Adlib's installation director Roger Kirby and MD Andy Dockerty worked closely with Coda Audio UK's application engineer, Edgar Krueger, while the installation and system commissioning was co-ordinated by Adlib's system technician George Puttock working alongside Gilbert-Ash Limited, the main contractor for the on-going £13.8m refurbishment of the venue, which commenced in May 2014 and is set for completion in autumn 2015.
Roger Kirby, stated, "'Multi-functional' had to be right at the essence of any new system design for Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. Flexibility was also crucial, together with the provision of top quality audio with an infrastructure capable of dovetailing with current touring sound rigs.
"Coda's ViRAY ticked all the boxes as a compact three-way symmetrical line array module specifically designed for applications like this that need extremely good and solid sound with outstanding intelligibility."
Liverpool Philharmonic's technical team have been trained on the new sound system, and were supported by Adlib's systems engineers for the first run of events when the venue reopened on 13 November 2014, mid-way through its refurbishment programme. Up to 31 December 2014, audiences topping 60,000 had been welcomed.
Richard Curtis, Liverpool Philharmonic's acting technical manager commented, "Visiting engineers and our audiences have commented positively about the quality of the new sound, and smaller system components onstage have eradicated sightline issues whilst still providing an excellent sonic experience for our audiences."
A dedicated returns multicore is used to connect the FOH console to the Linus 10 amp racks at side stage, and additional signal processing and control for day-to-day peripherals is managed by BSS Soundweb BLU160 processors. Adlib specified a Soundcraft Vi3000 console as the FOH desk.
As part of the full sound package, Adlib also provided on-site training for the Philharmonic house crew, who started with learning the fundamentals and philosophies of the system so they can optimise the new equipment, including Adlib's patch and tie-line systems and the ViRAY.
(Jim Evans)
