For 'London' is the name of the new super-flexible BSS Soundweb device, with improved DSP and CobraNet compatibility; having seen it previewed at PLASA back in September, Newell couldn't wait to get hold of the first delivery off the production line.
As soon as he had received confirmation that the BLU-80 was on its way, it immediately formed a key part of the new multimedia solution he had devised for Chicago Rock Café in Fareham. The advantages became immediately apparent. "In fact with so many Chicago Rocks to fit out before Christmas I wish I'd had it before," he lamented. "Not only does it sound great but it brings out the best from the rest of the system."
Although Soundweb has long been Lynx Lighting's standard DSP module, the upgrade, he felt, was overdue. "Although this shares the same architecture and works on the same design interface, it is a completely different animal from the 9088 - the improved DSP takes it into a new generation."
Aside from functionality Soundweb London offers Lynx Lighting a more economical solution, due to the reconfigurablity of the inputs and outputs. Newell explained: "While we typically use only four inputs at Chicago Rocks, we always tended to be struggling on the outputs; this sometimes meant we needed to add a second 9008 - which is difficult on a tight budget. But with the BLU-80 we now have the possibility of configuring 12 outputs - which is perfect."
Although trading on a single level, Chicago Rock Café in Fareham is divided into 12 sound zones - each with full crossover, delays, EQ and limiting stored in Soundweb. But the real advantage is in translating the MP3 files - delivered by the Kaleidovision KL2 - into a stereo image. "In the past we have been forced to mono the stereo MP3 files - which degraded the sound. But thanks to the increase in outputs we are able to run it in true stereo around the bar without needing to use two separate processors - and this has seriously increased the sound quality."
Lynx Lighting have provided Luminar with full sound, light and video packages for around a decade - and this now included MPEG2 video generated by the KL2 - but they also work on other Luminar brands. For instance 'New York, New York', which bolts onto some of the Chicago Rocks and has a higher amplifier spec, Newell believes will benefit even further from having a BLU-80 thrust into the signal chain, while in the future he sees vast potential for remote amplifier monitoring within a complete CobraNet domain.
All of which was in BSS Audio's thinking when the company designed the London series from the ground up - the greater flexibility, the enhanced I/O configuration (via different plug-in cards), dual-redundant CobraNet audio networking, plus integration of control, monitoring and error reporting of the Crown Audio CTs series of amplifiers using TCP/IQ PIP cards, plus the overall control of the system via an EtherNet topology.
Newell summarized the effect Soundweb London will have on installers like him. "When we originally standardized on Soundweb for our DSP it was difficult to see the need to make any changes. Similarly, the emergence of the BLU series will again prevent the need to look anywhere else. With Soundweb London DSP has entered a new era which will set the standard for the future."
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
