Categories
Martin Audio

HERITAGE BAPTIST CHURCH UPGRADES ITS MARTIN AUDIO PA—A QUARTER OF A CENTURY LATER

US: Back in the year 2000, RMB Audio—one of Martin Audio’s longest serving global partners—installed a Wavefront W0.5 miniature high performance speaker solution in Heritage Baptist Church in Zebulon, NC.

The splayed array was designed to provide coverage of a church seating 600 with a balcony, below a vaulted pentagonal roof. Audience seating on the floor in the sanctuary formed a 200° fan from the pulpit, which required some angle separation between the cabinet hangs to provide an overlap from the 100° horizontal pattern.

Due to Martin Audio’s advanced engineering and build quality, this gave the church an excellent return on investment. But when it came to refreshing the speakers, a cell defect was detected. Realising that components for this vintage system were no longer available, an alternative was required.

Cooper Cannady, RMB’s owner, turned to the award-winning O-Line micro-line array for its accuracy and consistency, with two eight-element hangs proposed after modelling in Martin Audio’s DISPLAY software, and comparing with existing room data. Suspended from the existing half-circle frame the new rig provides coverage for the floor and balcony seating to the point where the existing Martin Audio under-balcony C115 speakers are no longer required to reach the last four rows of rear seating.

ASIDE FROM ITS THROW, WE’RE EXPERIENCING NO WALL REFLECTIONS, LOBING OR LOW-END THRUST TO THE STAGE; IT’S EVENED OUT VERY NICELY.

Cooper Cannady, Owner of RMB

Cannady always had confidence that O-Line would be the best solution. “We knew it would be spectacular for that venue,” he said. “I sent them some photos of other installations we had done, and after discussing how much throw they would need they were left in no doubt as to what they were going to get. We have been able to run the system off their existing amplifiers and it went together really well, with all the angles fitting in very nicely.”

Each box could be run off a single amplifier channel without applying any resolution, although RMB will add Martin Audio’s dedicated DX4.0 system controller in due course—with FIR filter settings loaded in—largely for limiting and minor frequency adjustment.

“The quality has increased tremendously,” notes Cooper Cannady. “Aside from its throw, we’re experiencing no wall reflections, lobing or low-end thrust to the stage; it’s evened out very nicely.”

This is particularly important, he says, when three generations of families routinely attend services.“The older generation have said they can hear much better—which is always the top goal we work towards. O-Line brings the spoken word up significantly.”

Aside from the intelligibility and clarity of celebrants’ speech, the church features worship bands, comprising piano, organ, a brass section and acoustic guitars. “When we initially demoed the system, we played music that had some pretty robust low end to it.”

Finally, O-Line was always designed to be architecturally discreet, and turning to aesthetics, the RMB owner says although the PA has transferred “from black to white”, the change has hardly been noticed. “In fact it looks very attractive up there.”

Rev. Joel Dupree, Administrator at Heritage Christian Academy, added his endorsement: “RMB Audio upgraded our 25-year-old Martin Audio array with O-Line cabinets, which produce such great sound from a small package. It’s a perfect upgrade for our congregation.”

Click here for original article.

Categories
Martin Audio

PLYMOUTH’S JUNCTION UPGRADES WITH POWERFUL MARTIN AUDIO THS

UK: The 235-cap Junction live music venue in Plymouth recently upgraded its ageing sound reinforcement infrastructure, opting for a Martin Audio premium PA.

The installation was carried out by locally-based Martin Audio rental and installation partner Nub Sound, and overseen by their Director of Operations, Josh Small. He recommended the manufacturer’s powerful triaxial THS 15in point source loudspeaker, combined with SXC118 cardioid subs to provide both the requisite headroom and vocal clarity—far exceeding the capability of the ancient system that it was replacing.

The long-running venue has been operated by the independent Bedford Breweries for the past decade-plus, but has been trading as The Junction for at least 20 years.

The venue has been systematically upgrading its sound capabilities over the past 18 months, with loudspeakers always planned as the final jewel in the crown. Said Josh, “The venue has transitioned from being a pub that did live music, to a proper live music venue.”

House engineer Dom Chiswell, another staunch advocate of Martin Audio’s signature sound, said the change of direction had been enforced as a result of the pandemic. “When we came out of COVID, we took a big hit with midweek bar sales; it wasn’t working, so we decided to focus on live shows, but make the experience a lot better for bands prepared to travel all the way down to Devon.” The new booking policy is now geared towards 60% touring bands.

WE’D BEEN SHOWN THS AS PART OF THEIR ‘UNPLUGGED BUG’, WHICH AT THAT TIME IT WAS ONLY A BESPOKE BOX. BUT ONCE IT CAME OUT AS A PRODUCTION ITEM IT WAS CLEARLY THE RIGHT BOX FOR THE ROO.

Dom Chiswell, House engineer

The process to find the perfect sound solution began a year ago, with an open day at Nub Sound, whose own relationship with the venue dates back many years. Martin Audio support engineer Ben Tucker attended, and several alternative Martin Audio PA systems were considered, including TORUS, FlexPoint (and briefly CDD-LIVE).

“We’d been shown THS as part of their ‘Unplugged Bug’, which at that time it was only a bespoke box. But once it came out as a production item it was clearly the right box for the room.”

Endorsed by Ben Tucker, Josh Small’s recommendation was for a L/R THS system, with one enclosure on top of a pair of stacked SXC118 cardioid subs on each side. A pair of delayed FlexPoint FP6, one mounted each side of the room, provide the necessary fills.

Explaining the need for so much headroom, Josh said, “The club stages a lot of punk, metal and rock music with loud guitars, so it wasn’t only about reinforcing their low-mid, core energy but getting the vocal above that, which is why the three-way box made so much sense. I’m very comfortable with that decision.”

Processing for the THS and FlexPoint takes place within a dedicated Martin Audio DX0.6 system manager, which feeds the amps. The system was set up with manufacturer presets and tuned with SMAART and pink noise. “All I really had to do was time align the system,” continued Josh. “I didn’t need to do any significant EQing at all—we just relied on the natural voicing of the system which was great.”

The new PA has certainly been well received by visiting sound engineers. “At least three of their roster of freelance engineers phoned to say how much better it sounds, and compared with the old system, it’s like night and day. Having the cardioid subs, and bringing down the LF on stage, means that drummers are much happier, and it allows us to reduce monitoring volume and improve the sound in the room. At the same time, the pattern control on the THS is really good and that has helped improve how the room is performing.”

Dom Chiswell agreed wholeheartedly. “Feedback from engineers and bands alike has been amazing. The amount of headroom I’ve got is insane compared with what it was like before. Now I am able to hear a little bit of everything in the mix, the sound appears louder because of the added clarity, although in fact we are actually averaging about 3dB quieter than we were beforehand.”

Dom Chiswell had worked regularly with Martin Audio MLA Mini and CDD during his days at university, while his time at Deep Blue Sound, who had a partnership with Martin Audio, gave him further exposure.

He admits the new PA has put a smile back on his face. “It’s given me a new lease of life because I was starting to experience burn out. Putting in a new system, working with Josh and then hearing it in situ has given me a new-found love for my work.”

He says he had never realised that a new PA system could have such a positive impact on his mental health.

Click here for original article.

Categories
Martin Audio TiMax

MARTIN AUDIO AND TIMAX TEAM UP TO TAKE TED THEATRE INTO NEW IMMERSIVE DIMENSION

Canada: For one memorable week each year a wing of the large Vancouver Convention Centre event space transforms into the custom-built 1,200-seat TED Theatre — which hosts powerful, high-profile talks aimed at driving meaningful change.

As the non-profit TED Organisation’s relationship with its current PA supplier was nearing an end, their long-serving and highly experienced audio consultant, Michael Nunan was working on a TED Countdown project in Brussels, alongside FOH sound engineer Miles Barton, another veteran of TED event sound mixing. “We were discussing what PA manufacturer would be a good choice going forwards,” Barton recalls. “I’ve used Martin Audio gear since leaving college 24 years ago—and now use it regularly with [Martin Audio rental partner] 22Live.”

He believed the two brands—TED and Martin Audio—would make a good alliance, and duly asked 22live director Spencer Beard to make the connection with TED Head of Production, Mina Sabet. She, in turn, contacted Martin Audio MD Dom Harter—and the idea quickly gathered momentum.

Sabet was determined to disrupt the orthodoxy when it came to audio projection. “There’s a level of perfection and excellence that we look for and a very specific sound. I want speakers to be very ‘present’—as if they’re standing in front of you—something very different from a corporate event. And for performances and music we really want an immersive space, so that attendees would feel a deep sense of connection with both the speaker and the room.”

This was a challenge that Dom Harter readily embraced. “Miles had recommended our optimisation as a tool to improve TED broadcast quality by reducing spill from the PA. At that point we introduced Simon Honywill to design and spec it—and upgraded it to a TiMax spatialisation platform.”

Honywill himself said, “I was thrilled, as I’ve been a long-term advocate of all things TED related, having worked on a TED Global event back in 2013, and even delivered my own TEDx talk.

Another bonus was the fact that this was to be in their own portable auditorium, made entirely of sourced Douglas fir trees that has been reused annually since 2014 when it was originally designed. “This made it a really beautiful environment to work in,” said Simon Honywill. “It’s the reason I really wanted to go to town on the design, because while most of the output is speech, video content, audio bumpers and live music also play a major part.”

Simon Honywill knew that by incorporating fellow Focusrite Group sister brand, TiMax into his design, a spatialised solution would enable seated audiences of up to 1200 people in the auditorium to receive the sound naturally at their seat rather than it appearing to emanate from a loudspeaker.

For the designer, the challenge as much as anything was the fact that he would be liaising with Nunan, Sabet—and Martin Audio integration partner Alford Media—remotely from his base 4,600 miles away. He was also acutely aware that aside from the live audience, TED would want to deliver a pristine broadcast feed on its streaming platform for its many subscribers.

WHAT I’M VERY IMPRESSED WITH IS THE TIME, ENERGY, THOUGHTFULNESS AND EXPERTISE THAT THE FOCUSRITE GROUP HAS BROUGHT TO THE EVENT.

Mina Sabet, Head of Production, TED

Honywill developed the workflow, creating a sound system model and transferring designs created in Vectorworks to SketchUp and then importing into Martin Audio’s proprietary DISPLAY3—before handing over responsibility to Eric Faulk at Alford Media for implementation. “The model actually looked great,” he smiles. This enabled him to send comprehensive, and immersive delayed sound to both surround and overhead speaker locations.

Five hangs of WPS line array were positioned in an arc—the three centre hangs with 11 elements deep and the two outer hangs with nine deep—making 51 fully-optimised boxes in total. These were supported by a central array of 10 SXC118 cardioid subs.

The main surround rear speakers comprise four hangs of four Martin Audio TORUS horizontal arrays, with FlexPoint 12 high performance coaxial point source boxes enveloping the space and distributing all the overheads to create full immersion in an object-based scenario. Subwoofers for surround comprised of SXH218 below the TORUS arrays.

To optimise the implementation of TiMax SoundHub distribution matrix, Simon Honywill worked closely with TiMax co-founder Dave Haydon and Senior Product Developer, Dan Higgott. “WithMartin Audio’s DISPLAY prediction software we could very accurately predict what the sound system was going to sound like. And with the TiMax software we were able to pre-calculate all the level and delay to every element of the system,” said the latter.

“The big difference with a TiMax immersive system such as TiMax is that with TiMax we can calculate the delay times for every loudspeaker and input source back to the position of that source. It allows the perception of the sound system to completely disappear for the audience; if you do it correctly the audience can forget they are listening to amplified sound.”

TED presenters occupy a set position downstage centre for their delivery—and the PA is aligned to that. Simon Honywill: “While TiMax handles that elegantly—there was content submitted in 5.1, and between Dave Haydon and I, we came up with a concept whereby there was a kind of generic set of image definitions that spread the 5.1 source out across the system in a very convincing way.

“Michael Nunan was saying that the broadcast feed sounded the best it had ever done.” In fact

he reports that the FOH (and Broadcast A1) team were hearing between 6-10dB less PA in the Presenter’s headset mic than in the past. “That is, the PA design was very effective at preventing the energy from the house spilling back onto the stage,” he says, giving it further context.

Both Nunan and Martin Audio’s Brad Stephens also emphasised the importance of having a sound system “that doesn’t put audio where it’s not wanted.” Said Stephens, “With the sound optimised for the room we can define coverage from front to back and exclude areas, either by ignoring them or actively excluding them with the ‘Hard Avoid’ [feature].” This was particularly appropriate for the stage area—an attribute also highlighted by Mina Sabet.

Reflecting on the fit-out, she said, “What sets this experience apart is that Martin Audio has been really focused in making the venue deeply immersive in a way that we haven’t experienced before at a TED conference. And in that respect TiMax is unmatched. The partnership between Martin Audio and TED is taking us to another level of audio that we never thought possible.”

Michael Nunan agreed. “Previously it has been unavoidable hear the voice coming from the loudspeaker that I am sitting closest to. But the first time we put up a microphone on the stage this year the big, distributed Martin Audio PA was effectively transparent. It has completely changed their approach to pathways and how to manage the show in a single workflow. Using TiMax SoundHub creates enormous operational efficiencies.”

In summary, Mina Sabet said, “What I’m very impressed with is the time, energy, thoughtfulness and expertise that the Focusrite Group has brought to the event. They really came through, in what was a complicated set-up. I know Michael Nunan was thrilled, and very excited about the potential.”

Next year will be the TED Conference’s 12th and final year at the Vancouver Conference Centre before relocating to California and she is confident that the sound will make a further quantum leap. “I’m really excited about the future and the opportunity to make it even more immersive,” she exclaimed. “The potential is amazing, and I further expect to be blown away in year two.”

Photography: Gilberto Tadday / TED & Jason Redmond / TED.

 

LINK TO VIDEO

Click here for original article.

Categories
Martin Audio

DUO GASTROBAR CELEBRATES A MICHELIN STAR AND MARTIN AUDIO SOUND

UAE: Situated in the luxury residential area of Dubai Hills, on the Business Park, DUO Gastrobar has joined the growing list ofhaute cuisinerestaurants being sucked into the fast-developing neighbourhood.

Founded by Duoband Restaurant Group from St. Petersburg, headed by Renat Malikov and Dmitry Blinov, its quest for the best has already earned them a Michelin star for their fine European cuisine (with a twist of Asian), while their clientele luxuriates in an interior characterised by light, airy colours and natural materials, while the musical ambience is delivered by Martin Audio’s best-selling CDD series.

But it wasn’t the aesthetic of the white CDD5s so much as the sound quality that had impressed the owners, according to regional distributors PRO LAB LLC. Already with a presence in the area the operators were aware that Martin Audio is the brand of choice for many upmarket establishments and also for project designers/consultants, LXA—who have worked on a number of projects with PRO LAB.

“In fact the owners had asked LXA to look for the providers of Martin Audio as it has such good visibility in the region,” confirmed PRO LAB general manager Jan Tarakji.

The Martin Audio distributors were happy to support LXA Senior Project Manager, Riaan Koch as he designed the main bar/restaurant sound around five discreet CDD5W.

But the operators also wanted some headroom in the system for when needed, and to this was added a pair of SX110 subwoofers.

Tarakji added, “They know that if they want to push the system … maybe play some deep house, they have the tools to do so, as these are small and punchy. Thanks to eyebolts LXA have been able to fly these—one at the bar and one at the opposite end of the venue—as space on the floor is at a premium.”

In addition to the main area there is also a separate covered terrace, with a different vibe where patrons are served their music via a further five CDD5W.

Click here for original article.

Categories
Martin Audio

MCGETTIGAN’S PARTNER WITH MARRIOTT AND MARTIN AUDIO IN DUBAI

UAE: The McGettigan’s Irish Pub franchise continues to expand across Dubai, but their latest bar and restaurant—situated in the Four Points by Sheraton Production City—is the first to be located within a Marriott-owned hotel property.

Set within this growing production hub it will serve the community of media-based businesses who are resident there. Also based at Production City are Martin Audio’s distributor for the UAE and GCC region, PRO LAB LLC, who will be able to use the venue as a showcase. For they supported system integrators Exacting Diseno Technical Services—specialists in the leisure hospitality sector—helping to recommend appropriate sound reinforcement solutions across several ranges in the loudspeaker manufacturer’s portfolio.

Set on a 5,000 sq. ft footprint, the lively bar restaurant offers a haven for business meetings for the hotel residents, transforming at the weekends when the action notches up. DJs perform and the general vibe is one of a sports bar with plenty of screens.

Thus versatility (and the rising tide of ambient sound at weekends) was very much in their thinking when it came to specifying the sound. But PRO LAB knew they were in safe hands with Exacting Diseno. “They are big supporters of Martin Audio, it’s their number one choice, when it comes to specifying sound systems,” stated PRO LAB’s Head of Audio, Pavel Shemiakin.

“When they started negotiating with the client it was made clear that they wanted a high-performance system—a HiFi sound with plenty of punch—because while it’s mostly playing low level BGM during the daylight hours, it also reverts to a sports bar and has DJ plug-in points. So Martin Audio became the obvious choice.”

The heavy focus is at the DJ position where a pair of CDD12 are mounted, while distributed evenly throughout the venue are a further nine wall mounted CDD6. These are reinforced by four ground-standing Martin Audio Blackline X115 subwoofers for LF extension.

However, the installation company, under the project leadership of Lou Agha, was still far from finished. For the outdoor terrace area they turned to 12 of Martin Audio’s ADORN A55T, supplied with the optional AIPKIT IP44 weatherised cover. This area can either take its source feed from the main room, or operate from an independent input and volume control, ensuring maximum versatility.

Stated Rami Haber. Pro Lab CEO, “Partnering with McGettigan’s reflects our commitment to supporting Dubai’s top venues with exceptional audio solutions that elevate the guest experience.”

Click here for original article.

Categories
Company News Martin Audio

MARTIN AUDIO AND GENERATION AV TEAM UP FOR THIRD APAC DISTRIBUTION SUMMIT

For the third successive year, Martin Audio and Generation AV entertained all APAC distributors at their Singapore Experience Centre to celebrate growth and discuss future opportunities.

Attending the recent event, Dom Harter, Martin Audio Managing Director, shared updates from across the Audio Reproduction division of the Focusrite group, which also includes Linea Research, Optimal Audio and TiMax. Harter confirmed, “More partners are representing multiple brands, and while we want to ensure that each brand continues to flourish in its own right, there are increasing opportunities for convergence and valued-added solutions to customers.”

Addressing the notable interest in spatial audio which naturally leads to the potential sale of additional loudspeakers and electronics, the agenda included dedicated demonstrations of TiMax panLab and in-depth training with TiMax SoundHub, in combination with different loudspeakers and electronics from the Focusrite Group stable.

Group Marketing Director, James King, shared recent updates to his team’s roles and functionalities designed to fuel both individual brand growth and cross-brand opportunities. Further updates included the strides made in supply chain operation, as well as the Group’s pragmatic approach to the international trade challenges of recent months. Early previews of upcoming new products and software also added excitement to future potential in the region.

A familiar and popular inclusion was the case study session in which distribution partners talked through success stories and their approaches to the market. Brad Watson, Sales Director, commented, “It’s always enlightening to see the strides being made in the territory and the ingenuity on display to win in various vertical markets. All distributors walk away inspired and with a fresh playbook of ideas they can try out in their own local market.”

The event was rounded off fittingly with an Award ceremony which saw among many other awards, Luxury Supply, Cambodia, win best new Distributor, whilst Fuzion Far East, Thailand, picked up the award for Outstanding Performance in Immersive Sound. The most coveted title of ‘Distributor of the Year’ went to TAG, Australia.

Martin Audio APAC Outstanding Performance in Installed Sound 2024 (Entertainment)
Vardhaman (VMT), India

Martin Audio APAC Outstanding Performance in Touring Sound 2024
Samasound Inc., South Korea

Martin Audio APAC Outstanding Performance in Installed Sound 2024 (Enterprise)
Audio Brains, Japan

Martin Audio APAC Outstanding Performance in Immersive Sound 2024
Fuzion Far East, Thailand

Martin Audio APAC Best New Distributor 2024
Luxury Supply, Cambodia

Martin Audio APAC Outstanding Performance in Portable Sound 2024
JB Music, Philippines

Martin Audio APAC Distributor of the Year 2024
Technical Audio Group, Australia

David McKinney, Managing Director of Generation AV, said, “It was a fantastic week and so good to have all our partners come together to celebrate the successes, and to lay out new plans for the future. Big thanks to all our partners for making the week a major success and to Dom, Brad and James whose joining us made for productive discussions.”

Categories
Martin Audio

SUTTER HEALTH PARK UPGRADES WITH MARTIN AUDIO & LINEA RESEARCH

US: Situated in West Sacramento, CA, Sutter Health Park—home to the River Cats baseball team and ‘A’s’ (Athletics)—has undergone a major infrastructure upgrade for the coming season, designed to enhance the fan experience and improve game-day technology.

This includes a strategically enhanced sound system for the bowl—based around Martin Audio CDD and SX subwoofer components, as well as process-controlled amplification from Focusrite sister brand, Linea Research, in the 14,000-cap arena.

The River Cats had acknowledged that their 25-year-old system badly needed enhancing. Locally based Martin Audio partner, Sacramento Production Services (SACPS)—who have a long history in servicing the facility—were brought in, initially to project manage for a third party before later being handed the full role of system integrator, as the time frame for completion narrowed.

Their experienced Sales & Production Manager, Keith Wackford said, “The brief was to get the present system back up and running after they had completely gutted the control room. “In the process they said, ‘What can we do to upgrade the system?’ They wanted a major league experience in a minor league park on a minor league budget.”

Wackford and his long-term associate and project manager, Anthony Brown, undertook a site survey and immediately recognised the imperfections—aside from the tired PA components. Budget and time frame restrictions would not allow for replacement of the main bowl speakers. “But with the addition of the new Linea Research amplification (LR-44C10M-Dante), it’s as if they purchased new speakers.

WE ARE IMPRESSED WITH CDD10, FOR ITS THROW AND INTELLIGIBILITY.

Keith Wackford, Sacramento Production Services

“Elsewhere, it was a case of what would give us the best bang for the buck. We knew the system had always been lacking in subwoofers and if we were going to put in subs, we also needed to ensure the [infill and outfill] boxes would keep up.”

As a long-term Martin Audio partner they contacted Will Harris and Jim Sage at Martin Audio USA, who recommended the SX115 for its superior outdoor driver. “The 25-year-old outfield speakers 

on light poles were in really bad shape,” acknowledges Wackford, “and although difficult to get access to we knew we had to change them and replace them with [weatherised] CDD15W-WR. For how high up they are, everyone is absolutely impressed.” In fact one of the speakers is close to 80ft.

Of the CDD deployment he said, “The CDD15 gave us a little more low end and full range in the outfield, as the bowl PA doesn’t really reach out to there. We also like CDD’s whole intelligibility; at low volumes it’s got a really good intelligibility out of the far throw, plus it’s impressive how wide they are at the near point.”

Distributed around the bowl, the subs themselves are mounted on I-Beams to the underside of the VIP suites, while 30 CDD10W-WR bowl fill speakers were added in conjunction with the subs. After consideration, they opted for one per each seating section, running right round the facility.

“We are impressed with CDD10, for its throw and intelligibility—and the way it couples to the high frequency driver to carry the HF driver a bit further. One of the reasons we went for the CDD10 over the CDD8 is because it has a yoke, and we wanted something that would allow us to pan and tilt in an easy manner.”

In addition to the amplifiers and speakers, SACPS upgraded the mixing console, as well as the main system processor and touch screen interfaces to Symetrix. “Symetrix allowed us to use the Linea Research Intelligent modules bringing the amplifier telemetry data right onto the users’ touch screen remote—giving the user information as to what the nine LR-44CC status and signals are doing. The system is all running Dante with an analogue fail over from the console to the Symetrix, and to all nine LR-44C amps around the facility,” Keith Wackford explained.

Better known as ‘Raley Field’, the site itself is directly adjacent to downtown Sacramento, with a whole neighbourhood growing up around it. “We had a crazy speed limit of, I think 85dB, A-weighted 15ft from a source. So trying to do line array from the outfield or subs up high wouldn’t work. We had to keep things contained within the ballpark as there are a lot of new apartments with high rise buildings springing up. Everything distributed as close to the listening area as possible is critical.”

System feeds include DJs on the concourse, taking advantage of the new audio inputs, and there are plans for future live entertainment. Main PA and pre-recorded live safety messages also run through the system. “Messaging now sounds so much better,” believes Keith Wackford.

Aside from him, Anthony Brown acted as project manager; onsite programming and networking were provided by Brian Webber, while due to the tight time frame Alive Media were brought in to provide on-site installation, wiring and labour. Finally, Symetrix programmer Nick Danielson did “an amazing job” according to Wackford.

The client is delighted with the result following the upgrade. According to Eric King, VIP Technology, “The difference is night and day—the quality, clarity, and overall experience are next level. We really appreciate the attention to detail, the seamless install, and the passion brought to the project

Click here for original article.

Categories
Martin Audio

TORUS IS A GOA AT GOYA

INDIA: GOYA is a premier lounge and nightclub in Goa’s tourist hotspot of Vagator Beach. The venue blends high-energy entertainment with a luxurious atmosphere, offering a space where music, lighting, and ambiance converge to create a dynamic, immersive interior. With a reputation for hosting top-tier DJs and live performances, GOYA sets the benchmark for sound and experience-driven nightlife in the region.

The venue required an audio solution that could match this vibrant energy while maintaining pristine sound quality across different areas of the club. The client, Mr. Rajan envisioned a system that would elevate the experience for DJs and live performers, embracing deep bass, clear mids and detailed highs.

With the need for seamless integration between dance areas and lounge spaces, the sound system had to be powerful yet precise, preventing audio spill, while maintaining an immersive feel. The installation team at Chopra Designsfocused on delivering uniform, high-fidelity coverage to every corner of the venue to enhance both live performances and playback experiences.

THE NEW SYSTEM HAS ELEVATED THE ENTIRE CLUB EXPERIENCE, AND THE RESPONSE FROM OUR GUESTS HAS BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE.

Mr. Rajan, GOYA

To achieve this, the venue’s main area was fitted with Martin Audio state-of-the-art TORUS T1215, 12” passive constant curvature array loudspeaker, complemented with Martin Audio’s CDD15B and CDD12B coaxial differential dispersion on-wall speakers. Powering the entire setup was the Martin Audio iK42, a four-channel 20,000W Class D amplifier, along with the DX 0.6 2-in/6-out dedicated system controller for optimised sound processing. For additional reinforcement, compatible subwoofers were installed to provide depth.

With this advanced blend of technology, the new sound system elevates the venue’s reputation as a premier nightlife destination in Goa. The installation has not only met but exceeded the client’s expectations, setting a new standard for sound reinforcement in the region.

“The transformation in our venue’s sound is incredible,” said Mr. Rajan. “From the dance floor 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.”

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

The Martin Audio components were supplied by the company’s distribution partner, VMT Enterprise, whose Pre-Design & Sales Engineer, Sai Prem,concluded, “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.”

Click here for original article.

Categories
Martin Audio

SWINGERS’ MASSIVE LAS VEGAS SITE PARTIES WITH 170 MARTIN AUDIO SPEAKERS

US: Middlesex Sound & Light (MSL) have successfully delivered the biggest contract in their 41-year history, with the opening of the flagshipSwingers– the crazy golf club in Las Vegas.

Set on a massive 40,000 sq. ft site inside Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino (on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip), the venue boasts no fewer than 170 Martin Audio loudspeakers, including 122 CDD6. This popular series MSL have been installing regularly atSwingerssince the corporate-friendly crazy golf concept was first rolled out in London before it expanded to the USA.SwingersLondon was one of the first deployments of CDD, and to date MSL have racked up more CDD deployments than any other UK-based dealer.

Swingersis the brainchild of two successful entrepreneurs,Matt Grech-Smith and Jeremy Simmonds. Martin Audio now appears in allSwingersvenues as the vibrant entertainment concept continues to evolve. Run with the support of MGM Resorts, the Las Vegas operation not only offers four 9-hole crazy golf courses, but alsoSwingers’ new fairground-style Carnival games arcade concept.

The focal point dominating the entire central section ofSwingersLas Vegas is a long,1920s style English country house, its façade brought to life with a constant flow of projected imagery.

Here, three Martin Audio TORUS T1230 constant curvature arrays, flown discreetly on each side with a pair of cardioid SXCF118 subwoofers, create a classic proscenium PA system. Four powerful CDD10 are located within the country house’s ‘sunken garden’ where the generous balcony doubles as a stage, providing a performance area for small combos, as well as corporate presentations. Further CDD10s are provided for artists’ reference sound, while in the lower section of the house is a DJ station — which comes into its own later in the day and extra volume is required. Elsewhere, no fewer than 122 CDD6 boxes are distributed throughout the venue.

MSL’s system designer, Steve Billington, explained that the Las Vegas site represents a conversionof the former LIGHT nightclub. His first site survey was to ascertain whether any of the existing sound equipment was salvageable. “But it was clear that nothing could be reutilised,” he said, “and so with our existing brand template Martin Audio was always going to be the obvious choice. The question was how we could adapt this template to such a large-scale space that it is.

“With a constantly moving audience, the reason we choose CDD6 is because the dispersion is so wide, and gives consistent coverage compared with a traditional speaker.” This is because it achieves a rectangular, extendable coverage pattern, which is ultra-wide close to the speaker.

MSL’s approach is broadly to allocate a ratio of three SX subs to 12 CDD6. In this application, they have also been careful to place an SXC115 (cardioid) in the DJ booth, since there is an exclusive private hire space directly behind the DJ booth “and this keeps the impact on the dancefloor without bothering the VIP space,” notes Billington. Elsewhere, LF extension, where necessary, is provided through a combination of 30 SX110 and SX210 subwoofers.

Much of the magic had already taken place in the 3D software prior to installation. The design was modelled using Martin Audio’s advanced DISPLAY3 visualisation software, importing Revit and SketchUp models provided by the architect. “SketchUp is a very powerful tool, allowing us to simulate everything, especially TORUS,” says Billington. “For while we’re very comfortable with CDD, which is a tried and tested formula, with TORUS it was useful to be able to measure the coverage patterns.”

Both Steve Billington and MSL MD Darrel Olivier acknowledge that although its footprint may be larger, “the beauty of the TORUS boxes in this application is that they lose themselves because of the height we’ve installed them at.”

Signal distribution is via a 10GB network, with fully redundant fibre backbone running Dante from BSS Soundweb London into the process-controlled amplifiers.

Stated Jeremy Simmonds, co-CEO and co-founder ofSwingers, “When we started designing a flagshipSwingersto take over the enormous LIGHT nightclub space at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas—the entertainment capital of the world—it rapidly became clear that we were designing the best competitive socialising venue in the world.

“MSL were the perfect partner on this ambitious project, bringing incredible creativity and a vast technical expertise to the table. MSL’s unique contribution is a huge part of the venue’s massive success.”

TheSwingersmomentum shows no sign of letting up. The programme is now set to continue in other key US cities, before moving even further afield.

Click here for original article.

Categories
Martin Audio

O-LINE SPEAKER UPGRADE FOR KIVA AUDITORIUM

US: Friendship Village retirement facility in Kalamazoo, MI, recently commissioned a complete overhaul of the audio-visual infrastructure at its Kiva Auditorium.

Set on a 72-acre campus, the Auditorium is used for events, meetings, and community activities and is now also perfect to host smaller shows and concerts.

Design consultant Tim Heneveld (from HAV Design) specified Martin Audio’s award-winning O-Line micro-array solution for the sound reinforcement, installed by system integrators, Division 16 Technologies.

The design company had been selected by the Friendship Village team after intensive research into which AV design company could best meet their requirements.

I HAVE ALWAYS EXPERIENCED MARTIN AUDIO AS VERY SMOOTH, CONSISTENT, PREDICTABLE AND MUSICAL.

Tim Heneveld

Heneveld noted that the old sound system had been prone to feedback, and thus the new system would need to demonstrate extremely high intelligibility/clarity, with the sound delivered evenly to a maximum capacity of 200 seats.The venue is almost always filled to capacity and a high percentage of the attendees have hearing difficulties. With it being an elderly facility gain before feedback and a high level of intelligibility in every seat from front to back and was paramount.”

The tech also needed to be visually discreet. “ The room couldn’t be about the technology,” he added, “the system needed to maintain a sleek and slim presence.”

The consultant’s interest in O-Line had been piqued when he saw it on the Martin Audio web page. And having later seen it in the flesh at anInfoComm Show, he realised it would be perfect for this application.

“It offered clean lines, minimal visual impact and yet has a progressively aesthetic appeal. I could balance the desired coverage and output with the visual impact in the room.”

O-Line was installed in two hangs of four elements each. It was designed in 2-box resolution, four amp channels per side, through Martin Audio’s dedicated DX4.0 processor. “We recognized that it is not a high SPL menu, so opted for 12in subwoofers to go along with the main speaker arrays,” he said.

Tim Heneveld is no stranger to Martin Audio technology, having mixed on one of the manufacturer’s rigs as far back as 30 years ago. “I have always experienced Martin Audio as very smooth, consistent, predictable and musical.” However, this was his first design with O-Line as it was for the AV installation contractors, Division 16 Technologies.

Summing up, the consultant says the entire AV installation upgrade—including new 16’ x 9’ video wall—has been a complete success. “The new sound system has allowed a wider variety of events to be held in the space. O-Line provides transparent support for choirs and acoustical instruments (along with fully reinforced events) that were not previously possible.”

Consequently, Friendship Village is now looking forward to years of use of their new system that will empower them to provide top level programming and content for the residents that they serve.

Click here for original article.