Author: ContentAdmin

Recently, Wuping No. 1 Middle School in China’s Hubei Province celebrated its 100th anniversary, during which it has adhered to a philosophy of “cultivating people with moral integrity and all-round development”. During that time it has trained more than 50,000 graduates, many of whom have become high ranked in governing the country, studying, and developing industries.

To mark the occasion, a specialForever Azaleaconcert was performed in the concert hall of the newly built Science and Art Museum, presenting an audio-visual feast to alumni, guests, teachers and students. Martin Audio’s signature sound and consistent coverage created a stunning live atmosphere for the concert, which the school is seeing as a new starting point.

Going forward, this auditorium will be used for a variety of concerts and operas, as well as other cultural and artistic activities, including major conferences, with the new Martin Audio TORUS providing precise coverage, sound consistency and scalability. It is generally agreed that this has created a wonderful auditory space for teachers, students and audiences alike.

In the early stages of the project design, the technical team used Martin Audio’s proprietary DISPLAY3 predictive software to model coverage, sound propagation characteristics and other factors. This simulation provided the optimum solution.

The left and right hangs comprise the classic TORUS constant curvature array, to provide excellent bandwidth and clarity. Each hang consists of six T1215 and a pair of T1230 array speakers—the former providing an SPL of up to 134dB (6dB), and the latter an SPL of up to 132dB (6dB). It comfortably meets all live performance requirements.

TORUS constant curvature cabinets have two vertical angles of 15° and 30°, with a coverage distance of up to 30 meters and capacity to manually adjust horizontal dispersion coverage patterns for additional flexibility.

In order to enhance LF extension, two Martin Audio SXCF118 18in cardioid subwoofers have been installed in combination with the TORUS T12 array. With its cardioid directivity, compact footprint and high energy output characteristics, the SXCF118 provides ultimate LF energy.

The off-stage fill comprises Martin Audio FlexPoint coaxial point sound source, with the FP12 delivering the sound image with accuracy as required, at the different listening points.

Lip-fills comprise four PI8 8in passive two-way speakers to supplement the coverage of the front row audience and further enhance the listening experience. A further four coaxial CDD10B speakers enhance the stage experience, and this mobile return also uses FlexPoint FP12 speakers to provide performers with flexible monitoring needs. In addition, two further PI8s provide reference monitoring in the control room.

The entire system is driven by Martin Audio iKON digital amplifiers, which supports Martin Audio VU-NET control software and Dante integration, and can be modeled in 3D using DISPLAY 3 to provide sonic consistency and precise coverage.

Acoustic design company on the project were Guangzhou Sound Doctor Acoustic Technology Co., Ltd and the sound and lighting were realised by Baishi Safety Technology Co., Ltd. Of the latter, Xu (Rico) Ruixian, General Manager at Martin Audio distributor, Guangzhou Guidance AV Technology Ltd Co, stated: “We have known and worked together for more than ten years.”

Situated in the bustling heart of Uganda’s capital, Kampala, Noni Vie Lounge & Restaurant has raised the bar as a premier destination venue—in terms of both its cuisine and its music.

The latter was something that the proprietors definitely weren’t going to skimp on. It was while on a visit to London that they visited the Tiger Tiger nightclub and marvelled at the quality of the sound. Investigating further they realised it was a Martin Audio rig, and after contacting the manufacturer, they were directed to Tech Ease Systems, who distribute the brand throughout Central and East African countries.

The systems consultant, Vincent Kasule recalls the original website inquiry. “When I met the proprietors, I could see they were trying to create a modern club and restaurant that would be unique in Kampala, with an excellent audio experience.”

Initially the emphasis was to have been more on a laid-back, lounge-type venue, incorporating bar, restaurant, dancefloor and two private rooms (VIP and VVIP spaces). While Martin Audio’s cost-efficient BlacklineX would provide the bulk of the solution, half a dozen CDD6 were earmarked for the VVIP Room and four weatherised CDD8-WR for the outside terrace.

I THINK IT’S THE BEST SOUNDING RESTAURANT AREA IN THE ENTIRE REGION.

Six Blackline X12 populate the dancefloor area while X8s are split between the Lounge and VIP Room, as well as the bar section of the dance area.

Coverage in the restaurant, meanwhile, is via Martin Audio’s elegantADORN ACP-55T Pendant speakers, concealed discreetly within the floral décor, in order not to intrude on the room’s aesthetic, and completing the deployment were six ADORN ACS-55TS ceiling speakers, feeding music to the toilets and ancillary areas.

However, it was immediately after the grand opening that the proprietors decided that they needed greater high-energy dance sound, preferring to move away from the softer lounge mood music. “And so we were called in to undertake an upgrade,” continues Vincent Kasule.

The solution was to introduce a pair of extremely potent THS 15” triaxial point source loudspeakers. At the same time they beefed up the dance area by redeploying a couple of existing Blackline X8 elsewhere, and replacing them with the X12s.

A pair of floor-standing Martin Audio SX218 (2×18) subs on the dancefloor are complemented by a further three SX110, ceiling mounted in the restaurant, while five SX112s provide LF extension across the two VIP lounge areas. The set-up is powered by a combination of Martin Audio VIA5004 and VIA2004 amplifiers, and to ensure the sound is fully optimised, the installation is under the management of Martin Audio’s dedicated DX0.6 and DX0.4 processors.

The sonic landscape and general vibe now have great appeal for DJs, and in addition to Uganda’s finest, the venue has also hosted DJs from South Africa, Jamaica and Europe.

Vincent Kasule agrees. In summary, he says “In terms of the audio experience Noni Vie is extremely impressive—in fact I think it’s the best sounding restaurant area in the entire region.”

The Westfield London Shopping Centre is inviting its customers to “step into a world of light, colour and wonder” for an inaugural winter light experience called Here We Glow. Based around a number of outdoor light art sculptures, it is designed to dazzle visitors of all ages, and will run until the beginning of March.

Of the eight commissioned exhibits, two—Shifting Visions by Adam Povey Lighting and Tessellis by Italian Angelo Bonello—are brought to life by sympathetic soundscapes delivered through Martin Audio loudspeakers.

The audio system for both of these quite diverse features has been designed by David Gregory, at London-based Clay Productions.

The company specialises in delivering large scale immersive projects, and in the case of Shifting Visions they have deployed Martin Audio ADORN A55—one atop each of the 38 x 3m high light columns, mapped across a 12m by 12m square. Providing additional warmth to the four-and-a-half-minute soundscape, which he commissioned from composer Max Pappenheim, are two Martin Audio SX112 subwoofers.

However, sensing that he could match the trompe l’oeil lighting effect with correspondingly disorienting spatial sound to enhance the visitor experience, he turned to sister company TiMax panLab’s 3D rendering engine—which he had previously deployed successfully on a Carnival Excel class cruise ship.

David Gregory explained how his search for the optimum product partnership had led him to the ADORN/panLab combo for Shifting Visions—described as “a mind-bending fusion of light and mirrors.” He said, “In this case I was looking for a small, lightweight IP-rated speaker on a budget that would deliver great sound.

IT HAS A REAL WOW FACTOR.

“I had heard good things about Martin Audio’s compact ADORN range and knew copious amounts of hire companies had invested in them. I got one to try out and it met all requirements.” An added SX112 subin each corner provided the added warmth.”

Electric Foundry who built and fabricated the light columns also custom fabricate a bracket to bolt the speakers to the scaff bars, enabling them to fire down at the optimum angle.

After his earlier success with the panLab mapping tool he could see that Shifting Visions would be an ideal project on which to deploy it again. And so he again turned to TiMax Senior Product Designer, Dan Higgott for technical support. “It was a question of how we were going to put sound through the columns and make it sound interesting.”

The solution was to distribute the instruments across each different area. “Stand in front of it and it’s as if you are immersed in a complete orchestra. But as you wander around you hear a different instrument at different times,” he observed. “I used panLab to do the gain sharing between the cabinets; by clicking on an object I could slightly move that object to increase the gain share. This saved me having to try and work out values; it gave me the opportunity to look at [the challenge] creatively, rather than mathematically.”

panLab is extremely easy to configure and Higgott provided excellent advice, he said.

The Pappenheim soundtrack plays continuously on a loop, under QLab control, running over Luminex GigaCore switches.

Summarising the installation, David Gregory says the impact on the visitors has been huge: “It has a real wow factor as they wander round and get lost in pillars of light.”

Clay Productions were on more familiar ground when specifying 18 CDD8 and four further SX112 for the Tessellis exhibit. Here visitors are invited to explore glowing tesserae “that blend ancient symbols with futuristic design” with LEDs mapped like a film to an abstract soundscape.

David Gregory has used CDD many times in the past for its warmth, overall superior sound and the fact that it comes in a weatherised version. ”Although the design team for Tessellis weren’t familiar with the box, once they heard it, they agreed that this is a very good speaker, backed up with the Martin Audio brand name.”

The CDD8 inventory was supplied by Stage Sound Services and the ADORN A55s were hired from Adam Povey Lighting.

Clay Productions are now contemplating their next series of projects which further push the envelope, and for which they are again planning to deploy ADORN A55 … as well as investing in Martin Audio’s newly launched A80T for other future projects.

India: Dubbed as Asia’s largest nightlife destination, Hyderabad’s new Quake Arena leverages over 100 Martin Audio components to distribute sound across the 5,000m² venue. Set on three levels, the venue, which is owned and operated by Jupally Rameswar Rao’s My Home Group, has capacity for 5,000 patrons and has played host to world-renowned artists such as European DJs Ben Böhmer and Afrojack.

IT’S DESIGNED TO HIT HARD, SOUND CLEAN AND PERFORM FLAWLESSLY ALL NIGHT.

He therefore opted for a six-stack solution to ensure everyone within the dancefloor’s sound field could enjoy a unique 360° experience. A total of 24 WPL line array elements were deployed in six hangs, with Russo noting, “People rarely experience a high-powered, concert-style cabinet that operates well within its limits, while maintaining significant headroom. This is crucial for efficiently handling the massive dynamic range produced by international DJs.”

To complement the arrays, a six-stack configuration of 18 Martin Audio SXH218 (2x18in) hybrid subwoofers was selected. The main sub stack stands at 2.5 metres, allowing patrons to experience the full force when dancing next to it.

India: Dubbed as Asia’s largest nightlife destination, Hyderabad’s new Quake Arena leverages over 100 Martin Audio components to distribute sound across the 5,000m² venue. Set on three levels, the venue, which is owned and operated by Jupally Rameswar Rao’s My Home Group, has capacity for 5,000 patrons and has played host to world-renowned artists such as European DJs Ben Böhmer and Afrojack.

In addition to the Martin Audio units, the venue features a cornucopia of technology, including over 1,200m² of LED displays, 1,000 lighting fixtures and a 12W laser show.

At the heart of the sound system is Martin Audio’s Wavefront Precision (WPC) line array. Artists can also rely on 20 of the manufacturer’s SX218 subwoofers for low-frequency rumble and LE100 monitors for their reference sound.

“The installation has completely transformed our venue into a sonic powerhouse,” said Quake Arena director Raja Srikar. “Every beat and note resonates with unmatched clarity and impact, leaving our guests amazed. The team’s attention to detail and expertise made all the difference in creating this electrifying audio experience.”

His co-director Kunal Kukreja agreed, adding that they envisioned a space that would redefine nightlife experiences. “The sound system has truly brought that vision to life,” he noted. “The clarity, depth and power of the audio are remarkable, creating an atmosphere that keeps our guests coming back for more. It’s an investment that has elevated our club to the next level.”

The centrepiece of the sonic solution is created by eight elements a side of WPC line arrays, driven in two-box resolution from Martin Audio’s iKON DSP multichannel amplifiers. Elsewhere, in the upper mezzanine level and VIP lounges are the CDD12B and CDD10B coaxial differential dispersion loudspeakers.

Aside from the amplifiers, dedicated DX4.0 processors add real-time processing and control over the system. They have been integrated to serve as a backbone of the system, offering stability, headroom and precise audio tuning for events.

Sound consultant Abhimanyu Chopra from Chopra Designs served as the guiding hand behind the audio solution. “Designing the audio experience for Quake Arena was both an exciting challenge and a rewarding achievement,” he said. “With its immense scale and high-energy requirements, the goal was to create a system that delivers precision, clarity and impact across all three levels. The Martin Audio system ensures seamless coverage and deep, resonant bass that truly immerses the audience.”

All the equipment was supplied by Martin Audio’s Indian distributor, VMT with pre-design and sales engineer, Sai Prem, noting: “The installation at Quake Arena reflects the perfect synergy of advanced technology and strategic design. Every component has been carefully tailored to ensure precise sound delivery, powerful bass and uniform coverage.”

VMT director Jeff Mandot added: “Quake Arena showcases the best of pro audio innovation. With Martin Audio at its core, the sound is powerful and precise. This installation defines what world-class audio should be.”