The Kursaal, a newly refurbished 2,201 seat multi-purpose auditorium in Ostend, was equipped with an MCR system that allows the reverberation time of the room to be varied, without the addition of electronic reverb, in nine discrete steps at the touch of a button. This allows it to provide an acoustically optimized playing and listening environment for every type of performance from orchestral and opera to TV shows and reinforced music.
The system has to perform four separate roles - sound reinforcement for concerts, 5.1 cinema surround sound and voice announcement and evacuation, as well as the specially developed MCR system. Steven Kemland, sales manager of lead audio contractor Ampco Belgium, headed the audio design and installation team, which also included acoustic consultant Cees Mulder of Lichtveld Buis & Partners.
The complete system is controlled by a Peavey MediaMatrix system, using custom-tailored software written by Ruud Kaltofen of Ampco/Flashlight Group R&D company Team Projects, assisted by technical engineer Raphaël Bollen. Other brands specified for the project include Renkus-Heinz loudspeakers, Crest amplification and Midas consoles.
The Kursaal installation was featured in the April 2005 issue of Lighting&Sound International magazine, and a review of the ISE exhibition will appear in the February 2006 issue, due out soon.
(Lee Baldock)
