Moore Park's capabilities were recently expanded with the addition of Theatre One, a 20-seat theatrette with grading, audio post, mixing and 3D screening capabilities. A partnership with Definition Films, the new room packs serious technical capabilities into a small space, which has seen it working solidly since its opening in February. Hoyts were commissioned to install a Christie Projector, Harkness Microperf Screen, Xpand 3D System and Doremi Showvault 4K DCP Server.
"We finished painting in the morning and it started working in the afternoon!" said Elaine Beckett, general manager of Trackdown. The Theatre's first job was impressive; picture checking of visual effects for Baz Luhrmann's blockbuster The Great Gatsby.
So what does a world-class audio and post facility choose for cinema monitoring? Surprisingly, not monitors! Trackdown, with assistance from Jands' Rod McKinnon, opted for a full cinema loudspeaker system from JBL with matching amplification and DSP from Crown.
The full-scale L/C/R system features three JBL 3722-Ns, which pack impressive dual 15' woofers plus horn into a compact cabinet. Four JBL 8340A two-way surround speakers pump out a respectable 250W (continuous) each, while a JBL 3635 single 18" sub rounds out the low end.
Three Crown DSi2000 cinema power amplifiers, specifically matched to run JBL ScreenArray loudspeakers, power the wide dynamic range needed in film. The amps also take care of signal processing on-board, with the ability to handle crossovers, EQ, delay and output limiting.
The system has had a serious workout since installation. WWI film Forbidden Ground was mixed in March, Camera D'Or winner Warwick Thornton's new film The Dark Sidehas passed through, and a new concert documentary on beloved troubadour Paul Kelly and Neil Finn was recently mixed in the space. So how has the system been received by Trackdown's demanding clientele?
"One mixer in particular was thrilled to be working in a premix space with theatre monitoring," related Elaine. "It's quite common to have small monitors in premix rooms. He was very impressed he got to work with theatre speakers in a premix environment before moving on to a final mix stage and finishing. What he mixed in the theatrette translated so well to the large theatre because of that."
Mixing and control duties are driven by a 24 fader Avid D-Command control surface, and The Theatre runs a ProTools HDX-2 system with a full suite of plug-ins. The Theatre is working steadily, with many upcoming projects slated to get the finishing touches. Servicing the elite of Australian and overseas clientele, Trackdown are sure to be mixing future Oscar winners in The Theatre in the coming years.
(Jim Evans)
