Tim Hearn explains: "Because of the layout of the theatres, the University wanted to be able to run both rooms independently but also have the option to remove the dividing wall and run it as one. They needed to be able to run the two rooms from either sound control unit." As far as the overall system was concerned, the requirements were certainly wide ranging. "Flexibility is how we viewed it," continues Hearn. "The University wanted to use the theatres for a variety of different applications, so we designed a sound system for spoken word, sound reproduction and even cinematic projection."
Both theatres are traditional tiered rooms, which presented the sound designers with further problems, as speaker sight lines became a consideration. "We decided on a full range system, using Mackie Industrial Vision Speakers. The mid high enclosures, Vision 152s had to be flown in front of the stage area (because of the sight lines) with the 180SW subs in the Gods. These were linked to a Mackie 16/4/2 mixer, driven by RCF HC3200 amps. The system also uses CD and cassette recording to allow for the recording of lectures."
Because of the requirement to operate both sound systems either jointly or individually, and to allow simple non-technical operation with different sources, Mackie Designs UK's Andy Austin-Brown specified XTA DP226s in each theatre, utilizing pre-set EQ and configuration memories to cater for the different response from inputs, particularly when Cinema Sound and vision was used. Linking of the two theatres was arranged via subgroup outputs of each Mackie mixer via a custom-built patch bay.
(Ruth Rossington)
