The nightclub biz is booming. And there are plenty of reasons why. No matter where you go in the world, people like to go out for a few drinks, perhaps a bite to eat and some social interaction — particularly when it’s accompanied with great music. And in any successful nightclub installation, great sound is an essential part of creating just the right ambience and feel, whether in an intimate lounge, disco, supper club or live band venues playing rock, pop, country or R&B. With that in mind, we decided to look in on seven recent club installations, each presenting their own set of needs and challenges, yet all that found success through the combination of a skilled, experienced integrator applying just the right audio system to meet the needs of that particular application.
Knitting Factory Concert House, Boise, ID
Founded in 1987, Knitting Factory Entertainment (KFE) has grown from a single New York City venue into a music and entertainment business leader, including venue ownership and management, festivals and events, touring, artist management, recorded music production/distribution and other initiatives. The company now operates Knitting Factory venues in New York, Spokane, Boise and Los Angeles.
The Knitting Factory Concert House in Boise recently underwent an audio upgrade with a new d&b audiotechnik main P.A. system installation by 3G’s AV Install Division.
The name Knitting Factory harkens back to the original New York club that was known for ultra-progressive music and leading edge rock and jazz artists, such as the Lounge Lizards, Dewey Redman, Anthony Braxton and Cecil Taylor. Thinking of it in the context of Boise may be somewhat puzzling, but there’s a logical explanation.
“Boise is just a beautiful place to live,” notes KFE COO Greg Marchant. “And it’s a well-kept secret, with a good labor force — plus so much of this type of work is done on computer these days. The Concert House in Boise and Spokane combine a mid-cap venue with a restaurant, and these elements come together for a very successful combination.”
In moving forward with plans to upgrade the existing main P.A. system, Knitting Factory’s West Coast production manager recommended 3G’s Installation team for the project. According to Marchant, “3G has a great eye for detail, they measured the performance space and not only evaluated what brand would work best, but the specific deployment to best cover all of the areas in the room. The experience of working with 3G exceeded our expectations in every way.”
As Marchant points out, “It’s a 1,000-cap room with a mezzanine on top and a VIP mezzanine to the right. We generally have standing audiences with some seated shows occasionally. In terms of performers, we have everything. The first five artists with the new system included country, EDM, hip-hop, classic rock and heavy metal. We really put the new system through its paces.”
That new system includes L-R five-box hangs, each with d&b audiotechnik Yi8 and Yi12 line array cabinets, and four d&b B22-SUB double-18 ground-stacked subwoofers under the stage. Two d&b E8 speakers provide front fill and two 12S-Ds are in the mezzanine for delays. All P.A. speakers are powered via d&b 30-D four-channel amplifiers.
“Bottom line, we couldn’t be happier with the d&b system,” says Marchant. “It’s like night and day. The clarity is remarkable. Audio technology has come a long way since our original system and this is the perfect rig for the space. We’re getting full frequency sound and so much more volume from a system that’s half as heavy as the original cabinets. Same thing goes for the number of subwoofers that produce far greater low impact. There’s no dispute we have the best sound system in the state of Idaho and beyond. It’s a great rig and that has definitely raised the bar in the market and given us a competitive advantage.”
Existing components in the system include Yamaha M7CL front of house and monitor consoles and a combination of Meyer and L-Acoustics stage wedges. The FOH position is located on the venue’s second level mezzanine, as placement of consoles on the main floor is prohibited by local fire codes.
Commenting on the installation, 3G COO Keith Conrad says, “We were excited to provide the d&b install series in a venue run by a company with as rich a history as The Knitting Factory. 3G has always been a relationship-focused company, and we really enjoyed working with Greg and his team. We look forward to continuing to grow the partnership as the Knitting Factory brand continues to evolve across the country.”
Knitting Factory Boise at a Glance
- Capacity: 999
- Key Components: d&b audiotechnik Y Series line array; d&b B22 SUBs
- Integrator: 3G AV Install Division
WildPitch Music Hall, Atlanta, GA
With the opening of the WildPitch Music Hall, downtown Atlanta is home to a new nightlife destination. Best described as an underground dance club that offers live music for special events, WildPitch Music Hall features a variety of established and emerging special guests from across the electronic music spectrum, including DJ/producer/label owner Josh Wink and DJ Vicki Powell, who performed for the club’s opening last year.
Also groundbreaking was the sound system at WildPitch, which marks the first permanent U.S. installation of D.A.S. Audio’s recently introduced SoundForce Series loudspeakers. Designed for high-level dance venues, SoundForce offers ten models. Among these are the SF-10 and SF-20A (two-way systems with 10- and 12-inch woofers, respectively); SF-112, a powerful mid-high 3-way cabinet with twin bullet-type tweeters and the SF-M, a four-way powered DJ monitor system with 15- and 21-inch woofers. Subwoofer options include the SF-215 twin-15 sub; the SF-1521 combined 15/21-inch bass system; the double-21 SF-221 and the SF-30A with a 30-inch push-pull moving magnet drivers.
Global Audio Systems of New York City was the AV design-build firm contracted to handle the installation of the SoundForce loudspeaker system at WildPitch Music Hall, with local support from Platinum Sound Atlanta. Global Audio Systems owner Jason Ojeda ultimately installed a system consisting of several prominent models from the SoundForce Series line. He discussed the project and his reasons for choosing D.A.S. Audio.
“The room at WildPitch is rather long and narrow, so to provide efficient coverage, we went with two flown SF-20A cabinets per side, which couple together in a short-throw line array configuration,” Ojeda says. “We also wanted to ensure patrons were engulfed in clean stereo sound, so we placed two SF-10 enclosures — positioned left and right — on the opposite side of the room to serve as a backfill / delay setup. To make certain we had enough LF support for the preferred music format, we deployed two SF-30A powered subwoofers, ground stacked left and right of the main dance floor. With its 30-inch, high-density polyethylene cone and supporting technology, this sub performs well at low volumes in addition to normal, or full volume. This way, the bass can be felt down the street.”
The Global Audio Systems team also positioned an SF-10 enclosure in the center of room and one SF-1521A subwoofer along the right side in the room’s mid-point. Rounding out the setup, Ojeda used two SF-10 enclosures (flown one each per the left/right sides) plus a D.A.S. Vantec 18A powered floor sub for the DJ booth. Signal processing is handled by a D.A.S. DSP-4080 processor for the main system and the DJ booth along with a DSP-226 for the fills.
The completed sound system was placed into service last fall for an event featuring DJ / music producer Riva Starr. Since then, the new sound system has been generating accolades from all who encounter it. “When I was asked to be a part of this project, I was excited,” Ojeda says. “Being a DJ for 25 years in NYC and knowing the ‘WildPitch’ sound, I knew this was an important install for all of us! WildPitch is bringing in some serious underground talent and they need a capable sound system to back them up. D.A.S. was a perfect fit for the venue and it was a pleasure working with the company.”
WildPitch owner DJ Pierre is equally enthusiastic. “I’m extremely pleased with the quality of sound our D.A.S. SoundForce system provides,” he says. “It sounds amazing and it looks dope! We are happy to be trailblazing the system for D.A.S. Audio. We were looking for a system that would provide deep bass when the system is in prime-time peak mode on the weekends, but could still provide that low rumble during the weekdays when we’re operating in ‘chill mode.’ The stereo separation and sound clarity the SoundForce system delivers is exceptional and I’m certain it can hold its own against any competing system on the market.”
WildPitch Music Hall at a Glance
- Capacity: 250
- Key Components: D.A.S. SoundForce Series Speakers
- Integrators: Global Audio Systems and Platinum Sound Atlanta
Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom, Nashville, TN
A hub of Nashville’s entertainment scene is the historic Cannery building located downtown near the famed Music Row. The building is a multi-club entertainment mecca housing the Mercy Lounge and Cannery Ballroom and has a reputation for showcasing Nashville singer-songwriters and the best in up-and-coming buzz bands, while at the same time offering a facility large enough for national acts.
Built in 1883, the Cannery was originally a flour mill and later began processing food, thus the Cannery name. The building housed a country music theater in the late 70’s and evolved into one of Nashville’s primary music venues in the 80’s and early 90’s.
Taking over operations a decade ago, owner Todd Olhouser was looking to upgrade the technology seeking to provide a high quality of sound and satisfy performer needs. Having created a vibe that caters to the customers, the Mercy is also a favorite spot for A-level touring acts coming through town. With that, Olhouser turned to the major touring company expertise of Thunder Audio to provide the solution.
After evaluating the rooms and the diversity of entertainment, Thunder opted for RCF. “We felt RCF would be an outstanding choice,” says Thunder’s Nashville touring rep Colin Cargile. He admits it wasn’t easy, with the Mercy’s odd-shaped room design and low ceilings.
The Mercy Lounge has a concert club feel. For this 500-capacity venue, the decision was to use the RCF’s Theater and Touring Series with four RCF TTP5-A point source arrays to keep the throw narrow and still cover the depth of the room, coupled with four TTS36-A double-18 subwoofers. An additional four TT52-A low-profile dual 5-inch, two-way cabinets were used for front fills on the lip of the stage.
The larger of the two facilities — with a capacity of 1,000, the Cannery Ballroom offers more of a rock club feel. The open ballroom concept requiring high energy, combined with its low ceilings and an awkward L-shape design made this room more difficult. Here, Cargile selected RCF’s HDL20-A system, an active dual-10 two-way line array cabinet that provided the aggressive sound he was looking for with plenty of low-frequency energy.
The mains system is comprised of left/right hangs with six HDL20-A’s per side coupled with six SUB8006-AS dual-18 active subwoofers. The room’s odd geometry also required a delay line of four HDL10-A dual-8 active line array cabinets positioned to fill the rear corner of the room.
Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom at a Glance
- Capacity: 500/1,000
- Key Components: RCF TTP5-A’s, TTS36-A’s (Mercy Lounge); RCF HDL20-A’s, HDL10-A’s and SUB8006-AS’s
- Integrator: Thunder Audio
Cairo Jazz Club, Cairo, Egypt
or over a decade, the Cairo Jazz Club has been at the center of the Egyptian capital’s music scene, attracting high profile artists, both home-grown and international, and helping to launch new talent. As such, it’s been instrumental in the evolution of Cairo’s independent music scene. Last year, the CJC closed doors for renovations, re-opening with a fresh look and an L-Acoustics loudspeaker system.
The new system is comprised of a combination of L-Acoustics ARCS Wide and X Series loudspeakers and was designed and installed by Heliopolis-based Audio Technology, which has been working with the CJC since 2006.
“The project presented some interesting challenges,” says Audio Technology’s Amir Hany. “Cairo Jazz Club covers 200 square meters in an L-shape with exposed air conduits as obstacles, which makes even sound coverage difficult. The club hosts a variety of musical genres on different nights, including jazz, dance, acoustic, electronic and more.” Add to that a stage area that morphs into a dance floor on certain nights, and you have a venue that changes styles and setting like changing a shirt, requiring a sound system that can be flexible, without sacrificing quality.
Audio Technology’s solution came using L-Acoustics 3D modeling software and the input of L-Acoustics’ application engineer Oliver Hebert. “Three X15 HiQ coaxial cabinets cover the dance floor area, and can be configured in different ways depending on the position of the DJ booth, or if a live band is playing,” Hany says. “Two SB18i subs reinforce the low-frequencies and are placed on the ground, whilst two ARCS Wide speakers cover the larger areas just outside the dance floor.”
Additionally, two X12 cabinets cover the bar areas on one side of the club, with the remaining side covered by an X12 and an X8 cabinet. The entire system is controlled and amplified by four LA4X amplified controllers.
“Although the total number of cabinets isn’t large, the design and set up of the system is quite complex,” says Hany. “The beauty of the L-Acoustics philosophy is that it offers a clear and streamlined product line, and all cabinets have the same sonic signature. This meant that we were able to install the loudspeakers we needed for the space, knowing that they would all interact smoothly. To make everything work seamlessly, we installed an L-NET Ethernet-based network, which allowed us to give the system the flexibility it needed. There is an obvious difference in Cairo Jazz Club’s sound clarity and distribution since installing L-Acoustics in the venue. We are very happy with the outcome.”
CJC’s Alexander Rizk is also thrilled with the results. “When it came time to update our sound system, L-Acoustics was the best choice,” he says. “The L-Acoustics system addresses both the challenge of our diverse line-up and the awkward shape of the room. L-Acoustics also has the clearest, most highly defined sound on the market. We are very happy with our choice.”
Cairo Jazz Club at a Glance
- Key Components: L-Acoustics ARCS Wide and X Series
- Integrator: Audio Technology
Skull’s Rainbow Room, Nashville, TN
One of the flagship venues in the heyday of Nashville’s Printer’s Alley district was Skull’s Rainbow Room, which was shuttered a few months after owner David “Skull” Schulman was tragically killed there in an attempted robbery in 1998, exactly 50 years after it first opened.
Now, “Skull’s” is back, reopened by local restaurateurs who salvaged the venue’s original stage and other architectural treasures and are bringing it into the 21st century with a sound system from Bose Professional that leverages the unique capabilities of the Bose RoomMatch and Panaray loudspeakers, PowerMatch amplifiers and ControlSpace DSP user interface.
Skull’s Rainbow Room returns to Nashville’s flowering downtown entertainment district at a time when the city in general is undergoing a boom and Printer’s Alley is being brought back to life with new clubs, restaurants and a boutique hotel. In this revitalized environment, audio quality is critical to keeping the venue, whose legacy includes performances on its stage by the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and other country music greats, competitive with the growing number of entertainment destinations. And the reborn Skull’s Rainbow Room is an exacting recreation of this circa-1948 speakeasy-style lounge, offering elevated American fare, cocktails and nightly vintage-themed burlesque shows with dancers backed by a live band.
Unfortunately, like a lot of the older buildings in downtown Nashville, Skull’s long, narrow architecture presents a challenging acoustical space. “It’s a typical long layout you see in a lot of restaurants here,” says Kevin Ezzell of South Central AV, the systems integrator on the project. “The stage is in the middle of the room against one of the long walls, and it’s difficult to get the sound distributed evenly to the areas at either side of the stage and not blast the people in front of the stage. That’s where the RoomMatch speakers are a real solution.”
Ezzell’s design placed a RoomMatch Utility RMU208 loudspeaker on either side of the stage in a typical left-right P.A. design; two RoomMatch Utility RMU108 loudspeakers extend the sound to the areas towards the front and rear of the building, with three RoomMatch Utility RMU105 loudspeakers filling in tight spots. A Panaray 502B bass module is positioned underneath the stage. These are all powered by one PowerMatch PM8500N networked amplifier. The system is managed using a Bose ControlSpace ESP-880 digital signal processor that provides functionality such as EQ and dynamics, allowing for separate settings for several zones within the building. All of this is controlled using a Bose ControlSpace CC-64 Control Center, a programmable, networked controller.
“It’s amazing how much control this gives over a system that has to adapt to different parts of the same room,” says Ezzell. “Each area has the perfect EQ curve for its particular acoustical characteristics. As a result, the system sounds great in every section of the room. The music artists love that, because they’re assured that they sound great no matter where anyone is sitting or standing.” And in a city like Nashville, how you sound means everything.”
Skull’s Rainbow Room at a Glance
- Capacity: 120 seated/200 standing
- Key Components: Bose RoomMatch System
- Integrator: South Central AV
Sophia’s Restaurant, Austin, TX
Described as a “sexy and modern take on a classic Italian-American supper club,” Austin’s Sophia’s Restaurant needed a sound system that would offer softer background music for its high-end cocktail lounge, and then more power for DJ nights. Encompass AV installed a Martin Audio system that includes CDD10 speakers and CSX112 subwoofers.
The 3,700 square foot restaurant is named for Sophia Loren and is part of Chicago’s BDG Hospitality Group. A testimonial to the modern Italian esthetic, it inhabits the space formerly occupied by Sandra Bullock’s Bess Bistro.
Seeking a system that would suit all of the facility’s needs, Encompass AV’s Tim Pickett explains that, “The obvious choice was Martin Audio. We have six CDD10s wall-mounted in the main space with four in the corners of the larger room and two in the end of the smaller room, plus a CSX112 sub in each room mounted on the floor. The system provides a variety of program materials for background music that has to be experienced without intruding on the patrons, and work for DJs at higher volumes without being over the top late at night as part of the lounge setup.”
Asked about the client’s reaction to the Martin Audio system, Pickett responds, “They love CDD because the speakers are clear and clean with plenty of punch for more than enough bass response. It’s a very nice system that distributes very evenly throughout the room. The coaxial differential dispersion is ideal for a smaller space because it gives you smooth, even sound throughout with better coverage closer to the speaker so there aren’t any dead spots under the speaker. For me, the CDD price point makes Martin Audio quality and technology available for smaller venues where budgets are critical and you get the sound quality of a cabinet that costs twice as much.”
Sophia’s Restaurant at a Glance
- Capacity: 100
- Key Components: Martin Audio CDD10 speakers, CSX112 subs
- Integrator: Encompass AV
Taiga, Beirut, Lebanon
One of Lebanon’s most successful nightclubs since debuting in 2000, Taiga — in the town of Batroun — expanded its franchise with a new venue in the country’s capital city, Beirut.
Taiga Beirut offers a mix of top English and Arabic hits performed by some of Lebanon’s best DJ’s — along with live solo performers. Taiga’s owners place a major emphasis on the sound quality in the venue, due to its reputation for its live performances. Keeping the beat going for the crowds packing this new 400-capacity club is a K-array sound system, supplied by Prolites, the official distributor of K-array products for the Middle East, along with its Dubai-based sister company Procom Middle East
Taiga Beirut approached Prolites to supply its state-of-the-art light, audio and video systems. After thorough comparative testing with conventional speaker systems, management selected K-array and used the Italian manufacturer’s compact KH2 line array elements from its Concert Series in a cluster of three units per side as the main P.A., accompanied by six KX12 12-inch coaxial speakers and two pairs of KMT21 and KMT18 18- and 21-inch subwoofers. The powered KH2 array enclosures are only 8.3 inches deep, yet offer full-range performance and feature both analog and AES inputs, as well as optional Dante interfacing.
Georges Germanos, the technical manager at Prolites, who specified and commissioned the system, is pleased with the outcome. “The system’s unique size-to-power ratio, its sleek, compact design, in addition to its clear powerful sound made K-array a clear choice.”
Taiga Beirut at a Glance
- Capacity: 400
- Key Components: K-array KH2 line arrays, KX12 coaxial speakers, KMT21 and KMT18 subwoofers
- Integrator: Prolites
