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Martin Audio

WPS PROVIDES POWER, COVERAGE AND SIMPLICITY AT UMW’S DODD AUDITORIUM

Situated in Fredericksburg, VA, the 1200-seat multipurpose Dodd Auditorium, at the University of Mary Washington (UMW), has been treated to a new, fully DSP-optimised Wavefront Precision line array from Martin Audio.

The installation, which comprises hangs of seven elements per side, was undertaken by Martin Audio partner, Soundworks of Virginia.

Soundworks had worked at the venue many times over the years as a rental provider, notably at commencement ceremonies. Their CEO Steve Payne observed, “At these events all parents really care about is hearing their kid’s name read out clearly. But this was always a challenge over a 250ft throw distance.” But this is just one of a variety of events hosted at the venue, including all types of performance arts, lectures and movies.

Soundworks had traditionally frontlined another PA system, but it was when they switched to Martin Audio, and the WPS, that a profound improvement in coverage and intelligibility became evident. “It was a totally different experience,” he said. “What had become a challenging job now looked easy. The Martin Audio system is so much more sophisticated; it’s all in the processing, and the software.”

Douglas Noble,Executive Director of Dodd Auditorium, had been equally impressed, and when he set out his requirements to Payne for a permanent PA upgrade he initially stated, ‘I don’t think we have it in our budget, but I would love to put a WPS system in Dodd!’ The Soundworks CEO started crunching the numbers and indeed made it work.

WE LOVE OUR MARTIN AUDIO ARRAYS.

Douglas Noble, Dodd Auditorium

While Soundworks are not traditionally an installation company—“we’ve probably done three in total, and all for clients for whom we previously supplied temporary sound”—Steve Payne agreed that WPS was the system best fit for purpose. “The previous system was at least a decade old, and comprised a main cluster, balcony speakers, delays for the mezzanine … all kinds of speakers all over the place, everything delayed. When I looked at how complicated the existing system was, I knew we could simply do two hangs in there, cover the entire room, with some front fills as a precaution. “We’re now getting way better coverage throughout the room and it’s much simpler.”

The hall itself is a traditional rectangular space, with proscenium, slightly raked stalls with fixed seating and a balcony level. A pair of SXC118 cardioid subs were placed under the stage, which Payne notes is sonically well-matched with WPS. Four FlexPoint FP6 are spaced evenly across the front of the stage in mono. “These are great sounding little speakers, and we use them a lot,” he says. A further six Martin Audio XP12s are deployed as stage monitors, the set-up powered from a pair each of Martin Audio iKON iK81 and 1K42, multi-channel DSP amps in 1-box resolution.

Although the installation process was relatively straightforward, there was a delay while additional steels were added to the roof. “Although the entire PA hang weighed no more than around 500lbs, they had installed a roof-mounted air conditioning system which had maxed out the roof load!”

Very little adjustment to the room parameters was required and the WPS hangs throw effortlessly to the back. “The software is incredible,” reasoned the Soundworks CEO. “After many years of using speaker systems that don’t have that software the difference is phenomenal. You make the measurements, put it into the software and tell it the variation and level you want from front to back row and it works it out. We knew we could programme Hard Avoid on the back wall if needed but we didn’t find it was much of a problem.

“The way the system is set up it will play much louder than they will ever need it to; it means anyone coming in can now use the house system for pretty much anything that takes place in there.”

“We loved working with Steve Payne on this project,” responded Douglas Noble. “We trusted him to make our space sound amazing and he didn’t disappoint.We love our Martin Audio arrays.”

Later, following a symphony and choir performance in the Auditorium, he reinforced this. “The sound was absolutely amazing. The audience response was incredible, and I even had one audience member mention how wonderful our new system was, and asked why it hadn’t happened sooner.”

Another who praised the overall coverage, clarity and power of the system, was Director of the Events AV Office, Mark Simpkins, who assists with training the student staff in the Auditorium.

Aside from Payne, who specified the system and oversaw the project, Garrett Milich generated the system documentation and accomplished the physical installation. Other members of the Soundworks team included Bryan Hargrave, who undertook the room measurements, ran the Martin Audio DISPLAY files, and did the final room tuning, while Mathew Walsh also assisted with the physical installation.

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Optimal Audio

Optimal Audio marries simplicity with audio harmony at Blackbrook Barns

ENGLAND: Bespoke wedding and events venue, Blackbrook Barns found its perfect match in the Optimal Audio ecosystem which married its need for a simple to use system with the delivery of a diverse range of audio styles – from the soft melodies of a ceremony to lively evening celebrations – across the multi-zoned venue.

The venue team needed an audio system that would keep pace with the ebb and flow of a meticulously planned wedding day and a key challenge was the creation of an experience that covered a range of uses, including background music, speeches, live performances, and live DJs, without complicating operation to ensure that staff could focus on delivering a flawless event rather than managing a complex sound system.

Local installer Richer Sounds, with the support of Logan Helps from Audio Technica, designed and installed an ecosystem that was both powerful and flexible, ticking the boxes for each area including the main ceremony and reception areas, a bar, and two outdoor spaces.

Optimal Audio’s Cuboid 6 loudspeakers were chosen for the long barn, providing full coverage and excellent voice reproduction for ceremonies and receptions. Cuboid 5 loudspeakers are wall-mounted in the bar area, delivering high-quality background sound without overwhelming guests. For the outdoor zones, weather-resistant Cuboid 6 models, fitted with waterproof covers, ensure great sound whatever the season.

Driving the system is the Zone 8P controller, offering eight zones of audio with a user-friendly interface. The Amp100 amplifier provides the necessary power for the outdoor loudspeakers, ensuring consistent coverage. With the added flexibility of Audio Technica’s AT-One wireless system, speeches and announcements are now crystal clear throughout the venue.

The entire system had to be installed and commissioned within a week, as a wedding was scheduled for the upcoming weekend. With tight deadlines, the ease of installation was a significant advantage. The venue team, with the support of Richer Sounds, was able to get the system up and running in record time.

One of the biggest wins for Blackbrook Barns was the simplicity of WebApp, Optimal Audio’s intuitive control platform. Instead of wrestling with complex settings, staff can now manage audio effortlessly from the convenience of an iPad located in the bar area, with preset scenes tailored to each part of the day.

From the gentle background music that welcomes guests to the clarity of speech during ceremonies, and onto the evening’s entertainment, everything is controlled at the tap of a button. While the venue opted not to use automated routines, the ability to switch between preset audio settings ensured that transitions between different event stages were stress-free.

Staff members, who may not have previous audio experience, found WebApp incredibly easy to use, as the intuitive interface meant that everything was accessible without technical training. “The ability to adjust sound levels on the fly and move through the different parts of a wedding day with simple preset selections is a huge benefit,” said Peter James from Blackbrook Barns. “It means we don’t need a dedicated sound technician on hand – we can run everything ourselves with confidence.”

A key advantage of the Optimal Audio system is its scalability. With plans for a dedicated performance area in a future phase, Blackbrook Barns wanted a system that could grow alongside the venue’s ambitions. Thanks to the Zone 8P’s flexible architecture and the ability to add additional amplification, expanding the system will be seamless when the time comes.

Future plans include integrating a performance space in the Orangery, where live musicians and DJs can take advantage of the existing infrastructure. By selecting a system that allows for expansion, Blackbrook Barns has ensured they won’t have to replace their setup as the venue evolves.

Logan Helps, who supported the installation, highlighted the speed and ease of setup: “The system arrived on Monday, and we had it fully installed and commissioned by the weekend for a wedding. The simplicity of Optimal Audio’s products made the installation process incredibly efficient, and the end result is a system that offers fantastic sound quality with effortless control.”

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