Category: Martin Audio

BELGIUM: The newly-completed, multifunctionalSiltcomplex—an architecturally sophisticated ‘landscaper’ completed earlier this year—forms a dominant, wood-latticed landmark on the Belgian coast, overlooking the North Sea at Middelkerke.

Essentially a multipurpose event venue, built and operated by Middelkerke’s municipality as part of its restoration programme for the area, it also hosts a restaurant, hotel and casino run by different operators. All are set within an artificial dune, each with spectacular views across the beach and sea.

For advice on sound reinforcement in the Event Hall, the City Council brought in Stephan Bohez of SBE—a loyal partner of Martin Audio for the past 25 years, who also co-owns StarTechnics with partner, Danny Debock. Stated Bohez, who has staged events for the client over a number of years, “They already knew the quality of our service and the fact we are always ready to solve any kind of programme,” he said. “I was asked what they would need for an event hall that could perform a number of functions—not merely operate as a concert hall, but something that would work in 90% of cases.”

Awarded the contract, StarTechnics report that the design went through many iterations “as they were initially unsure in what direction they would be going with the venue, whether concerts, seminars, conferences, awards shows or banquets.” Eventually they decided on WPM as being the best solution to cater for dynamic events.

His solution was to equip this empty white box with a modular set-up that could be brought in and reconfigured at will. The only items permanently rigged would be eight elements of Martin Audio’s small footprint, scalable Wavefront Precision WPM a side, with four SXP218 (2 x 18” active subwoofers) which can be deployed and designed as required.

Complementing this is a delay of four TORUS T820 8” constant curvature speakers, providing defined 100° by 20° coverage pattern in the meeting areas at the mezzanine level, while four auxiliary CDD-LIVE 12 can be used as infills or outfills as required. Martin Audio’s ADORN 5.25” ACS-55T ceiling speakers are set underneath the mezzanine to provide main system delays, or for independent use when this space is separated from the main hall—providing immense versatility.

The mezzanine area space can also become a dedicated single room hall, whose orientation is then rotated through 90°. In this set up two further delayed TORUS T820 are rigged under which is a Martin Audio SX115 subwoofer. This small, dedicated area has already hosted DJ-run events and a live concert.

The entire set-up is run by a pair of Martin Audio iKON iK81 DSP amps supporting VU-NET, in 2-box resolution. These take care of all the processing other than the CDD-LIVE 12, which is under the management of a dedicated DX4.0 processor.

Stephan Bohez was assisted in the installation by Jimmy Koninckx, Audio Solutions Advisorat FACE, Martin Audio’s Belgian distributor who supplied the equipment. He ensured the order was fulfilled and later provided technical support, including optimisation and programming.

“Most of the work was in getting the delays set correctly,” he said, “but we are fortunate in that TORUS sounds similar to the WPM.”

Further adjustments, such as system presets will wait until a routine trading pattern has been established. “We want to see what settings are likely to be most common,” says the installer.

Following the opening, Stephan Bohez has been retained as onsite technician and sound engineer. Meanwhile, the operators are said to be delighted with the quality of the sound system, and the flexibility it affords, which can be tailored to each event. And with a heavy programme of events in prospect, they have already safely overcome the first hurdle.

UK: Based in London’s West End, The Twist Museum is an immersive, interactive, multi-sensory attraction, set on a 15,000 sq. ft site.

Challenging the visitor to explore the world of illusion, Twist—which stands forThe Way I See Things—is a collaborative work of leading artists, psychologists, and neuroscientists.

The audio-visual integration was entrusted to London-based Crossover, who specified, installed, programmed and commissioned essential audio-visual equipment, for management and routing over a digital backbone.

Developed by multimedia artist Aristotle Roufanis, the Digital Mirror exhibit uses a camera and large format display to create an interactive ‘mirror’, distorting peoples’ reflections in real time. The Crossover team provided the displays, the audio system, and the back-end processing hardware, that manipulates the captured images to display the illusions and distortions to the viewer.

Crossover helped the Museum’s project team build another of Roufanis’ creations, the Digital Kaleidoscope, with audio looping in real time on Ableton Live. The Kaleidoscope is a mirrored hexagonal tube—people entering it immerse themselves in a stunning display of colours and patterns and their reflections which are influenced by their movements and interactions. Crossover supplied and installed the projection systems, camera, processing hardware and audio system for this interactive marvel.

Martin Audio loudspeakers were specified in the Audio Interactive Space and Mind Hub where distortion free, phase coherent output was paramount. The former is a large octagonal acoustically treated 360-degree surround-sound room that immerses the visitor in soundscapes created by artist and composer Antoine Bertin. Custom-programmed LED lighting synchronises with the audio to enhance the sensory impact, with LF rumble provided by a Martin Audio SX110 1 x 10in slimline subwoofer.

This was chosen “for its super compact form factor, and the fact it could be easily flown without taking up valuable floorspace,” according to Crossover Senior Systems Designer, Juan Garcia. “In addition, we are very familiar with Martin Audio and love the sound of their speakers and their reliability. The fact that the space was small, and the sub is so powerful, we only needed one SX110, to avoid hotspots and dips.” It was installed towards the side of the room—rather than the centre—in order to maximise bass coverage.

About halfway through the journey, the visitors enter the Mind Hub. Crossover installed the lighting and supplied the lighting control hardware and audio system for this spectacle, at the centre of which is a huge cube of 1,000 individually controllable LED spheres hanging from the ceiling, creating mesmerising patterns and shapes.

Here and in the events area, Crossover have specified eight Martin Audio ADORN A55T, focused on background music and small events within that space, chosen for their output within a discreet footprint. These are powered by a Martin Audio VIA2004 4-channel, 2000W Class D amplifier.

Elsewhere, the Upside-Down Room and the Ames Room provide further treats for visitors, the former featuring a further Martin Audio music system with the option for a DJ to play for parties and events.

A digital back end, with local touch panel interfaces allows staff to monitor the exhibits and to maintain uptime.

Crossover director, David Sacks, said: “This was a brilliant project to have worked on. It was particularly rewarding because of the close collaboration with international artists to bring their visions to life with some of the best audio-visual technology around.”

GERMANY: Vortex, the new electronic music festival, made its debut at Göppingen’s EWS Arena—pumping techno, trance and hardcore through the bodies of devotes, continuously over 12 hours, through Martin Audio’s flagship Wavefront Precision line array series. To quote the words of the organisers, “Vortexis not just a festival, it’s a transcendent experience, a sonic adventure that you won’t want to miss.“ Such was the challenge that the Martin Audio PA and its advance control software were set.

It was a far cry from EWS Arena’s normal sphere of activity, which is hosting the Bundesliga handball club FRISCH AUF! But since the venue is located in the centre of the town, surrounded by shops and flats, the requirements with regard to noise escape were predictably stringent. As a debut event, it was particularly important for the organisers not to provoke complaints from local residents in order to preserve the future of the event. With its legendary tight offsite control, the Martin Audio Wavefront Precision systems deployed absolutely met these high requirements.

Jürgen Schuster, from event technology specialist Skyeline Live, who provided the technical equipment for theVortexFestival, confirms: “There were no noise complaints and zero problems with the volume for the audience.”

“THERE WERE NO NOISE COMPLAINTS AND ZERO PROBLEMS WITH THE VOLUME FOR THE AUDIENCE.”

Martin Audio’s advanced DISPLAY software had been essential in controlling the WPS and WPC line arrays deployed. “It was a real blessing,” he explains. “I was able to calculate the entire system cleanly and deploy it accordingly. This made it possible to predict in advance exactly how the system would behave in terms of sound levels.” He added that during the event, a colleague checked the volume on the street, enabling him to confirm: “Ambient noise from the street was louder than the sound coming from the festival, while inside the venue the sound was characterised by the evenness of distribution across the entire event area.”

To achieve this Jürgen Schuster deployed 24 Martin Audio WPC as the main system (12 boxes a side), with eight WPS as front- and sidefill. The all-important sub frequencies were pumped out through six towers of three SX218, designed in cardioid (two front facing and a single rear facing), with a further four SX218 provided for DJ monitoring. The rig was powered by 12 of Martin Audio‘s iK42 multi-channel, process-controlled power amplifiers in three-box resolution.

Schuster attributed the success of the event to two key Martin Audio technologies: the scalable resolution of the Wavefront Precision loudspeakers and the acoustic optimisation using the DISPLAY simulation software. “The combination of these two aspects made it possible to calculate the sound solution for the event so precisely that sound emissions were minimised [offsite] while still providing uncompromising sound for the 4,000 dance fans.”

But the real success of the event, he emphasises, was the reaction of the artists themselves. “They didn’t want to leave at all,” he affirms. “It’s normal for an act to come, deliver their set and then go … but at the Vortex Festival, the acts enjoyed it so much that they stayed for hours after their performance and simply enjoyed it.”

This says much for the quality of the sound system, which had been subjected to an enormous continuous load. “The Vortex Festival runs for 12 hours through the night—from 7pm until 7am—and the system has to work reliably.” Fortunately, due to his many years of experience with Martin Audio systems he was confident this requirement would be absolutely fulfilled.

In conclusion he praises the sonic coherence across the different series and how easily they can be combined. “WPC and WPS are different size formats but they fit together perfectly in all technical respects—phase response and so on. With many manufacturers this provides problems as the speakers don’t fit together in terms of sound. This is certainly not an issue with Martin Audio, as the different series work wonderfully together.”

Watch the video:  https://youtu.be/2TkaSOfbxU0

MY: Based in the Malaysian state of Selangor, full-service provider Psychoacoustic Productions recently invested in a Martin Audio BlacklineX Powered loudspeaker system, comprising 16 XP12, eight XP15 and six XP118 subs.

Founded in 2006 by Haary Roshaahn Yograi, under the original name of Pyschoacoustics Sound & Lights the company has grown steadily from humble beginnings.

Stated the owner, “We were comparing several active point source systems in a similar price range, and among all that we tested, Martin Audio really stood out in terms of delivering a sweeter sound—particularly on the higher frequencies. It was the system that best suited our indoor venues.”

The portable BlacklineX Powered series integrates Martin Audio’s renowned engineering expertise into an easy-to-use, quick-to-deploy, high-powered solution for a range of professional applications, ranging from use by musicians and mobile DJ’s, to corporate AV, House of Worship installations and all types of music venue.

With optional Bluetooth control, streaming and a built-in three channel mixer, BlacklineX Powered was a logical move for the company. The equipment was supplied by Kuala Lumpur dealer, Wavefront Culture.

As they enter their second year of distributing the brand, managing director, Ahmad Syafiqbin Yaacob says that although Martin Audio was already well established in the AV market, with its rapidly increasing portfolio it has required an extended push to make the client base fully aware of its solutions. He confirmed that while Psychoacoustic Productions already knew about the brand, they had never previously listened to the product, adding that in comparative testing they preferredthe XP12 and XP118.

He says that as a result, Mr. Roshaahn is now keen to audition the TORUS series.

Martin Audio has announced the introduction of iK41, an advanced 4-channel power amplifier, to further strengthen the existing iKON series and portfolio offering.

The iK41 combines high power density with rich and accurate audio performance, state-of-the-art DSP and network control, and is designed as a dedicated controller amplifier for Martin Audio WPM optimised line arrays, TORUS 8 constant curvature loudspeakers, as well as multi-channel amplification for select Martin Audio loudspeakers.

This latest iKON amplifier can deliver a full 1500 watts per channel into 4 ohm, and its high efficiency reduces the energy drawn from the mains supply and ensures the power reserves needed to deliver signature sound under arduous conditions.

THE SUCCESS OF IKON AMPLIFIERS HAS BEEN UNDENIABLE.

Ethernet is used for system remote control and monitoring via Martin Audio’s VU-NET software application, while a user-friendly front panel interface allows full local control of all features. Dante digital audio network inputs are also provided for digital audio distribution and control.

Powerful DSP is fully integrated into the iK41 to provide a multitude of features that ensure maximum performance of select loudspeaker systems. It also provides up to 1000 FIR filter taps at 48kHz on each output channel, which is essential to implement DISPLAY’s wide bandwidth optimisation process in WPM line array systems.

The iK41 employs comprehensive protection functions to maintain safe operating conditions of both the amplifier and the loudspeakers driven—including a sophisticated loudspeaker limiter suite which incorporates peak, RMS and excursion limiting, as well as multiband limiting for passive 2-way systems.

Dom Harter, Managing Director, commented, “The success of iKON amplifiers has been undeniable and with this less expensive model being introduced it will allow for more efficient installations of WPM, TORUS 8 and FlexPoint systems. While we expect rental partners to continue their inventory of iK42, we also expect that some will see the benefit of holding additional iK41 inventory for their smaller events.”

The iK41 will be on display at InfoComm 2024 in Las Vegas, booth C9601, and will start shipping globally from July.

For more information: https://martin-audio.com/products/electronics/ik41

US: Built in 1917, and situated in the village of Hamilton, New York, Colgate Memorial Chapel provides the centrepiece of Colgate University’s campus activity.

Since it is a multi-use facility—incorporating a range of on-campus activity from University interfaith church services to lectures, presentations and orchestral concerts—it was vital that the public address system was sufficiently flexible to reproduce spoken word and full dynamic range alike, with absolute clarity.

The Chapel’s long-term AV contractor is Syracuse-based TSH AV, who specialise in the House of Worship sector. They recently met the University’s requirement for a loudspeaker upgrade by specifying Martin Audio’s award-winning O-Line micro line array, with scalable resolution. This was designed not only to optimise the sound in the challenging space, but with its compact footprint also sit discreetly within the Chapel’s beautiful aesthetic, set behind the building’s equally stunning façade, with its gabled pediment.

According to TSH owner Timothy Harris, the Chapel had previously made do with a mishmash of ceiling speakers. “They were all over the place, it just wasn’t a properly designed system at all,” he observed.

Harris had originally proposed a new sound system back in 2017 but it was only last year that the facility had the budget to proceed. “With O-Line in use across churches in the UK and Europe, I proposed this solution from the very beginning. This speaker is meant for sanctuaries like this.”

The challenge was to provide even coverage for a 750-seat sanctuary without a centre aisle—accommodating 450 on the lower floor, 200 in the balconies and 100 on the stage.

Harris had dispensed with the idea of flying the new PA from the cupola-shaped roof, instead opting to discreetly wall mount two O-Line columns of 12 elements either side of the altar. A pair of Martin Audio SXP118 subwoofers are available as necessary. “They can be wheeled in with the option of either being placed one on each side, or in an end-fire configuration in the centre.”These are powered in 2-box resolution by three VIA 2004 amplifiers, with all processing in the dedicated DX4.0 digital system processor … “so it’s an end-to-end Martin Audio solution,” exclaims the installer.

Despite its vaulted dome, the Chapel is sonically fairly forgiving and thus required minimal processing. “Back in the 80s they installed an acoustical ceiling, since the ceiling runs straight across, but rising to the dome in the centre. The acoustic panels didn’t provide a perfect solution, but it certainly helped.” Under each hang is a large LED wall, also installed earlier by TSH AV, while a pipe organ provides an imposing backdrop.

The integration company originally set up in 2013, and within a year Harris and his technical team were attending MLA training in Las Vegas. Since then they have carried out installations across Martin Audio’s PA portfolio, ranging from Wavefront Precision to the hugely popular CDD coaxial differential dispersion series as well as other O-Line installations.

Final tuning of theColgatesystem itself was entrusted to consultant Michael Lawrence from Precision Audio Services “for verification that the system was tuned correctly” with TSH Audio then responsible for final commissioning.

Confirmed Lawrence, “It was a surprisinglywell-behaved room given the size and the surface materials. I worked with Tim on a final design iteration, making a few tweaks to the splay angles before the system was installed, so once I got on site for the alignment the coverage was already behaving as intended. The commissioning session was mostly spent getting the system voiced appropriately for the space. We did another round of listening with a representative from the college and made sure everyone was happy.”

Reflecting on the work, Timothy Harris can point to a solution that thoroughly meets the brief for a sonically superior, minimally invasive sound system. “Thanks to O-Line we have been able to get the audio where it needed to be instead of it going all over the place as it would have done with a traditional line source speaker array.”

Mark Hine,Director of Classrooms, Digital Media and Events atColgateUniversity, agreed—adding: “TSH has been a trusted partner on numerous projects, ourColgateMemorial Chapel project being no exception. This project began well before the pandemic and TSH shepherded us through supply chain challenges all the way to system calibration.

“For the most part, the change has gone (visually) unnoticed—which is a good thing. We have also managed to negate the constant worry of feedback from the mics.”