Category: Optimal Audio

Zone 8P audio controller reduces staff stress and saves energy.

Hotel & Wirtshaus Hansen in Bergisch Gladbach, near Cologne, recently invested in an update on its sound system. Owner Andrea Hansen was happy with his existing ten-year-old Martin Audio loudspeakers but felt that the control system had become out of date:
“Our staff regularly struggled with which button was responsible for which level in which room – consequently the sound system needed a reset once or twice a week.”

The daily pressures upon hospitality staff are always challenging and the last thing anyone wants to worry about is a complicated sound system. That’s where Optimal Audio comes to the rescue. The requirements for better control aligned with the benefits of Optimal Audio’s Zone processor and ZonePad.

Zone 8P is a zonal audio controller with DSP providing everything required in a single compact unit to become the beating heart of an efficient, high-quality multi-zoned commercial sound system and features 4 line and 2 mic inputs plus 2 HDMI inputs for TV and video sound.

It has integrated amplification making installation straightforward and cost-effective and allows the user to independently allocate sources across eight configurable zones, such as a lobby, bar or restaurant. Each zone can be configured to do precisely what is required using the intuitive WebApp including EQs, speaker presets, structured time of day routines and so much more.

The integrated eight-channel amplifier in Zone 8P provide 100 watts per channel and eliminate the need for separate amplifiers for most small to medium applications.

Once configured the sound system can be controlled by staff using any device such as a smartphone, but in this case the system was also supplemented by ZonePad 4. ZonePad 4 is an elegant wall mounted controller, providing users clear and simple access to the essential controls of up to four zones. It gives all users the confidence and access they need to operate the system and features a clean, slick intuitive touch interface, enabling selection, volume control of playback sources and microphones to be easily controlled across the zones of audio from one position.

The solution retained existing Martin Audio speakers in several rooms and added a number of Martin Audio ADORN series speakers to some outdoor areas to create a pleasant background music atmosphere.

Andreas Hansen continues:
“We can now control everything with either mobile devices or the ZonePad. If a customer is uncomfortable with the sound level in any given area, a member of staff can directly change it from his or her mobile device. The system is then able to reset itself so it’s always in the right configuration when doors open in the morning for the first breakfast guests.”

Both new and existing Martin Audio speakers were easily added to the loudspeaker presets, and an obvious advantage of the Optimal Audio solution was the significant reduction of power consumption by the removal of two amplifiers, separate analogue zone mixers, converter, all of which were replaced by the single Zone 8P unit.

Definition Audio Visual chose Optimal Audio for an installation at LIVIN’Italy in the heart of Leeds city centre. The popular bar, Italian restaurant and deli located at Granary Wharf benefited from eight Cuboid 8 on-wall loudspeakers across two floors.

The impact of a quality audio system in creating the perfect atmosphere for bars and restaurants is well established and has time and again proven to be a critical ingredient to the ongoing viability of such venues.

Cuboid 8 is a full range, two-way, passive, 8” loudspeaker designed to outperform its compact size. For short to medium throw distances, it effortlessly delivers rich and detailed sound with punch and precision.

With its wooden cabinet, steel grille and optional mounting hardware the professionally presented Cuboid 8 can be fixed in either portrait or landscape mode for a flexible, simple installation.

Cuboid 8 features an 8” low frequency driver for impressive punch and midband with a 1″ exit high frequency compression driver for clarity of vocal and high frequency projection. The HF section delivers consistent coverage in either plane from a user-rotatable horn.

Mark Blackwell, Definition Audio Visual commented:
“Rich and detailed sound quality at a very competitive price point makes the Cuboid series a highly attractive option for venues like LIVIN’Italy.”

Definition Audio Visual recently installed a sound system at The Cove, a new cocktail bar in Brighouse, West Yorkshire. They chose six Optimal Audio Cuboid 8 loudspeakers and two Sub 10 low-profile subwoofers for the main bar and seating area.

The impact of a quality audio system in creating the perfect atmosphere for hospitality, and in this case a cocktail bar, is well established and has time and again proven to be a critical ingredient to the ongoing viability of such venues.

Cuboid 8 is a full range, two-way, passive, 8” loudspeaker designed to outperform its compact size. For short to medium throw distances, it effortlessly delivers rich and detailed sound with punch and precision.

With its wooden cabinet, steel grille and optional mounting hardware the professionally presented Cuboid 8 can be fixed in either portrait or landscape mode for a flexible, simple installation.

Cuboid 8 features an 8” low frequency driver for impressive punch and midband with a 1″ exit high frequency compression driver for clarity of vocal and high frequency projection. The HF section delivers consistent coverage in either plane from a user-rotatable horn.

In the case of The Cove, Cuboid 8 was also teamed with Sub 10 for added base. Sub 10 is a slimline, passive 10” subwoofer designed for applications that call for increased impact and low frequency performance. This visually unobtrusive enclosure makes it perfectly suited where space is limited such as under banquette seating. 

It features a 10” driver with a generously sized low frequency port for reduced air noise. With a peak SPL of 127dB this is a truly punchy little sub and can be used on the ground, fixed to a wall or ceiling or flown using integral M8 inserts.

The sleek design and ease of installation offered by the Cuboid and Sub ranges made them the perfect choice for this stylish new venue.

Mark Blackwell, Definition Audio Visual commented:
“Optimal Audio very much delivers on style and substance, making the products an ideal fit for this carefully designed space.”

Optimal Audio has released the latest update to its WebApp and Zone firmware, furthering the flexibility and features that enable the simplicity of set up and operation of its commercial audio eco-system.

Zone is a series of zonal audio controllers with DSP and advanced configuration via WebApp. They are easy to install, intuitive to operate and comprise 4 or 8 zone powered and non-powered versions. WebApp brings the technology behind the Zone controller series to the end-user. Traditionally, the control and operation of commercial sound systems has been a complicated inconvenience to many users, who just want the system to work. WebApp puts all the functionality that an installer requires, as well as the ability to then present effortless and intuitive control, into the hands of the end-user.

With slick touchscreen-optimised controls, the WebApp is designed for ease of use on any device. The responsive and intuitive interface lays out the fundamental controls in a clean, accessible format with the deeper, lockable layers for system configuration available for integrators and system commissioners.

Complete system configuration can be achieved through the WebApp with ducking, EQs, limiters, advanced signal routing, programmable presets, timed events and much more. WebApp also allows for the system configuration files within Zone series products to be saved and easily replicated across multi-site installations.

Version 1.0 is now available to download from Optimal Audio’s website and offers extensive new features, audio settings and improved user interface.

Installers can now hide unused zones to create a cleaner interface, as well as having the ability within each zone settings page to hide sources from the selection list and the microphone volume controls. This ultimately can mean presenting the end-user with just the zone name and volume control – nothing could be simpler.

In addition to the existing 3-band EQ that works with the speaker tuning presets, an extra 3-band User EQ is now available to the installer on every output – all 8 line outputs and 8 amp outputs. Pairs of outputs now also independently support a bridge mode both for low impedance and for driving 70V high impedance speakers, and presets also now include Sub 10 and Sub 15 tunings.

For the installer, a clearer display for the fixed analogue EQ band has been added to all microphone EQs. To assist navigation and triggering of presets, the launch icon is now labelled. The preset list view can be re-ordered in Edit mode and helps to create a tidy list of the available presets. The installer page also has a new metering view which includes all the meters in the DSP for viewing system signal flow in one place.

Finally, Open Sound Control over Ethernet is the Zone control method from 3rd party controllers. In previous versions, only UDP message control of Routines was available but V1.0 adds support for UDP and TCP control of Zone parameters. Included in the release are a collection of example design files for TouchOSC to demonstrate use of OSC control. These give examples of every parameter, status and name to be the basis of control panels tailored to the specific application.

Summing up, Matt Rowe, Head of Engineering, commented:
“WebApp is our secret sauce to the success of Optimal Audio’s eco-system, and with this latest release we have extended the possibilities for the system integrator while improving the simplicity that can be presented to the end-user.”

For more information: https://optimal-audio.co.uk/support/software/