But to acoustician Martin Grainger, of Omagh-based Grainger Communication, the only thing on his mind was working within the eight-second reverberation time which dogged the sound in the large St. Patrick's Basilica. Grainger has been servicing the requirements of Lough Derg for around 20 years, but knowing that only a complete audio refurbishment would provide the necessary solution, he wanted to ensure that the first phase would provide a leap forward for the officiating clergy. And so he set off armed with a Soundweb and his EASE modelling software.
"The Basilica was built around 1910 and the sound has been like this for years," he said. "We are looking at providing a complete acoustic treatment via systematic upgrade but I knew that Soundweb would immediately provide a level of control."
Grainger, a member of the Institute of Acoustics (IOA), had introduced both EASE and Soundweb to the principals the previous year. "I gave them a brief demonstration, showing other places we had treated, to explain what reverberation time was all about and how intelligibility might be improved. I told them we could provide all the tools in a small box, with little in the way of user controls."
Enter Soundweb. A 9088iiMM, accompanied by a 9010 'Jellyfish' Remote panel, were specified and ordered from BSS Audio's Irish distributor, Reynolds of Raphoe. "We were able to set up a whole series of scenarios using Soundweb and the Jellyfish, which is mounted on a lectern in the sanctuary area," Martin explained. "The officiating clergy can simply recall the ceremony they wish to activate - via the presets. There's nothing further to be done."
With CD and minidisc feeds complementing the live microphones, Grainger intends to turn the single-zone interior design into "at least four zones, with further zones to feed the loop system and another to feed other parts of the complex." At that time he expects to add further 'Jellyfish' remote control points and expand the functionality of Soundweb into a conventional router.
He concludes: "There are so many tools in Soundweb that allow you to accurately EQ the system, along with gates to activate the mics etc. This had never been done at Lough Derg before, and the principals are delighted. Soundweb is definitely the way forward - especially where churches are concerned."
(Lee Baldock)
