The Madeleine Centre is a fully functioning performing arts venue, incorporating a series of classrooms, drama rooms, a gallery space and the impressive Montagner Auditorium. The 456 seat auditorium and the accompanying rooms are already heavily used each day, playing host to drama and theatre studies, music classes, band rehearsals, meetings, assemblies, seminars, concerts, recitals and theatre productions.
Lightmoves were contracted to supply and install the theatrical lighting, sound and lighting control packages for the new artistic hub. For the PA, Lightmoves turned JBL.
The main auditorium features a high ceiling, curved walls and minimal space in which to mount a speaker system. A JBL VRX line array was chosen, given its small footprint and focussed output.
In total, the system comprises of eight JBL VRX928LA array top boxes, two JBL VRX 915S subs and four JBL AC15 front-fill speakers. For amplification there are two Crown Xli4000 stereo units for the arrays (two speakers per channel), two Crown XLS2000 stereo units for the subs (the two channels on each are bridged for extra power) and one Crown XLS2000 stereo unit for the front-fills (again two speakers per channel). The front-fill speakers are used for front coverage when the retractable seating is in use which brings the auditoriums capacity from 416 seats to 450.
"I find that the front of house suits the space very well," commented Sam McKenzie, Genazzano theatre technician. "We've had performers including cast from the musical Hairspray, international speakers and prestigious guests and many have commented on how good the sound quality is in the auditorium. Listening in different areas of the auditorium I find that there is nice even coverage throughout. Running the subs in stereo is great during productions where panning can be used as a special effect."
For mixing a Soundcraft GB4 32/4/2 mixing console was chosen along with a couple of Lexicon MX300 stereo reverb/effects processors, a Lexicon MPX1 2in 2out multi effects processor and a DBX-231 graphic equaliser.
The venue also utilises a Clear-Com RM-702 professional remote intercom station whose remote speaker/headset station allows two-channel selectable talk and listen in one rack space. For microphones there is a selection of Shure models; four Beta 58, four Beta 57 and a MX412/C.
(Jim Evans)
