Varey opted for a Martin Audio solution. "Given the variety of the entertainment - from Urban and Bhangra nights to comedy, cabaret and cheesey disco, Martin's Blackline range provided the flexibility I needed," said Varey.
The refit included a raised stage area, with DJ plug-in points and extra mic feeds. Varey re-orientated four Martin Audio new AQ215 (2 x 15) subs in the horizontal access, and recessed them under the stage to create additional rumble. The PA system was designed around multiples of Blackline F15's and F12's. Coverage for the bar, chill-out, and peripheral areas is accounted for with four F8's. A pair of F10's provides the reference sound up in the booth.
When it came to lighting, there wasn't any to replace! "This was a dark, dingy room, with no real lighting at all," recalls Student Union business development manager Craig Lithgow.
Varey set to work specifying a complementary dance-floor system, with GENI scanner beams sparring with Coemar moving heads. All fixtures are suspended from Lite Structures ladder truss and supplied by distributors, Lighting Effects Distribution (LED Ltd). While 12 x PAR 64 cans are directed towards the stage, two Coemar ProWash and six ProSpot 250LX moving yoke fixtures battle it out with six GENI Sharma 200 colour changer/gobo projectors and four GENI Burst 2X unique barrel effects, on the dance-floor. Lighting is controlled from a Lightprocessor QCommander, and is brought to life by Antari Z1200 smoke machines and X310 Fazer (with Liquid Control Unit), also supplied by LED Ltd, as were the pair of Hungaroflash EUDMX strobes.
The Academy's house-lighting is pre-programmed on eight different lighting states, for example, Urban, Daylight etc. The effects lighting is equally complementary to events, with the 'Flirt' night bathed in a sea of reds and yellows, and Bhangra night is represented in purple.
Varey said: "I have been a fan of Coemar products for a long time in view of their excellent colour saturation, while the GENI fixtures provide a full range of scanning effects at a sensible price point." Students Union Business Development Manager, Craig Lithgow, is delighted with the new venue, he says: "We have achieved exactly what we wanted, with an impressive sound system and the introduction of lighting, and LED strips. As a result, we enjoyed the best Freshers Week we've had."
(Chris Henry)
