BURY ST EDMUNDS, U.K. – Northern Light recently enhanced the audio quality at the new $30 million apex venue with a permanently installed Martin Audio W8LM Mini Line Array system.
Technical manager Tim Carr, who had prior experience using Martin's W8LM Mini Line Array system, figured it could be configured in a conventional Left/Right proscenium line array hang to bolster the existing speech system installed into the venue.W1 Productions' Stuart Turvill brought in the gear.
The multipurpose venue, owned and operated by St Edmundsbury Borough Council, was designed around two balcony levels, and because the ground floor seating is fixed to floating air-bearing wagons, the ground level can be easily reconfigured into a number of different performance arrangements. Capacities for the venue can range from 650 (standing) to 515 in raked (or flat floor) theater style seating. The venue can also be arranged to operate in the round.
Although the venue's California oak shell design is particularly well-suited for classical concerts, the apex can present acoustic challenges when the music is amplified. "It is a very ‘live' venue which we can tame using acoustic blinds," Carr noted. "I use these as baffles when folk or rock bands appear."
Turvill and Carr devised a solution that included the installation of four W8L and two W8LM Downfill boxes per side, with each hang supported by a pair of Martin Audio WMX hybrid bass bins.
Two pairs of wide dispersion Martin Audio ultra-compact Differential Dispersion DD6s, mounted high up on the lighting truss, also act as overhang/underhang balcony fills.
The remaining pair of DD6s are floor-mounted and angled on the lip of the stage for front fills, alongside six Martin Audio LE1200 floor monitors that the performers use for reference sound.
The system is optimized using the dedicated DX2 loudspeaker management system, and Stuart Turvill was pleased with the result. "It was a no brainer to recommend the W8LM in view of the price and performance," he said.
"We rarely get the opportunity to fly the WMX subs – but in this case the design fitted nicely with the venue and it improved the coverage.
"As for the DD6s, Tim came up with these, and it was a brilliant suggestion, as their wide dispersion characteristics provide the perfect solution. A switch at the rear of the DD6 selects which cable pair drives the speaker, and the ability to switch between pins 1 and 2 without cables running everywhere is an extremely efficient solution. The speakers also sound very nice."
"I always anticipated we would opt for the Martin Audio system," Carr said, "not just because of the attractive price, but also the fact that having already heard the system I knew how much I liked it. It's certainly proving to be very popular."
For more information, please visit www.martin-audio.com.
