"The LSC dimmers and consoles are suited to India's unpredictable power conditions and extreme temperatures," said Sanjay Mudartha, director of Acoustic Control. "The dimmers have saved our lamps on many occasions when voltages exceeded safe limits, by shutting down. And despite very hot and humid conditions have never shut down due to thermal issues."
Situated on the third floor of the new block at Christ College, the auditorium seats 2,000 and is geared to host conferences and college theatre events. When not in use by the college the auditorium is rented out. It has become quite popular with Bangalore's IT community due to its up to date facilities and size. The brief that Acoustic Control received from Fr. Thomas, the College principal, was that he wanted the best but on condition that the system was easy to operate. The choice of equipment was left to Acoustic Control and cost was not a concern.
Consequently a host of LSC equipment has been installed into the venue including a top of the range maXim XXLP console, six LSC e1220 Dimmers to provide 72 channels for stage lighting, a Delta Data Splitter, a LSC DMXchange, two LSC Isonodes and an EKO312 installation dimmer for the house lights. The entire lighting rig was designed and visualized on a 2IC running Capture before it was installed.
Sanjay finds that the maXim XXLP console is ideal for the unreliable power supply"With frequent power failures the Built in batteries/UPS saves and then safely shuts down the console - this feature can't be beaten!" he said.
Sanjay reports that the maXim XXLP was chosen as it was simple to use and that training was available along with after-sales service, which is hard to find for imported equipment in India. As the venue will be used frequently for theatre, a 120-fader console that could be easily operated by seasoned veterans - as well as new-comers who prefer a 'one fader per light' concept - was required. The Christ College theatre group cannot get over the fact that they actually have 120 faders - especially as the sound console sitting next to it has only 40 faders!
"The maXim XXLP is being used by fresh recruits and it took us all of one day to get them up to speed and comfortable with the desk, said Sanjay. "The PaTPad is used when moving lights are hired in from Acoustic Control's rental division. We are also in the process of installing 12 700W moving heads permanently."
An LSC DMXchange was installed in order to patch to a stage console when focussing lights and to cater to visiting lighting designers and guest consoles if ever required. Other lighting equipment installed includes custom patch panels, 120 Par 64, 24 PC Spots 2KW, 12 Fresnel Spots 2 KW, 24 Profile Lights and two fog machines. Added to that is a Crestron to DMX interface for simple / remote lighting control, a Kramer Switcher, a 10,0000 lumens Sanyo Projector and three Crestron controlled automated cameras. The audio includes an EV Xlc line array sound system, a Midas console, Klark Teknik Helix Eq system, and EV amplifiers.
(Lee Baldock)
