Unfortunately, poor sound reproduction inside the 1,150-seat auditorium precluded the room's use for events focusing on musical quality, as the cathedral's building services manager, Kent Watts, explains: "A major foundation had been holding a fundraiser here every year in our ballroom, with an orchestra and operatic soloists, but they had to erect a temporary stage and bring in sound and lighting systems, all at significant cost. The auditorium was better suited to the purpose, but it needed a major sound system upgrade. Fortunately, the foundation offered to help with generous funding, so we went ahead with it last year."
Indianapolis-based ESCO Communications was selected as the design-build contractor for the project, and the company's vice-president of sales, Gary Dunn, notes that a Meyer Sound system was the front-runner from the outset, both for its quality and for the self-powered aspect of the products.
To preserve the historic integrity of the auditorium, the only concession allowed for the new system was opening two small holes in the ceiling. All main loudspeakers had to be suspended in single clusters on each side of the stage. Meyer Sound's Design Services department employed Meyer Sound MAPP Online acoustical prediction software to configure a system offering seamless coverage for both the main floor and balcony seats. Although a system model based on M Series arrays provided excellent results, the depth of the array did raise some issues regarding the obstruction of architectural details. Going back to MAPP Online, Design Services created a new arrangement with essentially equivalent results using point-source clusters: two MSL-4 horn-loaded long throw loudspeakers per side, each under hung with a pair of PSW-2 high-power flyable subwoofers, beneath which a pair of CQ-2 narrow coverage main cabinets and, at the bottom, two UPA-1P compact wide coverage loudspeakers for near fill. Three UPM-1P ultra-compact wide coverage loudspeakers were installed on delay lines for upper balcony coverage.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
