of a button on any one of the three DPC4550 Digital Paging Consoles. A DTI-2000 Digital Telephone Interface was also integrated enabling the client to dial in and page through the system when away from the building.
Like many museums, the venue was an acoustic challenge as it is constructed of reflective surfaces such as glass, marble, solid concrete walls and ceiling plus polished floors.
"NDY did a fabulous job in selecting both Bosch and Electro Voice loudspeakers to suit the spaces," remarked Bryan Davidson, Bosch's senior engineer for permanent installations. "They specified 75 EViD C8.2HC high ceiling speaker and EO Design, who installed the system, made nifty custom brackets to mount them onto the ceilings.
"In other areas they chose Bosch pendant speakers, some of which EO painted black to match ceilings. Bosch XLA Column Array speakers were installed into various areas requiring very tight vertical pattern control. All speakers are powered through Bosch amplifiers."
Electro-Voice RE90B boundary microphones were used in seven key areas and were fed into the NetMax for automatic noise sensing and level control
(Jim Evans)
