After an intensive assessment period, the company took delivery of the package of M2D cabinets to complement its existing stock of M1D ultra-compact curvilinear array loudspeakers. A new three-hang centre cluster was designed, consisting of eight central M2D units with outer hangs of eight M1Ds each, all driven by LD-3 compensating line drivers. The centre cluster is complemented by two new truss-mounted fill systems and a ground-stacked system comprising two CQ-1 wide coverage main loudspeakers, two UPA-1P compact wide coverage loudspeakers, two UPJ-1P compact VariO loudspeakers, four UPM-1P ultra-compact wide coverage loudspeakers and two 650-P high-power subwoofers. The whole installation was aligned by SBD senior engineer Phil Wright using a Meyer Sound SIM audio analyzer.
The upgrades went to the conventionally-powered, legacy Meyer Sound loudspeakers residing in the hall. The MSL-2-based centre cluster system received amplification and cabling upgrades, enabling the addition of UPA-1A loudspeakers as truss-mounted fills for the balcony ends and choir areas, replacing the MPS-355 loudspeakers which formed part of the original installation. The upgrades eliminate the need for Sound By Design to swap the fill speakers hanging on the trusses when they utilize one of their upgraded centre cluster designs for a larger show. The result is a much faster turnaround for shows, an important consideration given the company's intense schedule at the venue.
Additional improvements to the existing permanent installation also include a new ground-floor infrastructure with custom hybrid cables running all of the permanent self-powered fills and subwoofers, so that SBD engineers can have ground-floor systems up and running in a matter of minutes, complementing any of the flown options they supply.
Utilizing both the new and existing infrastructures, the company can now have a fully flown, aligned and functioning concert system ready to rehearse in just two hours, saving valuable rehearsal time for double-show day clients such as BBC Proms and Raymond Gubbay Ltd.
On a "stacks and racks" basis, the system has already found favor with FOH engineers and managers alike, and has been kept busy with work ranging from Jose Carreras at the classical end of the spectrum, to Icelandic progressive rockers Studmenn, proving that the system can deliver a full-on rock and roll show.
(Lee Baldock)
