Category: Martin Audio

Martin Audio partner, dBS Solutions recently provided sound reinforcement for The Hallé Orchestra at their resident venue, The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. A regular fixture in the dBS Solutions diary, this time the focus wasTop Gun: Maverick – In Concert.

This brought back fond memories of the Tom Cruise blockbuster for a near sell-out audience in the 2,355-cap hall. The show originally premiered at the Royal Albert Hall in late summer, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, attended by Tom Cruise.

In Manchester, under project manager James Roberts, dBS Solutions provided a Martin Audio scalable resolution WPS line array featuring14 elements a side, driven in optimum 1-box resolution by Martin Audio iKON iK42 amplifiers. Martin Audio FlexPoint FP12 sidefills (two per side) provided foldback for the SFX and dialogue to accompany the score.

THE AIM WAS TO GET OPTIMUM GAIN BEFORE FEEDBACK—WHICH IS WHY WE USED THE WAVEFRONT PRECISION.

dBS worked closely with creative producers, ESK Film Services, who oversaw all technical elements with the orchestration and track separation. Roberts explained that the principal musicians, percussion section and conductor, were all on click tracks.

But a large concert hall, with an unconventional shape and four-level tiered seating, presents its own difficulties where amplified music is concerned. “It’s obviously a more challenging acoustic environment than you’d expect in a venue that is designed for classical music,” he said. “All the orchestra were miced, so the aim was to get optimum gain before feedback—which is why we used the Wavefront Precision.”

dBS also deployed the ‘Hard Avoid’ feature on the stage to keep stage levels down. Rear rejection was further achieved by the deployment of four (2 x 2) SXCF118 cardioid subwoofers—a formula adopted by dBS Solutions for all their orchestral work. Aside from the rear rejection, says Roberts, by employing a generous 14 WPS per side they could get consistent coverage from the front row to the very back.

Although the trim height of the rigs was higher than they would have preferred—to avoid obscuring sightlines to the video screen, the splay angles were correctly calculated using a combination of Martin Audio’s proprietary DISPLAY software.

In summary, dBS Solutions MD, Chris Bogg, said, “It’s gratifying that we’ve now become Hallé’s trusted partner for this type of orchestration.”

Talking of the event, Lucy Turner of the Hallé commented, “We’ve worked with dBS Solutions for some years now on our amplified concerts. The team there really understand what we and our players need when amplifying an orchestra. The sound of theTop Gunperformance was a superb balance of orchestra and film, covering every seat in the hall. It was dynamic throughout without being too loud or bass heavy for our players on stage. We look forward to working with Chris and the team again soon.”

Mons Faraya is a Lebanese ski resort— a buzzing hotspot that effortlessly combines a chic restaurant vibe with an electrifying music bar scene. Set on approximately 1400m2, it strikes the right balance, accommodating a lively crowd without losing its intimate charm. With indoor, outdoor and pool area, it’s a location where haute cuisine meets high-energy beats, drawing in locals and tourists alike. The venue hosts the best local and international DJs as well as popular local bands such as Kimotion, Moblack and Aryme.

The venue itself, which has been masterminded by Youssef Hadid, Nazir Bassit and Chris Bosnoyan, recently took ownership of a Martin Audio PA after Charbel Fahed of Technosound, the Martin Audio partner, met with Bassit and Hadid. “They were seeking a top-tier sound system, so I recommended Martin Audio for its exceptional quality and performance,” he said. ”However, it wasn’t their first time working with Technosound, since my father, Pierre Fahed, had previously worked on several projects with Mr. Hadid.

“The owners were already well-versed with the stellar reputation of Martin Audio,” he continued, knowing that we have previously worked on other projects for one of the owners using Martin Audio BlacklineX. They knew that only a brand of this calibre could deliver the immersive audio experience they envisioned.”

THE OWNERS WERE ALREADY WELL-VERSED WITH THE STELLAR REPUTATION OF MARTIN AUDIO.

Technosound’s Pierre Fahed and Tony el Bitar meticulously designed the system, ensuring every corner of Mons resonates with crystal-clear sound and pulsating energy. CDD15, CDD12 and Blackline X218 subs are strategically placed In the outdoor and pool areas. The remainder of the CDD12 speakers and Blackline X118 subs are stationed in the indoor areas of Mons.

Elsewhere, Martin Audio ADORN speakers are strategically placed in the rest room area to ensure guests remain immersed in the venue’s vibrant atmosphere and never miss a beat. While there is a traditional stage, the system effortlessly transitions from ambient background music during the day to high-octane beats at night.

The music profile during the day is lounge music and a dynamic blend of mainly Afro House and chart-topping hits at night,as well as during their ‘après-ski’ events, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

The owners have expressed immense satisfaction with the system. Nazir commented, “Working with Technosound has been a fantastic experience. Their Martin Audio solution has helped transform Mons Faraya into a top-tier venue with exceptional sound quality.

“The system perfectly complements our dynamic atmosphere, and our guests have consistently praised the audio experience. We highly recommend Technosound for their professionalism, expertise and commitment to excellence.”

The Sportcampus Zuiderpark is an indoor sports arena located in The Hague. Opened in 2017 it is used for several indoor sports and the main 3,500-cap hall is the home arena of professional basketball club The Hague Royals.

Every year, just before Christmas, the venue hosts the annual Sportgala, which recognizes the achievements of local athletes and sports teams, as well as coaches, referees and volunteers.

Also based in the Hague region is Roel Bik’s rental supply company, Minigigs, who were contracted to provide sound, light, video and rigging. While Roel has reinforced many sports events at the arena, the challenge this time was to convert a cavernous and reverberant multipurpose sports hall into a chameleon ‘theatre’ type venue by providing a constantly changing technical infrastructure. This would initially support the formal awards presentation, before enabling the audience of 1100 people to make its way from the stalls and bleachers down to the main floor for the after-party.

A curtain then lowered to form a partition between those wishing to engage with the high energy dance sounds of the DJ (replacing the live band of earlier), and the corporate dignitaries preferring to engage in polite conversation on the other side of the curtain, immune from the high SPL.

And with so much speech how would Minigigs maintain intelligibility, and mitigate against reflections and feedback from roaming presenters with head-worn mics.

While Roel Bik has much experience at this venue, it is only since the rental company replaced its previous frontline speaker inventory a year ago with Martin Audio that all the pieces of the jigsaw have fallen into place.

WE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF GREAT COMMENTS FROM PRODUCTION AND OTHER VIPS.

“The main reason for moving to Martin Audio is that they have a solution for each of the [projects] we do. We use TORUS for a number of venues where we need the width of coverage, and the ceilings are low, and we need to direct the angle of the speaker. CDD-LIVE we use for applications where we need little cabling, good sound quality and use Dante for getting the sound to the speakers. But just as important as good equipment is good service and our relationship with Martijn de Jong [at distributors Ampco]—and their vast experience with Martin Audio—was key.”

Owned and operated by the Muscogee Nation, the River Spirit Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a premier entertainment destination offering a range of gaming, dining and live entertainment experiences. Among its highlights is the new Gridiron Sportsbar, the largest sports viewing bar in the State, delivering an unparalleled viewing experience for patrons.

Headquartered in Ireland and London, AV design specialists, Audiotek, were introduced to the project by builders and fabricators i5 Design and were tasked with designing and installing a new, advanced audio and video (IPTV) system throughout the space, which also incorporates two TopGolf® swing suites (golf simulators), the Locker Room banquet suite and VIP lounge.

The system needed to support a variety of content, from live sports broadcasts to special events, with consistently reliable and high-quality audio and video. AV-over-IP services needed to be integrated with the existing network infrastructure.

Led by project manager Chris Kmiec, working with design colleagues Ash Attwood and Darren Pavitt, this was the second casino project in short succession in which Audiotek have been involved within the world of Native American gaming, having recently completed a similar installation at thePotawatomiCasinoHotel in Wisconsin. As with that project, they sub-contracted Martin Audio US-based partner, CCCP to assist with the integration.

THE RANGE OF MARTIN AUDIO PRODUCTS KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.

The audio design was again critical as managing sound levels in a bustling, high-energy sports bar environment posed challenges in minimising echo and maintaining speech intelligibility.

However, Audiotek were able to satisfy all their sound reinforcement requirements from the Martin Audio portfolio. Their solution was to specify 40 of Martin Audio’s C8.1T 8in full range ceiling speakers and 16x SX110 subwoofers, concealed in the ceiling, to distribute the sound evenly and intelligibly around the various zones in the vast space.

A new club and lounge has opened in the Telangana city of Hyderabad, with its patrons enjoying an audio system built around Martin Audio BlacklineX loudspeakers.

The Beer Cartel is a premier venue designed to deliver a seamless fusion of gourmet dining, craft beverages and high-energy music.

Located in the city’s vibrant business and entertainment district, the Beer Cartel caters to professionals, music enthusiasts and socialites alike, seeking an immersive experience within the stylish, aesthetically designed expansive interior.

THE NEW SYSTEM HAS CREATED AN IMMERSIVE AUDIO ENVIRONMENT THAT MAKES A REAL DIFFERENCE IN HOW PEOPLE EXPERIENCE MUSIC.

Aside from its diverse culinary offerings, the venue is also a hotspot for live entertainment and events, frequently hosting renowned DJs, and has already established itself as one of Hyderabad’s most sought-after nightlife destinations.

To achieve this, the owners sought an audio system that could deliver both power and precision from the get-go. The system needed to provide an immersive experience for casual evenings while scaling up effortlessly for high-energy nights. The client envisaged a set-up that would support live performances, DJ sets and background music, and knew this would require a versatile yet robust PA, capable of delivering impactful low frequencies and crystal clear mids and highs across the entire space.

The Martin Audio Blackline X15 was therefore chosen to fulfil these requirements, partnered with Blackline X218 subwoofers. Selected for its superior vocal clarity and balanced dispersion, seven of the X15s were deployed, reinforced with three X218 subwoofers, which deliver the type of powerful, tight bass response necessary to generate an immersive club atmosphere.

The sound system designer / consultant was Palagani Dushyant Reddy from White Noise, who has much previous experience with Martin Audio systems. “Delivering great sound in a venue like the Beer Cartel requires more than just power — it requires control, precision and the right tuning,” h believes. “The new system has created an immersive audio environment that makes a real difference in how people experience music.”

India: Famous Studio in Mumbai recently hosted a corporate fashion and beauty event featuring a Martin Audio WPC system deployed by Global Production Services. The evening brought together industry leaders, beauty professionals and influencers, with Indian actress Sonam Kapoor captivating the audience in a Gaurav Gupta ensemble.

The aim for the audio design was to provide sound clarity, balanced coverage and immersive sound throughout the venue. The WPC line array was leveraged for speeches, presentations and performances, complemented by SX218 subwoofers for the low-end frequencies. In addition, the LE200 stage monitors provided onstage audio clarity.

India: Situated in Vagator, Goa, GOYA lounge and club has installed a Martin Audio sound system for use across the venue and to power live performances by DJs and musicians. Designed for an immersive nightlife experience, GOYA blends high-energy entertainment with a luxurious atmosphere.

GOYA required an audio system that could maintain pristine sound quality across different areas of the club. The client sought a solution that would elevate the experience for performances, providing deep bass, clear mids and detailed highs. Furthermore, it had to be able to integrate between dance areas and lounge spaces, preventing audio spillovers while maintaining an immersive feel. With these considerations in mind, the installation team focused 

The venue’s main area was fitted with Martin Audio Torus T1215 constant curvature array loudspeakers. These are complemented by CDD15 and CDD12 coaxial differential dispersion onwall speakers providing controlled coverage. Powering the entire setup is the iK42 four-channel amplifier, along with the DX0.6 network system controller for sound processing. For additional reinforcement, compatible subwoofers were installed.

The transformation in our venue’s sound is incredible,” noted Rajan, director at GOYA. “From the dancefloor to the lounge, the clarity and impact are unmatched. The new system has elevated the entire club experience and the response from our guests has been overwhelmingly positive.

Abhimanyu Chopra, sound consultant at Chopra Designs which installed the system, said: “The installation at GOYA perfectly balances power and precision, creating an immersive sound experience throughout the venue. The system delivers exceptional clarity and impact, ensuring that every performance and set sounds exactly as intended.”

The Martin Audio units were provided by local distributor VMT Enterprise, with pre-design and sales engineer Sai Prem commenting: “The system delivers an outstanding combination of clarity and power, ensuring an immersive experience throughout the venue. Every element has been fine-tuned to provide a balanced and dynamic sound that enhances both live performances and DJ sets.”

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.