LONDON – Scala nightclub is a multi-purpose venue in King’s Cross on the north side of central London. In its current incarnation, the building has four main levels and accommodates events for up to 1,145 people. There are three bars, two dance floors and a stage for live performances. Last year, the owners of Scala decided the sound system in the main area needed an upgrade, so resident sound technician George Gregori contacted LMC Audio Systems to design a system using new Turbosound products that would work with the lively acoustics of the room.
The building that houses Scala has some history behind it. Constructed in the early part of the 20th Century, it was nearing completion when the First World War began and was conscripted to manufacture airplane parts. At the end of the war, it became a local labour exchange for demobbed soldiers.
Scala’s 21st Century sound system needed to be capable of sound reproduction for dance music and live bands at high SPL with low distortion. “When considering a new sound system for Scala, the venue needed a system both versatile and robust across all music genres for both live and club events, and most importantly one that delivered clarity and quality,” explains Gregori. “Since most of our week is taken up with quality live music and the weekends with high profile club nights and also with a brand name like Scala, it was very important we got this right. The new Turbosound system has delivered all of this and more.”
The original Turbosound Floodlight loudspeaker system was stacked on the stage so for the new system, a flown array was the way forward.
Working on this basis, Jeff Woodford of LMC Audio Systems specified the Aspect TA-500 three-way point source enclosure with the two-way mid-high TA-500HM hung underneath as a down-fill. “This combination gives great front-to-back coverage with the TA-500HMs focused on the sunken dance floor and the mid/HF section of the TA-500 focused at the raised FOH position and elevated dance/viewing area at the back of the room,” said Woodford. “Low bass for both areas comes from the TA-500’s punchy low-frequency section. Sub bass for the FOH system is delivered by six TSW-218s stacked on stage three per side.”
As part of the new sound system, Scala was keen to provide the back of the room with additional sound reinforcement for the club nights that play dance music. A weighty, all round sound was required. So in both corners of the rear raised dance floor area, a single TSW-218 subwoofer with a self-powered TA-500DP are deployed to give the full, deep and rich sound required around the room.
The loudspeaker system is controlled by a pair of Turbosound LMS-D26 digital processors positioned within the FOH booth for easy system monitoring and adjustments. Output from the in-house Midas Verona console is taken into one controller for left, one for right, with the six outputs controlling the FOH – sub, bass, mid, high and rear fill subs – and full range to the TA-500DPs. Amplifiers for the system are the Turbosound T-Series, placed in a separate amp room behind the stage. A rack of two T-25s and five T-45s power the FOH system, and in the FOH booth a single T-45 powers the rear fill TSW-218 subs. Total system peak power is 27kW with 18kW of sub-bass.
Woodford said of the install, “When approached by Scala to design a new system, I knew that keeping with the Turbosound name the club would benefit from a high audio quality and well designed product range. The Aspect series PolyhornTM provides a point source array with the kind of controlled dispersion that Scala required, so this was my first choice for the venue. The Aspect TA-500s coupled with the TSW-218 subwoofers deliver an engaging, passionate sound, just what is required for one of London’s leading music venues.”
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