According to the theatre's technical manager, Carlos Quieroz, the audio is the first phase of a complete equipment overhaul, and coincides with the renewal of Wycombe Arts Management's contract for the next 10 years. The total programme of refurbishment - expected to span a three-year period - will end up costing the theatre around £750,000. "Lighting should also be upgraded this year, followed by new flying systems," predicts Quieroz.
The audio is based on a new public address system, control - and a complete overhaul of The Swan's paging and show relay system. Quieroz was particularly impressed with the latter, where Marquee has installed four BSS Soundweb 9088ii digital network devices (configured Mic/Line), with a 9010 remote-panel 'Jellyfish' access, to route mic messages to the 81 TOA BS-677WT speakers, powered by MC2 amplifiers. "The clarity is now incredible in key backstage areas, such as the offices and dressing rooms - it's a massive upgrade," he remarked.
Two companies had been asked to tender for the audio contract, and although Quieroz had a long relationship with Marquee Audio's managing director, Spencer Brooks (extending back to his days at the Beck Theatre, Hayes), the deal was won "on price and track record."
Quieroz explained: "Marquee are at the front line of contract work on this scale, throughout the country. They have shown a lot of interest in this project, helping us to maintain our old system and advising us on systems that they knew would work well."
The theatre narrowed down its choice to two proprietary PA systems, which were required to provide coverage for stalls, circle and upper circle. "There are nine of us on the technical staff here and the general opinion was that most of the team had been subjected to d&b systems, which we understand well. There seemed no point embarking on a learning curve unnecessarily."
The proscenium system comprises of six C16 NL4s with a further flown cluster of two C16 NL4s (the entire rig powered and controlled by d&b E-PACs). Two miniature E0s provide the delayed sound in the stalls, while a further six E0s cover the Circle and a pair of C16s the Upper Circle, also on delays. Five full-range E3s fill the coverage gap at the front of the auditorium, while sub frequencies are reproduced through a pair of d&b C17-SUB NL4s.
Eight Martin Audio LE400C floor monitors (powered by Yamaha H7000s) give an equally high-specification look to the stage foldback. System control, including the delay taps, is preset into a Soundweb 9088ii/LL device, while multi-mode mixing is provided by a 40-channel Soundcraft MH4. Front-of-house control includes Sony rackmount CD player and MiniDisc, Drawmer quad/limiter and noise gates, while the BSS FCS-966 Opal Constant Q Graphic EQ provides equalisation of both the house and monitor systems. The theatre also took delivery of a Sennheiser infra-red assisted hearing system.
Marquee's project manager Scott Wakelin, who commissioned the system in early September, said: "Thanks to the forward-thinking attitude of the Wycombe Arts Management we have been able to specify a high standard of equipment - particularly the d&b system and MH4 mixing console, which will serve any incoming production admirably. At the same time we have been able to completely overhaul the venue's existing backstage relay system."
(Lee Baldock)
