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Martin Audio

TORUS HELPS GET SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL OVER THE FINISH LINE

Having upgraded the MARC Theatre in Salt Lake City with a Martin Audio Wavefront Precision system in time for the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, cinema specialists DBPC again turned to the Martin Audio catalogue this year to find a solution for another of the event’s iconic theatres.

Due to the pandemic, 2023 marked the event’s first staging in front of a live audience since 2020, the year that DBPC was formed by Dan Beedy, a long-term member of the event’s technical crew (and latterly project manager), and another Sundance veteran, Ben Van Donkelaar. They have been tasked with systematically upgrading sound systems used in the event’s theatres to keep pace with the fast-moving advances of digital screen technology.

While the Boston, MA-based specialists were tasked with fitting out all Sundance cinema spaces this year (working with Sundance Institute Technical Director, Holden Payne), Beedy’s attention turned, in particular, to the ornate and historic Egyptian Theatre in Park City, one of the Sundance Festival’s oldest and most recognisable venues—focusing on upgrading the surround sound. His search led him to Martin Audio’s TORUS constant curvature system as the final piece in the jigsaw.

Explaining the background, he said, “In 2018 we added permanent surrounds to the theatre. Since the Egyptian is a year-round theatre not operated by Sundance, we had a lot of restrictions on what we could do. The theatre is historic, so we had even more limitations on placement. It was agreed with the theatre that we would install them at the bottom of the soffit around the ceiling. The soffit was plaster only, so a light and small speaker had to be chosen.”

Ultimately the speakers—four on each wall—were hung from the ceiling to prevent them from being an eyesore, all year round. But of course the placement was less than ideal for cinema. “The height and the size of these speakers made them under-powered and underwhelming for the audience. For this year’s festival, getting the speakers lower was one of my main goals.”

“TORUS REALLY GOT US OVER THE FINISH LINE”.

Dan Beedy, Project Manager, DBPC

Enter Martin Audio Northeast Regional Sales Manager, Martha Callaghan, complete with the manufacturer’s award-winning TORUS platform. Dan Beedy soon recognised the advantages. “Although I hadn’t heard them before, Ben was aware of them and felt they would be an excellent choice. And I’m glad I trusted his instincts! Having a wide pattern would represent a real upgrade, and would help realise the filmmaker’s intention in their sound mixes.

“In addition to that, we wanted to add the [Martin Audio] WPM line array as the behind-the-screen workhorses for the L/C/R part of the system.” These were reinforced by SXH218 subwoofers with the whole rig powered by Martin Audio multi-channel iKon processor amps, and run over Dante.

As to deployment of TORUS, The Egyptian is a bijou 200-seat theatre and thus three T1230 enclosures on each wing provided the necessary side surrounds. Due to the protective nature of the house, some lighting instruments were moved to make way for the speakers, which were set in lighting alcoves at optimal height for surround speakers and distributed as single boxes.

“We were aiming for complete horizontal coverage in the space while limiting the amount of vertical spread that would be reflecting off the opposite theatre wall. The effect of the T1230 was amazing! We had limited reflection off the walls and were able to direct the sound mainly at the audience,” exclaims Beedy.

In terms of visualisation and optimisation, in stepped Martin Audio’s tech team of Joe Lima, who was responsible for the initial system design, and Will Harris, who becamede factosystem tech, handing over to Jim Barlow from Dolby for final tuning.

The change in speakers had been responsible for the audio change, notes Beedy. An ancient, 30-year-old point source system—from which they could only achieve a sound field of about ± 6dB from the front to back and about ± 5dB side to side—was replaced with a Martin Audio set-up from which they achieved a mere ± 1dB front to back and side to side.

This consistency is a philosophy dear to Dan Beedy’s heart, and underlines his advocacy of combining cinema products with speakers purposed for live work. “I’ve always felt that we can achieve a better end product for the audience combining the best practices from both disciplines,” he says. “Since we are often tasked with turning non-cinema spaces into cinemas, we as a company feel using products designed for those spaces is typically a better choice. Martin Audio has been an excellent choice for us over the years. We’ve used their CDD, O-Line, WPS, WPL, and MLA products to great effect in movie premieres and film festivals.” To that list he can now add TORUS.

Reflecting on his desire to have every seat receiving a near-identical audio signal, he confirmed “TORUS helped us achieve that 100%. Martha’s suggestion was an excellent one as we’ve never previously come close to achieving the side surround spread at the Egyptian.”

To underline the point, he added, “We use trailer material for testing between all venues to get a sense of how each house sounds with the same pieces of content. The Egyptian had some of the best surrounds at the festival this year.

“TORUS really got us over the finish line. “Next year, we’d like to have an additional four to the rear to complete the 7.1 surround field. Unfortunately, this year, the challenge of mounting those rear speakers was too great for the timeline. As for WPM, I was really impressed with how it sounded and worked in a small-to-medium sized cinema space.”

Photograph credit: Presentation and Outside Venue shots, photographs by Maya Dehlin, courtesy of Sundance Institute. Used by Permission.

Categories
LEA Professional

LEA Amps Power Residential Buildings In Hawaii

LEA Amps Power Residential Buildings in Hawaii

Aloha Sharks, 

When PAC Audio was tasked with providing the sound for a new high rise residential building in Waikiki, they knew it was crucial to have a reliable, flexible system to accommodate the end user. After hearing about LEA Professional and its 200 years of combined audio experience they knew it was the right choice.

Let’s dive in! 🦈

THE SPEC

LEA AMPS POWER RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN HAWAII

🏢 Venue: Lilia Waikiki | Honolulu, Hawaii

👷‍♂️ Integrator: PAC Audio & Communications

🎶 Audio Spaces: First & Ninth Levels of complex

🦈 Product Used: CONNECTSERIES 168D (3)

THE VENUE

LEA AMPS POWER RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN HAWAII

THE INSTALL

LEA AMPS POWER RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN HAWAII

Lilia Waikiki is a vibrant mixed-use development in the heart of Waikiki, one of Hawaii’s most well-known destinations for retail, lodging, dining and commercial entertainment. Opened in 2022, the 28-story residential tower features over 400 apartment units and over 40,000 square feet of neighborhood-serving retail. 

“We needed to achieve distributed audio in one seamless integration. The audio needed to follow the tenant through every building touchpoint from the lobby and the mailboxes, to the elevator, recreation deck and more. Not only that, but the music would run for long periods of time, so it needed to be a very stable, reliable system,” commented Corey Lopez, Project Manager, PAC Audio.

To deliver on this brief PAC Audio required a scalable, flexible system. The company was recommended to try LEA Professional by Sonance. Once PAC Audio understood LEA Professional’s pedigree and combined 200 years of audio experience, any trepidations about using a new manufacturer disappeared. 

The team chose three LEA Connect Series 168D Dante-enabled smart amplifiers for the project, installing one on the first level, and two on the 9th level of the complex. These alongside a lineup of 23 speakers – five different models – powered all of the common areas of the complex. 

“The Web UI was super useful. We had amplifiers on different floors of the building and the ability to view and adjust the first-floor amp while on the ninth floor was really convenient,” commented Kale Bishop, Senior Engineer at PAC Audio.

CS168D

THE CONCLUSION

LEA AMPS POWER RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN HAWAII

The team needed a Dante-enabled amplifier to future proof the system, and supply the same continuous music throughout the building

“The Dante Connect Series amplifiers fit a need for us, between the size profile ensuring it was taking up little rack space, to the flexibility they provided in allowing us to use five different models of speakers, they gave us everything we needed and then some,” commented Pono Nauka, General Manager, PAC Audio. “There is nothing on the market that can replace the Connect Series, it is a really unique product and one that we have also specified for upcoming installations.”

We would like to thank everyone at PAC Audio for choosing our amps for this killer install at Lilia Waikiki and we hope our amps provide quality sounds for years to come.

Categories
Martin Audio

MARTIN AUDIO UNVEILS NINE NEW PRODUCTS INCLUDING THE FLEXPOINT PORTABLE SERIES

In an online special event presentation, Martin Audio has announced nine new products including the portable series, FlexPoint, primarily targeting the premier rental market.

With state-of-the-art acoustic design and technical innovations throughout, the FlexPoint series sets a new benchmark in performance and versatility for compact, standalone loudspeakers. FlexPoint systems deliver the very highest quality sound to match the expectations of prestige venues and top-flight touring artists, while their passive two-way configuration heeds the need to reduce running costs and amplifier count.

Comprising five models—all with highly flexible deployment—the FlexPoint series covers a vast range of professional applications, from live sound reinforcement, theatre sound and corporate AV to distributed sound systems and immersive environments. From the miniature FP4 to the powerful FP15, FlexPoint loudspeakers are compact and discreet — providing ultimate clarity, detail and coverage at all sound levels without affecting sight lines or detracting from venue architecture.

Coaxial point source technology lies at the heart of FlexPoint systems, delivering smoother and more consistent response off-axis than traditional two-way systems. But Martin Audio has gone further with exemplary dispersion patterns by incorporating a two-stage waveguide within the magnet structure. This waveguide maintains wide constant horizontal coverage out to very high frequencies, while the perimeter of the cone acts as the horn mouth, enabling pattern control to a lower frequency. Drivers can also be rotated without the need for any tools increasing their deployment options and ease of use out on the road.

FlexPoint Systems can be used in conjunction with SX series subwoofers to extend low-frequency performance and impact, and it was this range that also saw two new additions announced. The SX115 is a single 15” subwoofer and the SX215 is a double 15” subwoofer, both models allowing for pole-mounting of a FlexPoint system. This now means that the SX series comprises a single and double 10”, 12”, 15” and 18” as well as a cardioid 15” and 18” and the ultimate subwoofer performance of the Hybrid® horn/reflex loaded SXH218.

Finally, in keeping with the name, FlexPoint systems support a flexible electronics package. For the optimum sound performance, Martin Audio iKON amplifiers with onboard DSP are recommended. However, and primarily for larger installations, Martin Audio VIA amplifiers in conjunction with a DX4.0 system controller are compatible. Then, for smaller installations utilising FP4, FP6, and FP8, a combination of VIA amplifiers and the newly announced DX0.4 or DX0.6 controller are a cost-effective option. The DX0.4 is a 2-input, 4-output controller, while the DX0.6 is 2-input, 6-output.

All nine products will start shipping no later than June, but some products will be available earlier.

Dom Harter, managing director, summed up by saying, “Alongside Wavefront Precision optimised line arrays and TORUS constant curvature arrays, the exciting FlexPoint series completes a trio of premium loudspeaker categories, our finest live sound offering in the company’s history, delivering the Martin Audio signature sound experience for everything from an intimate gig to the largest of festivals.

“The addition of the two new SX subwoofers also completes a full complement of low-end solutions, while the two new controllers provide additional flexibility and cost efficiency when required.”

Categories
LEA Professional

LEA Professional names distribution partner for Japan

From left to right:
Back row: Ben Goldsworthy (GenAV), Dave McKinney (GenAV), Blake Augsburger, Founder and CEO (LEA), Koh Nishida (CEO Onkyo Tokki)
Front row: Tomoki Matsui (Marketing), T. Nagase (LEA Sales Manager), Yuta Kamibayashi (Marketing) 

LEA Professional has announced a distribution partnership with Onkyo Tokki of Tokyo, Japan to support LEA’s rapidly growing business in the APAC Region. This partnership aims to allow LEA Professional to increase support for its existing customers in the region, as well as further develop opportunities in the market.

Koh Nishida, CEO of Onkyo Tokki, said: “We are pleased to announce our partnership with LEA Professional, which provides us with innovative IoT and pro-audio power amplifier technologies. We consider it a great honour to represent such a pioneering brand, and we look forward to the exciting opportunities this partnership will bring.”

David McKinney of Generation AV, LEA’s representative in Asia, said: “LEA Connect series has been a big success in Japan since launching in the market just three years ago. We have hundreds of amplifiers installed across the country in key markets such as education, hospitality, corporate, retail, and entertainment. I have personally known Onkyo Tokki for over 20 years, and with its deep market knowledge and customer relationships, as well as proven track record of being on the cutting edge of network and cloud-based AV solutions, LEA will continue to grow exponentially in the coming years.”

Blake Augsburger, founder and CEO of LEA Professional, said: “We are thankful for the opportunity to work with Onkyo Tokki, a respected leader in the Japanese AV market. Japan has been a target market for LEA since inception and we have had good success building our brand. I am confident that Nishida-san and his team will build on this early success and take us to the next level. These are exciting times for LEA Professional in the APAC region.”

Categories
Martin Audio

MARTIN AUDIO RELEASES DISPLAY 3 BETA 5 FEATURING NEW SUB ARRAY TOOL

Martin Audio has announced the latest major update to its 3D prediction software featuring a new sub array tool that user trials have declared as “astonishingly powerful”, as well as a host of additional features and workflow improvements.

DISPLAY 3 is a powerful tool for both live and installation projects, working seamlessly with SketchUp for sophisticated venue modelling, thus allowing for simpler venue and shape creation. Incorporating many of Martin Audio’s line array, constant curvature, point source and subwoofer solutions, DISPLAY 3 is ideal for cohesive system design and prediction in a 3D environment.

This latest beta version incorporates, for the first time, a new sub array tool enabling rapid design of ground deployed linear arrays of subwoofers. Traditional techniques have been employed to determine the EQ required to approximate and steer far-field beams. Emphasis has been placed on the speed of design using a handful of parameters, rather than requiring manipulation of individual loudspeakers and associated EQ elements.

“THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT UPDATE TO DISPLAY 3 THAT I’M CONFIDENT OUR USERS AROUND THE WORLD WILL RELISH.”

Ambrose Thompson, Research Director.

In this version, two sub array types are supported with ‘Broadside Stack’ and ‘Castellated’ configurations. For Broadside Stacksany sub loudspeaker can be selected, while for Castellated scenarios only subs which have cardioid settings available can be utilised—but more will be added over time.

Castellated arrays have three styles defined as Presets, with ‘Bookend’ where the end parts of the array are two boxes high; ‘Buttress’ where the array is one box high at the ends; and ‘Uniform’ consisting of an array of L shaped elements. Beam width can be set from 1 degree to 180 degrees, where setting to 1 degree will generate the narrowest beam possible from the array and by incrementing the width users can get closer to the coverage required.

Ambrose Thompson, Research Director, commented, “While it is the first iteration of this sub array tool, I believe it already sets a new benchmark in prediction software, and I’m delighted that user trials have also re-confirmed this.”

The Beta 5 release also includes other notable updates including the following: an early version of a tool to display the frequency response at any position on a surface; flown deployments of Martin Audio’s latest product, TORUS 8; a new control in the Loudspeaker Property Inspector to optionally constrain aiming angles to those available for the pin locations in the lift bar; default speaker insertion heights, and the inclusion of BlacklineX point source and subwoofer solutions.

Summing up, Thompson said, “This is a significant update to DISPLAY 3 that I’m confident our users around the world will relish. As with all things software, there are always new developments required and we are already hard at work on the next set of updates.”

For more: https://martin-audio.com/support/software

Categories
LEA Professional

LEA Amps Power Cutting Edge Recording Studio

LEA Amps Power Cutting Edge Recording Studio

When Legendary Clear Lake Recording Studio decided to upgrade its system and provide musicians with top-notch equipment, they chose to go with LEA Professional.

Let’s dive in!

THE SPEC

LEA AMPS POWER CUTTING EDGE RECORDING STUDIO

🏢 Venue: Clear Lake Recording Studio | North Hollywood, California

👷‍♂️ Integrator: RSPE Audio Solutions

🎶 Audio Spaces: Studio B

🦈 Product Used: CONNECTSERIES 354D (3)

THE VENUE

LEA AMPS POWER CUTTING EDGE RECORDING STUDIO

THE INSTALL

LEA AMPS POWER CUTTING EDGE RECORDING STUDIO

In the highly competitive music industry, staying on the cutting edge of technology and providing musicians with top‐notch facilities and the tools they need to sell their music and climb the charts are keys to survival for any recording studio. Clear Lake takes that very seriously, continuously upgrading studios and adding new equipment. “We want musicians to want to come here,” says studio owner Eric Milos. “We’re always pushing the envelope with our look and capabilities to stay ahead of the game.”

With a desire to take Studio B to the next level, he sought out the expertise of Russ Belttary at RSPE Audio Solutions to transform the room from a 5.1 surround setup to a cutting-edge 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos system, complete with the newest range of high‐resolution PMC speakers. RSPE, long known for its expertise in integrating analog and digital audio with the film and music industry, was up for the challenge. “The stakes are incredibly high in this business for companies like Clear Lake Recording,” says Belttary. “Our mission is to give them the very best guidance, service, and products in creating a state‐of‐the‐art recording studio.”

The team at RSPE knew that to achieve the ultimate in sound quality it had to recommend the perfect amplifiers to seamlessly connect with the Avid MTRX, DADman software, and a Dolby Atmos hardware renderer. Enter three LEA Professional Connect Series 354D — its integrated Dante connectivity eliminates unnecessary analog conversions for the purest signal and lowest noise floor possible.

While top‐notch sound quality was of critical importance to Milos, he also wanted amplifiers that were
reliable and easy to use. “The LEA amplifiers fit the bill perfectly and were able to be tucked away in the
machine room, thanks to their renowned dependability,” says Belttary.

CS354D

THE CONCLUSION

LEA AMPS POWER CUTTING EDGE RECORDING STUDIO

“The result of this meticulous attention‐to‐detail and cutting‐edge technology is nothing short of
astounding, adds Milos. The sound quality and specifications meet the highest standards, earning
Studio B the prestigious designation of being a PMC Near‐Field Reference Room.

“Our goal was to have a reference quality mix room that any of my high‐profile clients can come to and
have a sonic experience that parallels big budget Hollywood studios,” adds Milos. “Thanks to LEA and
RSPE, mission accomplished, not impossible.”

We would like to thank Clear Lake Recording Studios & RSPE Audio Solutions for choosing our amps on this killer install and we hope they will provide quality sound for the next generation of music greats and beyond.

Categories
Martin Audio

MARTIN AUDIO, BELAIR AND THE BUG CLUB TEAM UP FOR ECO-FRIENDLY ‘UNPLUGGED BUG’

Martin Audio has teamed up with Belair Technology and The Bug Club to deliver the ultimate eco-friendly VW Pop-Up DJ Booth.

Since 2013, The Bug Club has delivered hundreds of events from private parties, festivals, brand activations to product launches, carnivals, exhibitions and street parties but their latest creation, the Unplugged Bug, is a unique intersection of sonic experience and environmental responsibility.

The fibreglass-built vehicle itself is 30% larger than a standard VW Camper and is designed to be a ‘festival friendly’ DJ booth. The custom-built Martin Audio sound system runs entirely on renewables thanks to Belair’s rack mounted Power Tower. The Power Tower is a clean and modern rechargeable battery-powered replacement for noisy and polluting generators and with its easy-to-use operation combined with silent running and zero emissions delivers the perfect ‘off-grid’ solution.

Belair Technology was founded in 2019 with the goal of electrifying events previously powered by diesel generators. Its founder John Baillie grew up with a love of music and a passion for science, having for a time worked at CERN, the world’s largest particle accelerator:

“As an avid festival-goer, I noted how off-grid events are desperate for sustainable solutions, yet often have little option but to use polluting diesel generators. Working with Martin Audio and the Bug Club to deliver the Unplugged Bug is a great step forward and I’m excited about what we can learn from its operation over the summer.”

John Baillie, Belair Founder.

The custom-built sound system, capable of entertaining crowds of up to 500 people, comprises two 15” 3-way high performance loudspeakers, each pole-mounted to a double 15in direct radiating subwoofer, and controlled by a DX4.0.

Martin Audio Managing Director, Dom Harter, commented, “My personal love for both VW camper vans and DJ culture led inevitably to the door of the great people at The Bug Club. At the same time I had been introduced to John and his work on renewables, and it just all fitted into place. At Martin Audio, environmental sustainability is an important initiative, and this latest development will help explore new possibilities for us in the future.”

To complete the sustainability equation The Unplugged Bug is designed as a trailer (no engines!) and as a policy all their carbon footprint is offset by planting trees. The Unplugged Bug can also be supplied with top quality DJs and equipment, pro lighting, disco balls, sound technicians and branding options. The Bug Club fleet can even offer bar services, with experienced mixologists.

With the summer season fast approaching this is seen as the ultimate in mobile discos, ideal for exhibitions, sporting events and all manner of summer parties prioritising environmental responsibility. It has already been booked for numerous events and will also be on show at Martin Audio’s upcoming Open Days taking place April 18-19that their headquarters in High Wycombe.

Summing up, Justin Rushmore, Managing Director of The Bug Club, said, “We were delighted to team up with Martin Audio and Belair on this initiative. It was clear from the outset there was a meeting of minds on the sustainability aspect of live events, and we believe we can gather key data and insight that can help to not only further improve these types of events but also scale up to bigger initiatives.”

For bookings: https://thebug.club/

Photo credit: Rick Sleiman

Categories
Martin Audio

TORUS INTRODUCED AT TSUKUBA CAPIO HALL

Ibaraki Prefecture, known as the Science Future City, (located near Tsukuba Station on the Tsukuba Express, Tsukuba Capio in Tsukuba City), is a place for citizens to interact through cultural and sports activities.

Among these facilities, Capio Hall is the city’s event hall suitable for dance and theater. Opened in July 1996, it has created a full-fledged theater space with a unique arrangement of 384 seats that creates a sense of unity between the performers and the audience, and high-quality stage equipment.

In 2022, Capio Hall underwent a major renovation of the speaker system, and was introduced to Martin Audio’s latest model TORUS.
Mr. Endo of Sigma Communications Co., Ltd., which is in charge of technical management of the hall, talked about the renovation issues as follows.
“Originally, the center proscenium was of the exposed type, and clusters were assembled using multiple point source speakers on a lifting grid. When updating the equipment, we naturally considered line arrays, but there were issues. The Capio Hall is not very deep, but the horseshoe-shaped balcony seats extend up to the third floor, and the vertical coverage angle is very large.
” It was clear that if we were to introduce a line array with such a large number, we would have to use a large number of lines just to ensure the vertical directivity angle. Therefore, the constant coverture array was considered.

Martin Audio’s new model TORUS is a perfect match for theaters with high ceilings, even though the target distance is short throw. For venues with a depth of 15m to 30m, full-fledged line arrays may not meet your needs in terms of practicality and price. However, point sources may not provide sufficient coverage or SPL. TORUS is a constant curvature array designed to fill that gap perfectly by combining optimized coverage, SPL realization and cost efficiency.

The lifting grid of the proscenium was retrofitted with a new 4-bar vertical array consisting of 2 x T1215 and 2 x T1230. With these four, we were able to secure a vertical directivity angle of 90 degrees, which was enough to cover from the top 3rd floor to the front row of the 1st floor. In addition, the XD12 is installed in the side column along with the subwoofer SX118, which are independently driven by the iK42 DSP power amplifier. A total of six Blackline X8s were also installed for infill and balcony seating assistance, powered by Powersoft’s Quattrocanali series.

Mr. Ota of Audio Brains, who did the sound adjustment, talks about it. “Initially, the concept was to aim narrowly at a distance and widen at a close distance, but when we made adjustments while actually producing sound, we found that a 90-degree horizontal directivity angle would provide a better coverage area. As a result, 80% of the venue can be covered by the proscenium. The auxiliary X8 adjusts the delay and volume to match the proscenium, and only follows a small area. With TORUS’s wave, the angle of the guide can be changed even with the grill attached, so it’s good that we can flexibly respond to cut-and-try on site.”

Mr. Endo concludes: “The Capio Hall needs to be able to accommodate a variety of events for the public. Recently, dance recitals by students have become popular, and more and more sound pressure is required from the speakers installed in the facility. , the TORUS and subwoofers have plenty of headroom to handle this, and we are very happy with the new setup.”

Categories
Martin Audio

VME INCREASES MLA INVENTORY TO OVER 100 ENCLOSURES FOR ARENA BOXING EVENTS

For nearly a decade, Martin Audio partner, Manchester-based VME, has been providing PA for major boxing events in the nation’s arenas, on an accelerating basis.

Starting out with an inventory of 48 MLA multicellular loudspeaker array enclosures, such has been the demand from this sector that the rental fleet has now more than doubled, and this month the rental company announced that it has increased its inventory of MLA family products to over 100. This makes VME one of the largest MLA rental stagers in the UK.

Explaining the underlying reason, operations manager Aaron Harvey-Holt says that this is in recognition of the fact that his company is now servicing over 40 events a year for TV transmission through Sky Sports, BT Sports and DAZN—all in major UK venues such as Wembley Stadium, Wembley OVO Arena, The O2 Arena, Cardiff International Arena and Manchester AO Arena.

“MLA IS GREAT FOR THE TIGHT TIME SCALE WE OFTEN HAVE TO DELIVER IN AS SOMETIMES WE DON’T HAVE RIG DAYS”

Aaron Harvey-Holt, Operations Manager, VME

Events include the IBF World Heavyweight Championships—and bouts ranging from David Haye to Tyson Fury—to the more recent high-profile Misfits ‘crossover’ series which saw YouTube star KSI going head-to-head with FaZe Temper at OVOArena,Wembley.

Rigging a system in the round is quite unlike reinforcing a conventional pros arch rock concert. For example, the PA fly position is normally set within a 7 sq.m grid immediately above the ring and configuration can vary from hangs facing out on all four axes to distributed hangs and delays to ensure crowds of up to 20,000 have full intelligibility of all action—from the walk-in music to the National Anthem, DJ interval music and MC announcements.

The Misfits event, with all the razzmatazz associated with it, was no exception.

Aaron Harvey-Holt is clear as to why MLA has become their go-to system. “It’s for the ease of rigging,” he says. “MLA is great for the tight time scale we often have to deliver in as sometimes we don’t have rig days.” Further to this, the flexibility it affords is vital when they are having to work around TV company constraints. Having venue parameters in their library is no guarantee that they won’t have to take new measurements each time and create a different profile.

“This is precisely why we recently purchased another 24 MLA Compact and 20 MLA,” explains the VME ops manager. For the KSI fight alone they fielded 70 MLA boxes and 24 MLA Compact. “We rigged nine hangs of MLA / MLA Compact in total … 25 boxes a side at the stage end for mains, subs and sidefills—with five MLX a side in cardioid flown, behind the two main hangs—and three hangs further down the arena for delays at the left, centre and right positions.”

The flexibility of the system has also proved a hit with VME’s project manager Mikey Greenwood and system designer Gareth Thomas—the latter working alongside Ben Marsh who is alsode factosystem tech. He ensures that MLA’s advanced optimisation will enable sound to be steered precisely where it’s needed — designing the horizontal projection in CAD, mapping to where the TV interviews take place, and implementing the ’Hard Avoid’ setting on any reflective VIP boxes. This also takes into account the sensitivity of the broadcast mics when it becomes essential to deaden the sound around the ring.

“With complex events such as this, having that level of control with MLA is vital,” summarises Aaron Harvey-Holt.” It provides massive benefits all round.” Plus, of course, when not on duty at their own events, there will be plenty of scope for cross-hiring MLA, such is the demand during the busy summer season.

Categories
Optimal Audio

Optimal Audio Releases All Access WebApp Desktop Demo

Optimal Audio, the award-winning manufacturer of commercial audio equipment, has announced the release of an all access WebApp Desktop Demo mode.

WebApp is the digital backbone of Optimal Audio’s ecosystem of controllers, amplifiers and loudspeakers providing a system integrator with the ability to configure an entire system of multiples zones in a venue, while presenting the end user with an intuitive and simple interface to control the sound system. Now, for the first time, anyone can experience both the simplicity and power of WebApp without the need for a Zone hardware unit.

The Desktop Demo, available on PC and Mac, offers a fully interactive experience of the intuitive nature of WebApp, and allows users to build confidence and familiarise themselves with this powerful tool. True to the Optimal Audio brand ethos, the team has delivered a concept that offers a simple and easy onboarding experience that enables integrators, installers, and venue owners to experience the beating heart of the Optimal Audio eco-system.

Jamie Gomez, Marketing Manager commented:

“One of the first things I recognised on joining was that if we could get the WebApp out to as many people as we could, it would be the quickest and most powerful way for system integrators and installers to see the true nature of Optimal Audio and how it is changing commercial audio for the better. Thankfully, Matt Rowe agreed and we were able to develop this relatively quickly.”

Matt Rowe, Head of Engineering responded:

“Similar to test driving a new car, gaining hands-on experience and familiarity with the features of a car builds confidence in making the right purchase decision. In the same vein, the introduction of the WebApp Desktop Demo enables individuals with a PC or Mac to take it for a spin by setting up various zones and sources, adjusting faders and creating routines, without requiring a Zone hardware unit.”

The WebApp Desktop Demo incorporates all of the of the latest features from the most recent release of WebApp 1.1 and the Demo app will also get updated with any future release of WebApp.

Test drive today: https://optimal-audio.co.uk/products/controllers/webapp-desktop-demo/