The Center's state-of-the-art media systems have been designed to function under a wide range of scenarios, making creative use of several independent but interconnected DSP and control systems. As Brad Kestner, operations manager at Sound Com in Berea, Ohio explains, flexibility and performance were some of the highest priorities in designing the systems. "The building itself is nothing short of massive, but the design of the audio and video systems was actually fairly straightforward," he comments. The various areas of the complex were designed to function as discrete systems, though any or all of them can be tied together as needed.
For most of the larger spaces, the audio system design needed to address both intelligibility and musicality, particularly low end response. Audio for the indoor track area is provided by 48 Community R166-X two-way full range systems, while the tennis courts are covered by twelve Community R1-66TX loudspeakers.
"The owners really loved the frequency response on the Community R-series," Kestner reports. "I know a lot of system designers choose them for the weather proof design, but even though this is an indoor application, the R-Series were the best choice in terms of coverage, throw distance, and most importantly, sound quality. They're very musical and were really the best speaker for the job."
A few other areas are designed with their own purpose-built systems. Audio in the natatorium, an indoor Olympic-sized swimming pool, is provided by 18 Community R1-66TX full-range loudspeakers.
As Kestner and colleagues will attest to, probably the biggest challenge of the project was its sheer scope and size. "Everything's built under one giant roof, with ceilings about 70 feet high," explains Sound Com Engineer Brian Yates. "The place practically has its own weather patterns. Cable pulls were quite an adventure at that height."
Another considerable challenge in designing the system was the changing set of demands. "The owners were a bit undecided on certain factors early on, and it became a bit of a moving target," Kestner recounts. "We gave them a basic proposal and got their feedback, but they came back with several changes midway through the project, mostly regarding function and loudspeaker selection. We ended up putting several different loudspeakers up on a 70ft boom lift and doing a shoot-out with them all, and they kept coming back to the Community R Series."
(Lee Baldock)
