Protec supports Optimum at Ricoh Arena
- Details
Protec put together a bespoke audio and video package working alongside Christie Lites for this production servicing a corporate presentation, an awards ceremony, the showcasing of two new vehicles, live entertainment including singers, dancers and theatrical performers, and a gala dinner.
Production manager for Optimum, Tony Butler reports: “Protec have been fantastic on the most recent production for Optimum at the Ricoh Arena. From early planning and budgeting, all the way through the pre-production process and on-site delivery the whole team have supported me superbly. I can’t thank them enough for making my job so much easier & the client’s reaction to the project says it all. A true bunch of dedicated professionals.”
HOD of video Sean Godefroy notes: “Barco E2 was the ideal choice to handle the pixel space of all the content as there were 4K inputs and outputs and it is incredibly flexible in a show environment. We chose a 2.6mm Unilumin LED wall measuring 12 x 5m with a resolution of 4608 x 1920 flanked by two circular side screens using double stacked Barco 30k projectors to display camera feeds ensuring a vivid, sharp display. We also used two Panasonic 12K projectors for the relay screens projecting 16 x 9 content and one DSM monitor for the main presenter’s speech.”
Ben Waters reports on the audio choices. "For this event we chose to put in L-Acoustics, using Kara for the main PA hangs, with flown SB18 and ground stacked KS28 sub elements. As for out-fills, we used ARCS Wide for the sides of the hall and we used more Kara to improve the dancefloor coverage as well. Along the thrust we used X8s as lip-fills, and also put in some X8’s as near-field monitors for the visiting engineer too, all powered off LA12X amps. To control the PA we used three Lake LM44 system processors to make sure the whole PA was all aligned and sounding sweet throughout.”
For control and networking Waters used Yamaha consoles - CL5 at Monitors and a QL5 at front of house - on a Dante network with Yamaha Rio boxes. For radios, they used all Sennheiser, both EW500 Handhelds as well as Sennheiser SR2050 in ear monitors, totalling over 30 radio channels in use. Playback was triggered over a QLab system consisting of main and back up, which also sent timecode out.
Protec implemented the new Riedel Bolero comms system. The whole PA was designed in house, by HOD Ben Waters, using L-Acoustics Soundvision.
(Jim Evans)
