This sounded the signal for Martin’s product manager, Richie Rowley, to carry out a site survey, optimising the system for the vast space. Rich Rowley explained: "The basis of my design was to give high intensity sound to the entire dance space. This was no mean feat considering the dance floor was of irregular shape on one level and could accommodate 3000 hungry clubbers. The answer was to use a distributed Wavefront 8C system in six pairs with the addition of two single units providing plenty of ‘ego’ energy directly in front of the DJ box. "The 14 W8Cs were then supported by 12 WSX (2.1m horn-loaded sub bass units) to provide biblical amounts of low frequency energy."
The overall system drive was fashioned around Rowley’s design for Fabric in London where he had put more level (gain) emphasis from the forward-facing enclosures and then utilized the rears as a fill system. This gives the clubber the impression that the energy is derived from a source which naturally draws them closer to the DJ. Speaker infills are supplied in the form of eight Martin Blackline F8s for under-balcony, along with a pair of F12s. A second pair of F12s provides DJs with monitor sound, aided by a Blackline S18 sub. The club already has a dynamic operating programme up and running, with an alcohol-free Friday teen night, featuring big club anthems; a regular club night on Saturdays with leading international DJs including Graham Gold, Matt Hardwick and Jeremy Healey. Manumission’s Griffin Jay headed a cast that kicked off the Ibiza season, while other names lined up include Brandon Block, Alex P, JFK and Des Mitchell, supported by local residents, Modelle from Belfast, Al Gibbs (from local radio station FM 104) and Leno.
(Lee Baldock)
