The Sy80 console was selected to replace a vintage analogue console for a combination of reasons, as Chief Engineer Bob Luffman explains: "The space occupied by the console is in the midst of the seating which is at a premium; the Sy80 has a much smaller footprint and for many events has freed up a number of seats for paying customers. The physical compactness is also important as I need access to console functions without a lot of physical movement that might distract patrons around me. We regularly put on shows with a rock band backed by an orchestra and need the full 80 inputs. The auditorium's sound system is designed for zone coverage, which requires a console with a large matrix output capability. Also the versatility of the console is important to us because we do so many different forms of entertainment."
The Theatre/Auditorium is home to the highly successful Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony whose 52 member orchestra presents 70 concerts each season. Performers enthuse about the stage acoustics while audience are amazed at how the sound has the same warmth and brilliance in the back row as in the very front. All 2,047 seats enjoy clear unobstructed views of the stage and the acoustics can be adjusted according to the type of production being staged.
The theatre is designed to be able to handle Wagner's Ring Cycle (140 piece orchestra plus chorus) as well as a variety of other events from rock through Broadway shows to one-man stand-up shows. Recent shows include a Saturday Night Fever musical, David Copperfield's magic act and an evening with Eric Idle of Monty Python fame.
The Sy80 was the first to be supplied and installed by Sennheiser Canada, who have already sold more than 20 InnovaSON digital consoles in the country. "We are very excited about the prospects for the Sy80," reports Marc Vincent, vice-president of sales and marketing for Sennheiser Canada. "Four years worth of market feedback has been incorporated into the new console but what's so great is that the Sy80 retains the simplicity and ease of use of the earlier consoles despite the increased feature set. We are at the dawn of the digital console revolution in live sound but things are really starting to accelerate now and the Sy80 is set to do extremely well."
(Lee Baldock)
