MALTA – Known for being one of Malta’s most popular nightlife hubs, the Paceville area of St. Julians comes alive after dark. And at the centre of the action for many years has been the Nordic Bar, a destination nightclub / sports bar, with a preference for exotic cocktails and superior sound.
Over two decades, Martin Audio partner Futuretech has twice updated its previous sound system installations with more contemporary iterations. However, this latest upgrade is probably the most significant as it features the British manufacturer’s brand new BlacklineQ series.
Futuretech MD Stefan Farrugia was at the front of the pack when it came to unveiling this reimagining of Blackline — a vastly improved version of this iconic series, with its all-new column speakers and a suite of subwoofers.
At the Nordic Bar, the speakers are distributed through five different zones. Aside from the kudos of being BlacklineQ’s first specifier, Farrugia believes the series offers excellent value for money and high quality. “It demonstrateda huge upgrade in quality and headroom, delivering good power without any fatigue,” he said. The system is also equally adept at handling lower-level background music during the day as it is with high-octane DJ-produced music after dark.
In the DJ area (Zone 1) Futuretech have mounted a pair each of Q12 and Q118 subs, with a pair of Q12 DJ monitors (in Zone 2). Four Q12 and pair of Q218 subs provide the sound on the main dancefloor (Zone 3), a further pair of Q10 are found in the Lounge Area (Zone 4), and finally a pair of Q10 provide playback out on the Terrace (Zone 5).
Futuretech also installed a new cable infrastructure and an updated lighting package, and overcame numerous challenges, including a low ceiling, and difficult room set-ups.
Nevertheless the client, Alan Mizzi, is delighted with the fit-out. “The new Martin Audio BlacklineQ system sounds great — without needing to overstretch it — and our clientele are really enjoying the quality of the sound,” he said.
When Claremont McKenna College needed clearer, more intelligible audio inside its bustling Roberts Pavilion, Western Audio Visual partnered with Geer Tech to power the upgrade with LEA Professional’s Connect Series amplifiers. With advanced 96kHz DSP, Hi-Z/Lo-Z flexibility, and remote oversight through LEA Cloud, the arena now delivers crisp, consistent sound for every game, event, and campus gathering. 🏀🎧
Located near the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, Claremont McKenna College (CMC) is a private liberal arts college in Claremont, California, and one of the seven members of the Claremont Colleges consortium. Home to 1,300 students, The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2025 Best US Colleges rankings rated Claremont McKenna as the 5th-best overall college or university and the best liberal arts college in the nation.
When the college’s gym could no longer adequately serve the college’s expanding varsity programs, the school decided to build a new athletic center — Roberts Pavilion. Groundbreaking took place in Spring 2014, and the building officially opened for recreational use in August 2016. Roberts Pavilion has become a central hub for CMC and the Claremont–Mudd–Scripps athletic community, offering cutting-edge facilities for varsity sports, fitness, physical education, and campus-wide events. However, the audio in the event arena no longer met the student body’s needs, so the college embarked on a project to improve the intelligibility and audio experience in the arena.
“LEA Professional was the obvious choice for this project,” said Alyssa Ishi, Applications Engineer at Geer Tech. “Its flexibility to support unique spaces, combined with the power of the Cloud, made all the difference. The students at Claremont College deserve exceptional sound quality, and that’s exactly what they now experience every day.”
THE INSTALL
Western A/V installed 8 Connect Series 704D-ADSP amplifiers and 2 Connect Series 1504D amplifiers. The 4-channel 704D-ADSP provides 700 watts per channel, while the 4-channel 1504D provides 1500 watts per channel. Both IoT-enabled amplifiers are equipped with 96kHz-capable Dante and AES67 connectivity options, support Hi-Z (70V or 100V) and Lo-Z selectable by channel, and feature Smart Power Bridge technology. In addition, the CS704D-ADSP includes advanced DSP with 96kHz linear phase FIR crossover filters, acoustically transparent look ahead RMS and peak limiters, and 32-bit floating-point DSP with built-in sample rate converters.
The Connect Series delivers an industry-first professional amplifier family to feature cloud connectivity, a revolutionary advancement and a significant benefit for anyone maintaining AV systems. With LEA Cloud, AV companies like Western A/V can remotely control and monitor amplifiers from anywhere, at any time, and with no subscription model or hidden costs. It’s completely free to use.
CS704D - ADSP
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THE CONCLUSION
Roberts Pavilion stands today as a testament to ambitious planning and multifunctional campus importance — a true “beating heart” for CMC and its broader community. Besides varsity matchups, the main arena is a versatile, configurable event space ideal for intramural or club competitions, campus convocations, speeches, concerts, and more.
“Taming the reverberation in a gym isn’t easy — the high ceilings, hard bleachers, and parquet floors make it challenging for high intelligibility,” said Kevin Laymon, Project Engineer at Western Audio Visual. “That said, the project turned out great, as was working with Geer Tech and LEA Professional. I wish all my interactions with manufacturers were as enjoyable.”
UK – TiMax x Sonosphere has announced that its flagship studio at London’s Tileyard has been commissioned by Dolby engineer Richard Addis and is now officially listed on the Dolby Atmos Professional global directory. The room represents a paradigm shift in immersive audio production, becoming the second Martin Audio FlexPoint-based Dolby Atmos studio in the world, and the first in Europe.
Unlike traditional Dolby Atmos studios that rely on conventional studio monitors, the TiMax x Sonosphere facility breaks new ground by utilising world-class Martin Audio FlexPoint PA loudspeakers in a 9.1.6 configuration. This approach bridges the longstanding divide between studio production and live event deployment, enabling creators to work in an environment that accurately represents how their content will sound in real-world immersive spaces.
“The decision to use professional PA speakers rather than traditional monitors is fundamental to our vision,” explains Phil Wright, Sound Designer, Mix Engineer and Technical Director at Sonosphere. “We’re not just creating content for playback in other studios; we’re producing work that needs to scale from intimate listening rooms to major live venues. This room allows us to hear exactly what audiences will experience and make creative decisions accordingly.”
At the heart of the studio’s unique capability is its ability to play Audio Definition Model (ADM) files, the standard format for Dolby Atmos content, and leverage TiMax’s third party OSC integration to seamlessly upscale them for deployment through large-scale live sound systems. This ‘studio to stadium’ workflow represents a world-first capability in the UK market, and potentially globally.
THIS ISN’T JUST ANOTHER STUDIO, IT’S A RESOURCE FOR THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY.
“The Sonosphere vision has always been to take ‘small to big’, and to create a workflow where content produced in the studio can be directly scaled for arenas, festivals, and immersive installations without compromise,” says Duncan Bell, Commercial Director at Sonosphere. “As only the second Martin Audio-based Atmos studio in the world, we can now deliver and scale Atmos content produced in our studio to the myriad spaces our projects and clients demand. This isn’t just about mixing in Atmos, it’s about creating content that comes alive in any environment.”
The state-of-the-art facility comprises far more than a Dolby Atmos mixing room. At full capacity, it offers a 26.4.6 TiMax mixing environment featuring TiMax SoundHub 2 and its powerful spatial audio and show control capabilities. The TiMax Tracker D4 system, with eight sensors, provides real-time object tracking and automation, while TiMax panLab offers intuitive spatial control for rapid creative workflows.
The studio’s equipment roster showcases the best of Focusrite Group’s sister brands, with amplification delivered via Linea Research 88C06 amplifiers loaded with FlexPoint presets, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
The use of TiMax as the spatial audio processor underpins the collaboration’s commitment to flexibility and creative control. Unlike other spatial processors, TiMax SoundHub 2 excels in its ability to handle complex object-based audio, integrate show control, and most critically, provide a bridge between studio creation and live deployment. Its track record in theatre, music venues, and installation work worldwide makes it uniquely qualified to deliver on the ‘small to big’ promise.
The partnership between TiMax and Sonosphere brings together complementary expertise. TiMax provides decades of experience in spatial audio processing, show control, and tracking technology, while Sonosphere contributes specialist knowledge in immersive content creation for music, broadcast, and live events.
“Together, the two companies provide a flexible, multi-purpose immersive audio London hub to demonstrate, educate, promote and deliver immersive audio systems, workflow and content,” explains Bell. “This isn’t just another studio, it’s a resource for the entire industry. We’re hosting workshops, demonstrations, panel discussions, and training sessions to share what we’ve learned and push the boundaries of what’s possible in spatial audio.”
The studio offers accredited training programmes, demonstration opportunities, and a space for networking, hospitality, and showcases. It’s designed to be a thriving hub where the immersive audio community can connect, collaborate, and innovate.
The room was specified and implemented by Sonosphere’s Phil Wright in strict accordance with Dolby DARDT guidelines. With calibration by Dolby engineer Richard Addis complete, the facility meets the exacting standards required for professional Dolby Atmos production, ensuring that mixes created in the space will translate accurately wherever they’re delivered.
UAE – AV integrators, Exacting Diseno Technical Services, once again found the Martin Audio loudspeaker portfolio to be perfect for their needs, when asked to specify a sound system for Dubai’s new luxurious French brasserie, La Colline, situated at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort.
The Martin Audio partner was awarded the contract, based on recommendation, after having successfully delivered other projects for the clients previously.
The operation required mainly superior background music reproduction to be delivered, and Exacting Diseno instinctively turned to Martin Audio’s CDD6 as they have in the past. By deploying coaxial differential dispersion technology, they knew this would also be ideal for occasions when live music or more strident DJ playback was required.
The integrators based the system design around two indoor zones with three areas outdoors with separate subwoofer volume control. The fit-out comprised three CDD6 and an SX210 subwoofer in the Bar area, and four CDD6 and pair or SX110 in the separate main zone. Outside sees a further 11 CDD6 deployed, along with four SX112. All CDDs were wall-mounted, and the subs concealed under the seating.
Exacting Diseno founder Lou Agha said the choice of CDD6 this time had been based around “size, sound quality and colour options.” He had persuaded the client to adopt white versions, which he said had been the correct decision, bearing in mind the overall interior aesthetic.
The installation was supported by Martin Audio’s territorial distributor, PRO LAB.
Commenting on the installation, the client said, “The concept was developed by a passionate team led by Alain El Tawil, blending French culinary tradition with a relaxed, elegant atmosphere.We were extremely impressed by the sound quality.”
Photos by Steven Woodburn.
Thanks to
Distributor: PRO LAB Installation Partner: Exacting Diseno Technical Services
THAILAND – Since opening for business in late 2023, Emsphere seemingly has it all. Between the Gourmet market in the lower levels to the prominent EM Live and Tribe venues on the rooftop, leading retailers have made it their home in between. Adding diversity to this rich mix on level four, Cubic is marketing itself as Bangkok’s best and only social and high-performance club. The installed Martin Audio loudspeaker system demonstrates why Cubic is no gymnasium.
“At Cubic, we evolve limits, break boundaries and build a fitness community that thrives on sweat, results and fun,” explained managing director Omaar Makia, adding that the Emsphere site is the third addition to the Cubic network in Bangkok. “The concept of Cubic breaks away from that of a normal gym where individuals train by themselves. Here, we host activities with others or with a personal trainer. We want our members to spend more time here, by socialising, working, recovering, taking in nutrition and having physiotherapy.”
“At Cubic, we evolve limits, break boundaries and build a fitness community that thrives on sweat, results and fun,” explained managing director Omaar Makia, adding that the Emsphere site is the third addition to the Cubic network in Bangkok. “The concept of Cubic breaks away from that of a normal gym where individuals train by themselves. Here, we host activities with others or with a personal trainer. We want our members to spend more time here, by socialising, working, recovering, taking in nutrition and having physiotherapy.”
From the entrance to the training rooms where groups practice Pilates, participate in cycling classes or simply relax in the café, audio is a central theme. Suitably impressed by a demonstration provided by Hamilton Thai consultant Ryan Oldcorn, Cubic’s management requested for a high-powered Martin Audio speaker system to provide the right ambience. “Specifying the right audio system is vital as it sets the right vibe for our members,” continued Makia.
Cubic co-owner Ommar Makia and Hamilton Thai owner Ryan Oldcorn
“Together with the LED lighting, audio is a crucial aspect of the entire experience and helps to differentiate it. The high-power handling capabilities, even dispersion, intelligibility and full range definition characteristics were extremely impressive.”
A Pioneer XDJ-RR Rekordbox DJ booth is the focal point of the social area beyond reception. Here, Cubic’s scene is set with an old retro speaker backdrop surround enveloping two white-finished Martin Audio X15 Blackline speaker enclosures. A Martin Audio SX118 Blackline single 18-inch subwoofer located under the DJ booth enhances Cubic’s social credentials onto a par with Tribe.
Providing members with ample SPLs, the fitness zones beyond the social area are equipped with Martin Audio CDD8s, CDD12s and Adorn speakers. DSP presets stored in the Symetrix Composer software were programmed by supplier Fuzion Far East, with applications engineer Ben Walters assisting in the design and execution of the project. “We design and install many fitness centres here in Thailand,” he commented. “Although Cubic is highly unique, the reflective acoustic surfaces such as mirrors, glass and hard floors are as difficult to tame as a gymnasium. We managed to cure this by ensuring the speakers are focusing their energies on the workout areas away from the hard surfaces.”
A further challenge was encountered when the instructors wearing Shure SVX4 wireless systems experienced feedback from the Martin Audio speakers. “This was solved by adding a smaller, but separate Martin Audio Adorn loudspeaker system, as the PTs receive their audio signal from a different source,” explained Walters. “Now, the Shure SVX4 wireless system works perfectly without interference or feedback.”
Photos by Steven Woodburn.
Thanks to
Distributor: Fuzion Far East Installation Partner: Fuzion Far East
AUS – A major makeover of a popular Sydney-based 80s retro venue in the city’s Central Business District has resulted in a completely reimagined multi-concept venue, called The Bristol.
Owned and operated by burgeoning leisure hospitality company, Oscars Group, the historic former Bristol Arms Hotel trades on five storeys, each with its own theme, including restaurants, bars, a nightclub, rooftop and event spaces, after being closed for the previous four years.
Retaining much of its nightclub roots, the potent Calypso nightclub — its ceiling adorned with 300 mirrorballs — has been equipped with Martin Audio’s CDD coaxial differential dispersion series. In fact, CDDs provide the audio playback solution from the ground up, with more than 60 enclosures right across the series visible throughout — purpose mounted in their dedicated yoke assemblies and maximised for wide dispersion.
Anthony Russo, technical director of Technical Audio Group (TAG), Martin Audio’s Australian distributor, worked alongside system integrators Pro Sound and Lighting (Wollongong) to deliver this Martin Audio deployment, on the express wishes of the client (for whom TAG had previously supplied the brand at previous operations).
WITH THE NEW MARTIN AUDIO SYSTEM, GUESTS WILL ENJOY A RICHER, MORE IMMERSIVE SOUND EXPERIENCE
CDD makes its biggest statement in Calypso, equipped with soft furnishing, and with a carpet extending across the dancefloor, giving it a classy New York club feel. The main room features six CDD15 distributed around the dancefloor in an immersive configuration, with a pair of SX118s under the booth and further pair for delay.
“CDD’s wide dispersion really lent itself to the low ceiling, and its throw onto the dancefloor,” continues Russo. “Being coaxial it is a true point source, whether on or off axis, with great time alignment.” Each booth seating is also served by its own CDD10, while a separate annexe can either function as a separate breakout room, equipped with CDD10 and SX212 subwoofers, or as an annexe to the main room.
Such is the cachet that the venue has acquired in little time, that it has already hosted an appearance by Groove Armada who played a DJ set in the Calypso lounge.
Elsewhere, up in the Rooftop, where the popular Sunday sessions overlook the harbour, the doors are opened up and DJs play out under the stars through weatherised CDD10-WRs. The muscularity of the CDD enclosures can also be felt in the main Bristol Sports Bar, where patrons congregate in front of a giant 11-metre screen, while the other spaces include Ela Ela, a Greek restaurant on the ground floor, and Midtown Bar & Lounge piano bar and cocktail lounge.
Commenting on the system, Claude Spinelli, General Manager of Pro Sound and Lighting, “We have completed a brand-new Martin Audio speaker installation which brings world class sound to one of the region’s favourite venues. This upgrade delivers crystal clear vocals, warm, full low-end and even coverage across the entire room — perfect audio for DJs, bands, functions and weekend parties.
“With the new Martin Audio system, guests will enjoy a richer, more immersive sound experience — no dead spots, no harsh highs, just beautiful balanced audio everywhere you stand.
“Installed byPro Sound and Lighting, this setup is built for reliability, power, and premium performance, making the Bristol event-ready for any night of the week.”
Photos by Steven Woodburn.
Thanks to
Distributor: Technical Audio Group (TAG) Installation Partner: Pro Sound and Lighting
UK – For their second Dead Wax project with Laine Pub Company – this time in Norwich – Penguin Media Solutions spun Optimal Audio into the mix, supporting a Martin Audio system that hits the perfect groove for vinyl devotees and indie-music fans, extending effortlessly into every corner of the venue.
With patrons eager to see the venue reopen, Penguin’s Technical Project Manager Dylan Thompson worked closely with Laine designer Rob Hall, were tasked with restoring the magic. The brief was clear: “avoid a black box in each corner” and instead embrace quirky, mission-critical solutions that matched Dead Wax’s personality and its creative crowd.
On the ground floor bar, Thompson built the foundation of the system around warmth and musicality, specifying Optimal Audio Sub10s to deliver full-bodied low-frequency support that complements the venue’s vinyl-focused aesthetic.
Across the remainder of the venue, Optimal Audio Cuboid 3TX loudspeakers extend the experience into every nook – covering toilets, stairwells and the outdoor smoking area with consistent, comfortable sound. IP-rated kits ensure the system performs reliably in exposed locations, while amplification from Linea Research provides clean, stable power throughout.
Opening night confirmed the impact, with queues forming down the street. “It is different from Brighton though still very music-centric and really fits what Norwich is about, with an arts college next door,” says Thompson. “I thoroughly enjoyed working on this … and it was great to work with a client that allowed us to flirt with it!”
Rob Hall echoes the sentiment: “What the system has done is elevate the whole venue and given a flexibility that was not there before. It does lots of things at the same time in a warm and layered way. You can feel the quality at low volume, but at the same time the impact of the venue is epic. It delivers the flexibility and multipurpose solution we wanted.”
With Optimal Audio delivering clarity, warmth and simplicity in a symbiotic solution with Martin Audio and Linea Research across the space, Dead Wax Norwich is ready for a new generation of music lovers – spinning, playing and performing exactly as the venue deserves.
UK – In a constant drive to keep its long-standing, multi-faceted resorts at the cutting edge of all round entertainment, Butlin’s recently commissioned advance sound system upgrades at their facilities in Skegness and Bognor Regis.
Since Butlin’s entertainment mix now extends far beyond its origins as a ‘holiday camp’ destination — today ranging from Big Weekenders to Conferences and Events — Head of Technical Entertainment, Andrew Sugg, recognised that its development should be matched with professional, best-in-class audio. And so he turned to his regular contractor, Robin Shephard-Blandy of Illuminate Design for advice. The outcome was an advanced, and scalable Martin Audio Wavefront Precision WPC line array in each of its 1200-plus capacity Centre Stage venues.
Butlin’s are no strangers to the British loudspeaker brand. “We’ve been using Martin Audio systems for probably 20-plus years,” says Sugg. Certainly the old sound system at Centre Stage in Skegness — one of four integrated high-octane venues within the holiday complexes — was showing its age. “Both upgrades were long overdue,” he adds. “Robin has worked with us over the years and understands our business and its requirements.”
This can vary from family entertainment, through to Big Weekenders, featuring DJs and bands, while onstage interviews and year-round family entertainment also require high grade speech intelligibility. “So the actual scale of what a system needs to deliver is multi-faceted.”
Conversations took place with different brand vendors before Martin Audio’s Technical Sales Support, Nigel Meddemmen, undertook site visits to Skegness and Bognor Regis and created design options via visualisation models in Martin Audio’s DISPLAY 3 software. Andrew Sugg had recognised the value that Martin Audio could bring through their support and development opportunities for Butlin’s team.
SEEING A NAME LIKE ‘MARTIN AUDIO’ ON THE TECH SPECS HELPS CEMENT THE FACT WE ARE A PROFESSIONAL VENUE.
But the implementation would require far from a cookie cutter approach since structurally the Centre Stages at the respective venues couldn’t have been more different. “The one in Skegness is high, with a balcony, while the one in Bognor Regis is in a fairly low-ceilinged, very wide venue.”
The designs are based respectively on four- and five-box WPC hangs, with four of Martin Audio’s shorter throw TORUS T1215 in a centre cluster. Multiples of CDD15 provide left/right outfills, while CDD10s are detailed for delay duties, and five CDD12s provide balcony coverage in Skegness.
Subwoofers comprise eight stacks of two SXC118 in a cardioid array, run off Martin Audio iKON iK42 multi-channel amplifiers, while iK81s drive the remainder of the rig. “The enhanced coverage and controllability of the Skegness design was such an improvement on the previous setup that it was also deployed at Bognor Regis to deliver a much smoother sub deployment across the room.”
Meddemmen’s Martin Audio tech support colleagues, Paul Connaughton and Marc Paynter, took over at the later stages, assisting with system engineering and commissioning. ‘Hard Avoid’ was applied to the rear of the venue at Skegness, where it abuts onto the Skyline Pavilion, while at Bognor Regis, Centre Stage is housed in a building directly above Reds, another Butlin’s venue — and so that also required some sound isolation. The installation has been set up as analogue but can flip via a managed network switch to Dante digital as needed.
“The fact that Martin Audio were able to validate the system and put their seal of approval on it gave reassurance not only to Andrew’s guys but also visiting acts and engineers that the system has been set up correctly,” says Shephard-Blandy.
Andrew Sugg takes it further. “Although we don’t need to be rider compliant for day-to-day business, when we go into Big Weekenders, seeing a name like ‘Martin Audio’ on the tech specs helps cement the fact we are a professional venue. We now see this very much as an ongoing relationship.”
As for Illuminate Design they managed to deliver both venues, which were commissioned close apart, without either going dark. “The fact that we stayed fully operational is a testament to how smoothly the transition from the old systems to the new went,” acknowledges Andrew Sugg.
Summing up, he says, “What Martin Audio and Illuminate Design have achieved is superb. Artists coming through are extremely happy, putting us at the professional end of audio … something you wouldn’t necessarily expect at Butlin’s.”
“In fact we are now looking at future projects which will certainly involve Martin Audio and Illuminate Design again.”
When Bethlehem Baptist Church set out to improve clarity and power in its sanctuary, JCA Media turned to LEA Professional’s Connect Series amplifiers. With built-in DSP, Smart Power Bridge flexibility, and remote monitoring through LEA Cloud, the new system delivers crystal-clear sound from pulpit to pew. ⛪⭐
Bethlehem Baptist Church, located in Greensburg, Kentucky, is a small, rural Christian congregation in a community where faith and tradition hold deep significance. A modest, brick building with a steeple — its interior is reflective of a traditional Baptist style, with pews arranged in rows facing the pulpit and a sense of reverence and intimacy in the service. Although open and airy, the parishioners struggled to hear and understand the sermon at times. Amplifiers from LEA Professional were the perfect solution to increase headroom during musical worship and provide better intelligibility for spoken liturgy.
Church staff contacted Alex Peake, a project manager at JCA Media, to design a new audio system for the sanctuary. Since the LEA Connect Series of two-, four-, and eight-channel amplifiers are the most full-featured in the industry, Peake recommended them to meet the church’s goal of high intelligibility.
“Most amplifiers are being commoditized and sold at almost the same price,” said Alex Peake, project manager at JCA Media. “But then LEA adds in DSP capabilities, a control system [WebUI], and remote connectivity [LEA Cloud], essentially all for free. Those are huge benefits and a lot of the reason LEA is the primary amplifier I’m installing these days.”
THE INSTALL
Peake installed Connect Series 354 amplifiers to power the church’s new monitors as well as existing mains. The IoT-enabled 4-channel 354 provides 350 watts per channel into 2, 4, and 8 ohms, and 70Vrms and 100Vrms. It supports Hi-Z (70V or 100V) and Lo-Z selectable by channel and features Smart Power Bridge technology. The integrated 96kHz DSP effectively eliminated the need for unnecessary equipment in the rack, ensuring the overall job cost was kept to a minimum.
The Connect Series delivers an industry-first professional amplifier family to feature cloud connectivity, a revolutionary advancement, and a significant benefit for anyone maintaining the systems. With LEA Cloud, AV companies like JCA Media can remotely control and monitor amplifiers from anywhere, at any time, and with no subscription model or hidden costs. It’s completely free to use.
CS354D
CS354D
CS704
WebUI functions as a simple on-site control interface, offering integrators and end users an easy-to-use platform to view and adjust channel settings, ranging from load monitoring to EQ adjustments, through any standard web browser. For AV companies like JCA Media, WebUI streamlines on-the-spot testing and modifications, enabling efficient system setup and fine-tuning during system installation.
THE CONCLUSION
The difference between the old and new audio systems was immediately apparent. Parishioners no longer needed to struggle to understand the sermon, and the musical worship reproduction was crisp and clean.
“Being able to mix and match four ohm, eight ohm, 70 volt, and 100 volt on the same amplifier is great,” said Peake. “And my favorite fact is that you don’t lose channels when you want to do that. Top it off with cloud connectivity for remote support, and that’s why I use LEA amplifiers every chance I get.”
AUS – The Caterpillar Club, Sydney’s latest underground music venue, boasts one of the world’s largest vinyl collections.
Drawing inspiration from the 70s, and the vibrant clubs of New York, bands also play five nights a week, and according to general manager, Emma Franceschini “any time there’s not a band on there’s a DJ spinning vinyl.” This includes the secret Bamboo Room Tiki bar where DJs can also be found at the weekend.
Tasked with turning the vision of operators Stefan & Anton Forte (from Swillhouse Group) into reality, was renowned sound engineer Anthony Russo from Technical Audio Group (TAG). And he instinctively turned to Martin Audio’s premium CDD loudspeaker system to meet all eventualities.
IT’S THE PREMIUM SOLUTION FOR A LOT OF TOP VENUES AROUND AUSTRALIA
As he emphasises, this needed to be a statement of uncompromising quality “where every seat needs to be the best seat.” His design, therefore, was built to handle everything from the warm sound of vinyl to the crisp clarity of digital recordings through to the huge demands of the club’s live acts.
There is little Anthony Russo doesn’t know about the characteristics of Martin Audio’s coaxial differential dispersion technology, having specified CDD many times. “It’s the premium solution for a lot of top venues around Australia,” he acknowledges. “In every room [at the Caterpillar] you’ll see CDD8s and 6s and concealed SX110 subs in the ceiling and under the banquette seating right through to the FOH system which is a powerful CDD12 system—with a delay system, complete with LE100 foldback wedges.”
In total, he has equipped the venue with over 60 speakers, 30 amplifier channels, and a staggering 40k watts of available amplifier power, ensuring that each patron is treated to unprecedented even coverage over eight zones.Even the Bamboo Room indulges patrons with a powerful Martin Audio system that would be more at home on a large dance floor.
To ensure the detail of vinyl can be heard with absolute hi-fi clarity, while enabling easy conversation to take place at the tables, the large complement of speakers delivers a range from lounge low-volume chill levels to a live performance experience of a concert without needing to be overdriven.
Explaining the rationale, he says, “It is also designed to provide consistent coverage of the whole room while permitting everyone to have what I call a ‘headphone experience’. There’s always a speaker nearby, not too loud, just at the right level. It’s something people haven’t been used to, a real HiFi experience in a live venue environment and that’s why we’re infinitely proud.”
This focus on precision extends to cutting-edge digital audio processing, networking, mixing and amplification, while to do justice to the vast vinyl library, Caterpillar invested in a handmade Australian custom-made rotary DJ console from Condesa.
The final confirmation comes from Emma Franceschini: “The thing about the Martin Audio system is you have that extra clarity in the room. And since we’re a vinyl bar, and you want to be able to hear the nuances, a world class sound system like Martin Audio lets you do that.”
Photo credit: Jason Varney
Thanks to
Distribution Partner: Technical Audio Group (TAG) Installation Partner: Technical Audio Group (TAG)
