In recent years Conway has undergone something of a revitalization, and First United Methodist is no exception. The 600-seat Georgian-style sanctuary was recently treated to an extensive renovation that included everything from foundation repair and new flooring to an elevator and a new, state-of-the-art sound system featuring Iconyx digitally steered column arrays from Renkus-Heinz.
Audio engineer David Clyburn of Roebuck, SC-based MusiCraft explains the selection of the Iconyx IC16-R systems. "The sanctuary is a beautiful, large, rectangular space with high ceilings and tall windows," he says. "Even before the renovation, we measured the reverb time at more than three seconds, and that was before they expanded the space to accommodate their new pipe organ. They also removed the carpet and put in hardwood floors. We knew right away we would have to remove their traditional cluster loudspeakers and go for a more focused line array type system."
After researching all the options, Iconyx was the clear choice, says Clyburn. "The Iconyx's steered array technology enabled us to focus the sound onto the seating areas and away from the walls and floor," he explains. "We were able to replace an entire cluster of multiple cabinets with two small IC16 cabinets. The sound is nicely focused, and the intelligibility issues the building has long endured are a thing of the past."
The system also includes a Yamaha LS9 digital console, with a Yamaha DM8 processor connected via Cobranet. A pair of Renkus-Heinz IC7 mechanically steered columns are installed in the choir loft as monitors.
The building's landmark status meant that aesthetics was also a major consideration. Here too, Iconyx fit the bill. "With such an extensive renovation, they were very clear on their desire for the sound system to be as unobtrusive as possible," says Clyburn. "The Iconyx cabinets, mounted on the vertical columns, blended in perfectly. Everyone was really pleased with the way it looks, and we're getting great compliments on the sound quality."
(Jim Evans)
