L-Acoustics K3 drives Winnipeg’s Club Regent
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This 1,400-seat venue in Winnipeg, Manitoba, which is part of the larger Club Regent Casino features a new L-Acoustics K3-based sound system.
“This is a fairly complex sound system for a very flexible environment,” explains Martin Van Djik, senior consultant and partner at Toronto-based Engineering Harmonics, which designed the Solotech-integrated system.
The system comprises L/R hangs of eight K3 loudspeaker enclosures each, with six 12 KS21 subs per side, eight arrays of three Kiva II as delays, eight coaxial X8 frontfills, two larger X12 out-fills, four A15 Wide deck-fills, and one centre-fill consisting of one K3 plus four Kara II. Nine LA12X and four LA4X amplified controllers drive the system, which is connected to an audio network using six LS10 AVB network switches. For control, a DiGiCo Quantum338 console was also part of the new package, installed by integrator AVG.
“We had to design a system that would always provide excellent coverage, whether the room was configured for Broadway show-style theatre seating or as a flat, open ballroom-type floor for a trade event or fundraiser,” he says. “Each configuration has its own specific coverage needs, so we designed a sound system to accommodate all of them.” For instance, he says, the rear of the venue can be scrimmed off to create a more intimate space and thus changing the Kiva II delay coverage depending upon the type of event.
Another characteristic of the venue that required special attention is the fact that it has a relatively low ceiling. Thus, the delays are necessary to achieve the throw required to hit the rear seats. “More speakers gave us the ability to cover that distance and not sacrifice any dynamic range or sonic quality while doing so,” says Van Djik.
He also notes that the L-Acoustics product universe gave him all of the options he needed to achieve these complex design goals. For instance, K3 suits applications that require long-throw, reinforced low-frequency contour, broad bandwidth, and limited footprint, such as this venue.
“With the pandemic, it’s been difficult to experience new products, but based on the K3 specifications and the fact that L-Acoustics products all deliver an excellent sonic experience, I felt confident in recommending it for this project,” he says. “They ticked all the boxes, including low weight and high power-to-weight ratio.”
The same goes, he adds, for the relatively new A Series loudspeakers, whose A15 Wide versions are used as deck-fills. “I just specified A Series speakers on a smaller project in Toronto and was really impressed with the way they sound. And all L-Acoustics systems are rider-friendly, so we know that touring shows will find them attractive.”
Van Djik sums up how much he appreciated support from L-Acoustics’ Gino Pellicano and Andre Pichette. “L-Acoustics gave me the tool kit I needed for what was a complex project, and both the client and the artists they’ve been hosting have all been very happy.”
