Nightclubs

UNIVERSAL

COMPANY: SHOW TECHNOLOGY LOCATION: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

After its closure in 2017, Darlinghurst’s legendary gay venue, Midnight Shift, has been resurrected by Universal Hotels, a Sydney-based hospitality group owned and operated by the Kospetas family. Universal Hotels picked up the 1000 sq metre building last June for a reported AUD12 million and have relaunched it as Universal, a rebranded music venue and LGBTIQA+ safe place. “Universal is an evolution of the Midnight Shift, rather than a revolution,” explained owner Jim Kospetas, who plans to respect the special role that the venue has played for the LGBTIQA+ community and continue its long-held legacy of inclusivity. Jim, who is very tech savvy, contacted Show Technology with a brief that was music to the ear - lots and lots of fixtures. He wanted masses of beams and good sight lines throughout the venue. Tim Macfie of TDM Productions was chosen to design the lighting system due to his long standing reputation within the clubbing world, plus his understanding of the gay community, as well as the straight events held at the venue. “They wanted someone who could meet the needs of all markets,” he explained. “As it’s a really tough time in Sydney for nightlife, we needed to look at ways to multifunction the space. Consequently, it was crucial to bring the lighting up to a world class level from a production point of view.”

Tim was keen to create lines of symmetry in the room, while keeping the three circular trusses that the Midnight Shift was known for. Therefore, the initial refurb saw the entire roof stripped out and a brand new mother grid installed. The truss circles were relocated within the venue and a new stage truss established. Each of the three truss circles is ringed by eight Martin by HARMAN RUSH MH10 Beam FX, a compact and lightweight fixture with an independent, built-in LED ring. The LED ring offers the venue a range of new design opportunities, and the continuous pan and tilt also provides a number of interesting high-speed looks. These unique looking fixtures are certainly a talking point in the venue and Tim loves that they can spin a full 360° without stopping. “With 24 individually-controllable LEDs surrounding a central beam lens, the RUSH MH 10 FX offers us so many visual effect possibilities,” he said. “We added a further 14 RUSH MH 10 FX located on trusses down the side of the venue. They really are an excellent choice for a range of creative applications.” The venue is embellished by a myriad of mirror balls, mirror cubes and a DJ box with a fascia of 1,500 pieces of hand-cut mirror tiles - so lots of beam action was important to get the most out of the mirrors. Consequently, each circular truss also houses four EK K4 LED Beam moving heads

that produce tight, solid beams with 17 gobos and ultra-smooth pan/tilt movement. State-of-the-art LED and optics combine to deliver the coolest brightest beam of its size. “The K4 LED Beams are very bright and have a very fast pan/tilt rotation,” added Tim. “By adding them to the truss circles I got the symmetry required for the mirror ball hits. We placed eight more down the side of the room to create a different perspective from mezzanine level.” For a bit of flash, two Martin by HARMAN RUSH Strobe CWL were added to each truss circle with two more located on the bridges framed by mirror clusters. The versatility of these bright and compact LED linear strobes means they can deliver a single flash to a blinder effect, making them the perfect companion for the rest of Tim’s rig. Tim’s design is targeted towards the centrepieces within the truss circles; each truss circle envelops an Ayrton CosmoPix-R, crystal bead chandeliers and mirror cubes on the centre ring and additional mirror effects on the outer ring. Tim worked closely with Peter Sykes from Psyklonic in all the mirror ball creations and the pair of them decided to go one step further. “As the CosmoPix-R is shaped like a mirrorball, we couldn’t resist turning it into one,” laughed Tim. “Once you start using your imagination you soon realise this light has a 100 different cool effects.

A total of 16 Martin by HARMAN RUSH Scanner 1 LED fixtures create dramatic atmospheres and dynamic effects that boost the visual impact of the venue, while still keeping the original feel of Midnight Shift by keeping the retro scanner look. They run parallel down the sides of the room so that they can cover the entire dancefloor. At either end of the room are four PROLIGHTS STARKBAR1000 powerful and zoomable LED moving batten, which can be used as a light curtain, CYC light or washlight. Each of the LED pixels are individually controllable for a host of impressive effects. “I wasn’t sure about them at first but they can completely change the architecture of the room,” Tim said. “They marry really well with the mirror design and if you point them straight out they’re a good events blinder.” Four PROLIGHTS AIR6PIX LED moving battens are located on four dropper bars either side of the DJ to frame LED screen with Tim saying they provide nice geometric elements. Again, each of the LED pixels are individually controllable, and both sides pivot to create classic ACL looks. With infinite rotation of both pan and tilt, they certainly add a wow factor to the lighting rig. The balconies are dressed by four strings of Martin Exterior VC-Dot 4 (64 dots per string), a lightweight string of individually controllable, bright Dots, which Tim says provide colour and

depth to the room. “They are strung around three-quarters of the room, adding a lovely colourful architectural element and as the night progresses they chase and strobe more and more,” he added. “They are a great way to multifunction the room; we used them for the Mardi Gras Awards event which had a specific colour branding and they really liked that we could carry through that colour in the architectural lighting. The VC-Dot 4s help us get away from a standard nightclub feel, to a more stylish and attractive room for the corporate market.” Atmosphere is provided by a couple of Look Solutions Unique 2.1 hazers chosen by Tim for their reliability - in fact he has them in all the venues he looks after. Control is via an MA Lighting dot2 XL-B console, which is essentially a dot2 core console with a dot2 B-wing built-in. This effectively adds another 48 button executors to the original core package. The fact that the team at Universal are able to run this massive rig off a dot2 shows just how powerful this console really is. Truth is that with 3,092 used channels out of the available 4,096, they are utilising just over six full universes of DMX, making Universal’s dot2 XL-B the heaviest populated dot2 console in Australia, and one of the heaviest populated consoles in the world. “It’s a privilege to see a high profile venue programming

and operating the dot2 XL-B every week in Sydney,” commented Gareth Mealing, Show Technology’s NSW Technical Sales consultant. “With 405 individual fixtures patched into the console, it allows the programmers endless possibilities while pushing them to use the console and rig to its full potential. It just goes to show this really is a powerful console and should not be underestimated.” It was quite a journey to bring the sparkle, colour and glamour back to this iconic venue and Show Technology has enjoyed the project. “The support from Show Technology has been incredible,” commented Tim. “Gareth is fantastic to work with and has given me great support.” With the new renovation, Universal has raised the standard of performance and production to a new level in Sydney. The team has thought outside the box to add new design elements to existing fixtures, which help tie the entire room design together to entice corporate events and high level performers back to Oxford Street. Having recently re-opened the doors they have already had the privilege of hosting acts such as Ben Bohmer - Anjunadeep, Spencer Brown - Anjunadeep, Return to Rio, Hernan Cattano, James Ziebela, Marco Faraone and Solarstone. www.showtech.com.au

Photos: C Faruolo

THE PRINTWORKS

COMPANY: D&B AUDIOTECHNIK LOCATION: LONDON, UK

Once home to one of Europe’s largest printing presses, Printworks is now a massive clubbing and events hub, mixing industrial aesthetics with world-class lighting and sound technology. Transforming the vast expanses of concrete and metal into a sonically successful space presented some serious challenges, leading Manchester-based sound and lighting outfit, dbnAudile to a d&b audiotechnik solution. The Printworks’ complex has been welcomed as a much needed cultural and events space for London, echoing the raw, brutalist splendour of Berlin’s Berghain or Gashouder Amsterdam. Six separate rooms are situated within the 119,200 sq ft Surrey Quays building - a network of minimalist shells, which nod to a bygone era while crying out for a raison d’être. At Printworks’ core is the 3,000 capacity live room - ‘Live’ a rugged and unconventional enclosed space measuring 70-metres by 13-metres, with a

five-storey-high ceiling. On one side of the room, an unforgiving and imposing cliff-face brick wall looms. It is one of the most corridor-like dancefloors in the capital. dbnAudile were commissioned to specify and deliver a loudspeaker solution, which would counter the kooky space and harness its sonic potential. “Our brief was clear: to supply nothing short of a world-class sound system,” said dbnAudile’s Rob Ashworth. “In this tough acoustic environment, pattern control was the key. The class-leading directivity control of d&b audiotechnik systems made them ideal for Printworks. We obviously had to be very careful about reflections in the live room and ensure that the direct-to-reverberant sound ratio was kept high for every audience member.” The solution to this - designed and fine-tuned in the d&b audiotechnik ArrayCalc software - was eight

relatively small hangs of d&b audiotechnik J-Series and V-Series tops, configured as mains and three delay lines, flown at low level. These consisted of 24 d&b audiotechnik J8/J12 loudspeakers, 24 d&b audiotechnik V8/V12 loudspeakers, and 12 d&b audiotechnik J-Subwoofers. The d&b audiotechnik D80 is on amplification duties for the J and V tops, with the D12 serving the J-SUB subwoofers. “The response to the systems has been extremely gratifying,” Rob continued. “With Live being a brand-new space, never used for events before, there was concern that the acoustic environment would lead to poor sound, but everyone’s been blown away with the results we’ve achieved.” Adjacent to Live is the ‘Electronic’ room, which presented more challenges. Slightly longer than Live, with first-floor balconies down the full length of both sides. The distance between these balconies

is just five-metres, and approximately 60% of the audience area is underneath them. This eliminates the possibility of a flown system, so ground stacking is the only feasible option. As with Live, the extreme length of the room demanded a distributed system to ensure consistent high-quality coverage. “The solution was 12 stacks of J-Series and V-Series tops and subwoofers - 72 cabinets in all, configured as mains and five delay lines,” Rob explained. “We have a pair of J-INFRAs in there too, and the ultra-low frequency response of these is the icing on the cake for club events, giving the sound a real physical element, that and a massive feel.” “We’re very proud of the bass response particularly. The cardioid subwoofer technology developed by d&b audiotechnik is the key to this - conventional omnidirectional subwoofers in this configuration gave compromised low-frequency coverage with the cancellation that was going on between stacks, but this system gives us exceptional consistency of frequency response - as well as level - across the whole space.” The d&b audiotechnik system is now regularly pumping out spins by global DJs and acts including Deadmau5, Armand Van Helden and Chase and Status. www.dbaudio.com

MR18 CLUB

COMPANY: APG LOCATION: GUANGZHOU, CHINA

The MR18 Club project was born from a previous collaboration between the club’s founder and Ben Huang, TR Audio’s owner, Guangzhou-based integrator of many nightclubs in China. Back in 2010, the two had worked together for the Luocheng 88 club, so when the same investors planned to open a new club in Shantou, they wanted to renew the satisfaction they experienced with TR Audio in terms of workmanship and level of service. Ben understood the level of expectation from the investors, which was building the number one club in Shantou. To answer to this prestigious demand and meet all the requirements, TR Audio trusted APG, French manufacturer of professional loudspeakers, and its Uniline system. As a demonstration, Ben brought the club’s investors to the 0760 Plus nightclub in Zhongshan, equipped last year with APG’s Uniline. The clients were impressed by the constant

SPL, showing zero distortion, and the deep and punchy bass. After having heard some other brands’ presentations, they couldn’t find the same performances they experienced listening to the Uniline. Consequently, they chose APG without any hesitation. The APG Uniline system deployed in the MR18 club comprised eight UL210, 10 UL210D, dedicated down-fill loudspeakers, and eight UL115B for bass reinforcement. The PA system is completed by four DX15’s and two SMX15’s, both APG coaxial loudspeakers. For the subwoofers, TR Audio team elected 14 TB218S’s and four TB215S’s. Placing them was a significant challenge, in most Chinese clubs; the disposition of the sound system’s choice comes last in the whole installation process. Therefore, integrators have to sacrifice the best location of the subwoofers, already taken by tables, sofas or chairs. To combat this, APG

established a study along with TR Audio’s teams, during a visit to the club by Gregory Dapsanse, Sales and Marketing Director at APG and Eric Grandmougin, Marketing and Technical Support Director for Active Audio, APG’s sister company. Their aim was to find the best location with minimal compromise. APG system’s performances, and the numerous setting possibilities offered by APG through remote electronic control, allowed to deep and powerful bass to be obtained, despite the restrictions. Responding to the very high level of SPL that the club required, the Uniline has successfully delivered a pristine sound performance without any distortion, thanks to the APG DMS48 digital processor and the remote-control software, APG Live Manager. www.apg.audio

TRIO

COMPANY: D.A.S. AUDIO LOCATION: SOUTH CAROLINA, USA

Trio, Charleston’s downtown dance club and lounge has a new owner, a million-dollar renovation, and a lineup of internationally-recognised DJs, which were unveiled during the club’s grand opening weekend. Renovations include a technologically-advanced light and video production system and D.A.S. Audio loudspeakers throughout. In addition to loudspeakers from the company’s Artec and Ventec product lines, Trio also serves as a ‘proving ground’ for the forthcoming E11EVEN Sound by D.A.S. Audio loudspeakers. iDesign, a Miami, Florida-based audiovisual design / build integration firm, was contracted to design and deploy the new sound reinforcement systems throughout Trio. Michael Meacham, the company’s owner and lead designer, worked in conjunction with D.A.S. Audio’s National Sales Manager for Installation and Nightclubs, John Fiorito, to create the new sound systems. He discussed the project and his reasons for deploying D.A.S. Audio loudspeakers. “Trio includes an upstairs club, a downstairs lounge, plus an outdoor patio area - all of which

totals approximately 6,400 sq ft of space,” Michael explained. “The upstairs area focusses on a combination of electronic dance music, Top 40, and generally maintains an open format. This club also has several shows each month on Thursday evenings. The downstairs lounge and patio areas also have live music, with the focus being Top 40 cover bands. Because of the emphasis on live music, it was important to deploy loudspeakers that had accurate reproduction and solid dispersion characteristics so that the sound would be evenly distributed throughout the spaces.” In the first floor lounge area, the iDesign team deployed four D.A.S. Audio Artec 310.96 twoway point source loudspeaker enclosures. For low frequency reinforcement, there are also two D.A.S. Audio Vantec 18 bass reflex subwoofer systems; this combination of loudspeakers was installed in a mono configuration. In the second floor nightclub area, Michael and his installation team deployed the forthcoming E11EVEN Sound by D.A.S. Audio loudspeakers. This was part of an effort to provide world-class

loudspeakers optimised for this type of environment while also being able to fine-tune the performance attributes of the new enclosures. Here, four ES-10 top boxes surround the dancefloor at a height of 12 ft in a true four-point stereo configuration. These are augmented by a pair of D.A.S. Audio’s ES-218 subwoofer enclosures that are coupled in front of the DJ - underneath the stage - in a mono configuration. Completing the setup, there are also two DAS Audio Artec 308 two-way point source enclosures that serve as sidefills. When queried about the attributes that made the various D.A.S. Audio loudspeakers so well-suited for use at Trio, Michael offered the following comments: “The new E11EVEN Sound by D.A.S. Audio loudspeakers are currently under product development and I’m certain this environment will serve as a terrific application site to learn about and fine-tune the loudspeakers’ various performance traits. The dispersion of the ES-10 is 110° horizontal by 50° vertical. The loudspeaker delivers extremely smooth clarity throughout

the high frequency and the 10-inch woofer handles 1,000W of continuous power. They deliver the beat all night long under the stressful conditions where DJs push the system for hours on end. The system is suspended with M10 eyebolts and three point aviation cable rigging.” For a project of this nature, responsive support services are crucial. In this regard, Michael rates D.A.S. Audio highly. “D.A.S. Audio’s John Fiorito provided full support from design through final commissioning of the sound system,” he reported. “John is a highly qualified technician who has been a leading installer and designer of nightclubs since 1992 and previously worked for Sound Investment Audio, where he managed the east coast’s most prestigious accounts such as Funktion-One. D.A.S. Audio was a terrific partner on this project.” With the D.A.S. Audio loudspeaker equipment up and operational, Michael said his client is very impressed. “Trio continues to be one of the busiest nightclubs in Charleston every Friday and Saturday night,” he said. “Trio owner Eric Gussin, the various DJs, and guests have all reported positive feedback. Eric Gussin has been ecstatic with the outcome - stating that he has never heard anything sounding better in terms of clarity and coverage. The bottom line is, everyone is extremely pleased with the new sound system.” www.dasaudio.com

H CLUB

COMPANY: MARTIN AUDIO LOCATION: HALONG BAY, VIETNAM

Situated at the Starcity Halong Bay Hotel, Vietnam, H Club has not only revived the golden age of nightlife in Vietnam, but has also raised the standard of performance and production to a new level. It follows the business philosophy of enhancing the customer experience by providing the latest technology and advanced architectural design, construction and general services. To reach this goal, a Martin Audio THV threeway bi-amp loudspeaker system, purpose-designed for advanced nightclub performance, was detailed as the centrepiece of a high specification package provided by Duc Proaudio, Martin Audio’s Vietnamese distributor. Halong Bay is widely considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Located in the middle of the Bai Chay tourist centre, H Club was built on an area measuring 4,000 sq metres and has a capacity of 1,200 people. With more than 10 years’ experience, the investor, Mr Bui Minh Hong has made an enormous contribution to the nightlife tapestry with venues such as Ha Long Club, New Ha Long Club, Ha Long View KTV and Phantom Karaoke. In putting together his operational team for this latest venture, Mr. Hong said: “If you come to Ha Long

and don’t visit H Club, it’s like you didn’t come to Ha Long Bay at all.” A visit to H Club, he said, is required to fully appreciate how this level of investment has taken the clubbing experience to a new height. The investor selected Duc Proaudio, as the audio design consultants and installation contractors. Mr Pham Duy Duc, Director of Duc Proaudio, had no hesitation in recommending Martin Audio. “If you are a serious player then you will have heard the superior sound of Martin Audio systems,” Mr Duc said. “As it is a brand name trusted by leading bars and clubs in Vietnam and around the world. Typical names using Martin Audio sound systems, supplied by Duc Proaudio are Gold 2 Club, Canalis Club, Barroco Club, Deluxe 030 Club, Kashso Club, XingXing Club and Gaia Lounge in Hanoi.” “But the sound system required at H Club takes this to a completely different level,” he continued. And by this he was referring to the new THV. “These loudspeakers were developed last year to replace the existing H3+ series in Vietnam.” This high-performance, high bandwidth fully horn-loaded system contains a Hybrid 15-inch low frequency with reflex loaded four-inch voice

coil and ‘Phase Ball’ loaded midrange. Driven by a 10-inch midrange driver, it maintains the constant directivity characteristics of the horn at the upper end of its range. The 70° by 40° high frequency section features a one-inch neodymium exit compression driver, with Kapton diaphragm for extended high frequency performance. According to Mr. Duc, this creates a clear, high SPL sound with its own distinct signature. He said: “The sound feels lighter and those who come to H Club will definitely form a strong impression, especially with the SXH218 subwoofer, which is set up based on the latest Martin Audio Subwoofer Array Arc Delay Calculator software. This creates bass uniformity throughout every position in the club, which really comes alive.” To achieve this they specified 16 THV enclosures and 16 SXH218 subwoofers, with a further 16 CDD15B as loudspeaker delays. These are powered and processed by Martin Audio MA2.0 and MA5.2K amplifiers, with an iK42 running Dante from a DiGiCo SD11 mixer. The DJ monitor system also features four CDD-LIVE 12 loudspeakers and four SXP 118 subwoofers. www.martin-audio.com

BAR 151

COMPANY: ELATION LOCATION: NEW YORK, USA

Tirso Lighting has installed an all-LED Elation lighting package for another Wahi Group club opening in northern Manhattan. This time its Bar 151, an upscale lounge and performance space in the neighbourhood of Inwood, a quieter and more affordable enclave of New York City that has become increasingly popular of late. Tirso Lighting has been around since 2009, and has been using Elation lighting since its inception. Nevertheless, Bar 151 was the design and integration company’s first all LED lighting project. “I was really looking forward to doing an all LED project and this was a good chance to realise that,” said Tirso Lighting owner, Tirso Pelaez, Lighting Designer on the project, who suggested the green approach to the client. “Elation’s choice of products allowed us to

put together an all LED lighting package for Bar 151 that can stand on its own.” Bar 151 is an intimate venue with a capacity of about 300. Because it is tucked in a narrow space, Tirso said it was important to keep patrons moving away from the entrance once they enter the club. His design therefore sought to draw people to the back of the club where the stage is, which doubles as a VIP area. “We wanted to attract guests to the back, near the stage, and then fill the club in backwards from there,” the designer said. “We covered the stage and the area in front of the stage, which is the dancefloor, with lighting to entice people to move deeper into the club and avoid congestion near the door.” As the ceiling height in the back of the club is higher

than at the entrance, it also provided more room to mount lighting fixtures and made for a better space to compose a more effective lighting design. Tirso took a symmetrical approach to the design, pairing Elation’s narrow-beam DARTZ 360 LED moving head with compact ZCL 360i single beam moving effects over the stage/VIP area. More DARTZ fixtures alternate with E Spot III LED moving heads over the dancefloor. Also over the dancefloor area and directed toward the stage are SixPar 200 LED Par lights along with Protron 3K strobes. The system works double duty as both performance and dancefloor lighting. “The DARTZ has a nice beam look. I like that we can also use it as a spot fixture with its prisms that give off a gobo look. Its output is more than enough

for the space,” said the designer. “The venue’s small size fit well for a compact moving light effect like the E Spot III. It’s a fixture we use often because of its versatility.” On nights when there are no on-stage performances, the stage doubles as a VIP section that overlooks the dancefloor. “We can then use part of the lighting system to put focus on the VIPs on stage and really make them feel like stars.” Tirso Lighting’s first fully LED lighting project has been beneficial for both company and client with Tirso saying it made for an easier system that bypasses a lot of headaches. “For one, it eliminates steps like striking on and off the lamps. I have heard stories of discharge fixtures being kept on accidentally all night or sometimes for days, the cost associated with that is tremendous. It uses up the bulb but also the components end up failing from overheating, fixtures go down and the club suffers because of it. Once you dim the LED down to zero, it’s off, you get longer lasting fixtures and a more reliable system.” www.elationlighting.com

TAO

COMPANY: K-ARRAY LOCATION: CHICAGO, USA

The Chicago nightclub and restaurant hybrid, TAO, is housed in a landmarked Romanesque Revival building in the River North neighbourhood of Chicago. Designed by New York-based Rockwell Group, the space’s aesthetics reflect the theme of existing TAO locations in New York, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, outfitted with Asian-inspired artwork and décor, such as custom wall sconces and laced chandeliers that accent some of the building’s original architecture, including arches, exposed brick and arched windows. The restaurant seats up to 300 diners and hosts a DJ booth while the 7,000 sq ft, 1,000-person capacity nightclub resides on the second floor and is equipped with two bars, a lounge area, dancefloor and DJ booth. Based on prior success and extreme satisfaction with the audio solutions employed in other TAO Group initiatives, Rockwell’s go-to audiovisual consultant, Anthem Sound Stage and Lighting, again selected K-array to meet the many aesthetics, performance, reliability and sound quality requirements

presented by the clients. Given its unique performance-to-size ratio, eight Python-KP52 half-metre loudspeakers and eight, Python-KP102 metre-long loudspeakers were integrated seamlessly in the main dining area paired with six Thunder-KMT18P 18-inch passive subwoofers driven by two Kommander- KA24 2,000W amplifiers and two Kommander-KA84 8,000W amplifiers. Tornado-KT2C and KT2 point sources were in abundance and installed throughout the room. The DJ booth in the restaurant was equipped with one Dragon-KX12 driven by one Thunder-KMT18 I subwoofer. At the other TAO locations, K-array had not been used in the nightclub, however, at TAO Chicago, the owners trusted Anthem’s expertise when they suggested using a live sound system that was less aggressive than the others for a better experience for the clubbers, but yet still maintained a powerful sound with high-definition. Anthem tested the Firenze-KH7 touring system in the venue and TAO was moreover impressed with the high performance

from its compact design that incorporated perfectly in elegant space. For the main PA, eight Firenze-KH7 loudspeakers were flown in each corner with eight Dragon-KX12 point sources above the VIP tables. For the low end, six Mugello-KS5 subwoofers were dispersed around the room while three Firenze-KS8 subwoofers were installed under the console at the DJ booth, which was equipped with four Dragon-KX12 units paired with four Thunder-KMT18 I subwoofers. TAO’s nightclub celebrated its opening weekend in late September with performances by several high-profile DJs, including DJ Ruckus and EDM superstar Deadmau5 leaving no room for error from the system. After a successful launch and continued satisfaction with the audio, the owners and Anthem are all happy with the system’s sound performance. www.k-array.com

BLUE MARLIN

COMPANY: GUIL LOCATION: IBIZA, SPAIN

Blue Marlin Ibiza is a sophisticated and cosmopolitan club, located on the island of Ibiza. The most popular artists and celebrities can be seen drinking or dining in the terraces and restaurants of the beach club, enjoying unique and unforgettable moments all year round. Blue Marlin Ibiza opened in 2004 and including this year, has been open 15 summers, offering an experience that aims to satisfy even the most demanding of customers. Boasting DJ sessions from the most distinguished and renowned DJs in the world, a Mediterranean cuisine that focusses on local produce and a live music scene, full of talent and creativity, which all make for a unique experience. The club took the opportunity to grow as a brand and created a corporate group that is continually expanding, taking its upscale beach clubs to places such as Dubai, Mexico, Greece and various locations

on the island of Ibiza. Blue Marlin enlisted manufacturer, GUIL, to design and produce complete stages and individual platforms for go-go dancers in its Ibiza beach club, as well as the VIP and DJ areas, thanks to the wide range of products it offers and how versatile they are. The TM440 modular platforms were chosen for their special weather resistant finish as standard, as they are used in the outdoor areas of the club. GUIL makes its platforms with 100% birch plywood from the prestigious Finnish manufacturer, WISA. They are independently tested for a load capacity of 1,200kg per sq metre, with a safety ratio of 1.95, which is required to meet the standards they comply with. These features, along with all the other high quality components used such as the stainless steel connectors and aluminium handrails

and access stairs, makes the stages both reliable and durable. GUIL took care of the truss structures for the clubs. The structures were made to order, with TQN290 truss of special shapes and lengths giving them a black anti-scratch coat, creating not only a discreet and sophisticated look, but also adding to their durability. These two main items were accompanied by support equipment for DJs and many rigging accessories such as clamps, slings and hooks, among others, all manufactured by GUIL. The attention to detail in all GUIL’s products is what caught the project manager’s eye: “We wanted solutions that are not only stylish but that would stand the test of time, considering that we are by the sea and most products can rapidly deteriorate in these conditions. GUIL was the perfect option for us.” wwww.guil.es

BOSSANOVA BALLROOM

COMPANY: PRESONUS LOCATION: PORTLAND, USA

The Bossanova Ballroom is a multi-storey, flexible use event venue, with an open and inviting atmosphere. The venue is configured to host a variety of events ranging from large concerts for up to 650 people down to intimate gatherings for as few as 50. The venue has two primary floors for live music, plus an intimate third floor space that accommodates up to 150 people for corporate events, wedding receptions, and more. Management recently installed new sound reinforcement equipment and, as an integral part of the new setup, CDL and WorxAudio loudspeakers from PreSonus Audio Electronics of Baton Rouge, LA were chosen. Viation, an audiovisual design/build firm servicing the worship, broadcast, and commercial audiovisual markets were contracted to design and deploy the new sound system at the Bossanova Ballroom. John N. Wilson, Viation’s President and CEO, who oversees system design, event management, and sales for the company, ultimately penned two systems, one for both upstairs and downstairs. He discussed the project and his reasons for deploying the PreSonus equipment: “The Bossanova Ballroom hosts a wide array of music events, including heavy metal, hard rock, EDM, and jazz,” explained John. The venue is designed as a multi-use space that can accommodate both seated and standing audiences, and also includes an upstairs VIP lounge. The management’s two primary directives on this design were wide, even coverage without a centre fill and an extremely high SPL requirement. The main downstairs room measures 40ft wide by 30ft

deep with an 18.5ft ceiling. The stage is centred along the rear wall facing into the width of the room.” For this space, the Viation team deployed 16 WorxAudio XL1T-P two-way, high efficiency, active line array loudspeakers, flown eight elements each for the left and right sides of the stage. These are accompanied by six WorxAudio TL218SS-P extreme high SPL extended bass subwoofers. These ‘super-subs’ are positioned on the floor, stacked three enclosures each for the left and right sides. “With eight XL1T-P enclosures per side, we were able to achieve 140dB at FOH, which fully satisfied the SPL requirement,” John said. “The enclosure’s broad, 160° dispersion pattern also provides full stereo coverage up to the front of the stage, therefore eliminating the need for a centre fill.” “The smaller, upstairs space capitalises on the flexibility provided by PreSonus CDL Series loudspeakers,” John explained. “The setup includes a single PreSonus CDL12 constant directivity loudspeaker pole mounted atop a CDL18s active subwoofer; positioned one pair each for the left and right sides of the stage. This system also takes advantage of the PreSonus digital mixing console technology with the inclusion of a StudioLive Series III 32-channel digital mixer and USB audio interface with motorised faders. This upstairs space is open to the main venue and serves as the VIP lounge during shows. It can also be closed for private events.” With many installations, questions inevitably arise, so capable and responsive customer /

technical support services are crucial to keeping many projects on track. In this regard, John rates PreSonus Commercial Audio customer and technical support services best in class: “As always, PreSonus’ customer service and personal support really sets the gold standard for the industry. We couldn’t be more pleased with the fantastic support we received on this project, starting with the design and culminating in the final tuning of the system by PreSonus Commercial Division’s Director Tony Flammia.” The Bossanova Ballroom project was installed in early February and, according to Joe Gallagher, Head of Production and Talent Buying at the venue, the new equipment has been exceeding expectations: “The XL1 line array with the super-subs is really an amazing system. These array enclosures are clear and musical, and with the low-end output from the TL218SS subwoofers, the impact is nothing short of exceptional.” John was equally enthusiastic about the completed system: “Our crew worked efficiently and tirelessly to get this project completed in the very tight timeframe allotted due to scheduled shows and the worst winter snowstorm in the region in decades. We are pleased to report that the new sound system is being very well received, not only by management, but by the various acts that have performed through it as well as the patrons. The combination of PreSonus products, backed by the company’s excellent support team, has resulted in yet another exceptional installation we are very proud of.” www.presonus.com

Photos: Icarus Wilson-Wright

YES

COMPANY: OPTOMA LOCATION: MANCHESTER, UK

The beautiful old Cape Dunn auction house in Manchester has been transformed into a four storey live music venue and bar, comprising two bars, a kitchen serving street food, pizza from Pepperoni Playboys, two gig and club spaces and a roof terrace. Hollowsphere was appointed to provide both the lighting and projection equipment that would be used for live music visuals, film screenings as well as digital signage. With a 250 capacity, the Pink Room on the first floor is the largest of the gig spaces and needed a bright projector to fill the large projection area. The team chose the powerful WUXGA resolution Optoma WU515ST projector for the venue, which has a large zoom range, lens shift, built-in HDBaseT and four-corner geometric adjustment to simplify installation. The team ran video over HDBaseT using SY Electronics’ HDMI to HDBaseT converters. Adrian Ball, Director at Hollowsphere, said: “We needed a super bright projector for the largest gig space and the WU515T fitted perfectly. The inbuilt HDBaseT made installation straightforward.” They installed the Full HD resolution EH400+ projector in the basement space, which gives a platform to emerging artists, and the short throw Full HD EH200ST on the stairs for digital signage. Adrian added: “There was very little room on the stairway so we needed the short throw projector to accommodate this lack of projection distance. And the EH400+ is a great cost effective all-rounder for the basement.” All projectors are fitted with Raspberry Pi boxes to provide scheduled digital signage and can be operated remotely for music visuals on club nights. YES opened its four-storey sanctuary for musicians and music-lovers in September 2018, with a different vibe on every level. The projectors are used on a regular basis for film events and background visuals for bands and DJs. Adrian said: “Having so many projectors in one building of this type makes it stand out from other bars and clubs. The imagery is bright and vibrant and really adds to the atmosphere of this venue. The feedback has been excellent and the club has been nominated for City Life best live music venue and bar of 2018.” www.optoma.com

Photo: Luke Dyson

STUDIO 338

COMPANY: VOID ACOUSTICS LOCATION: LONDON, UK

Studio 338 is a crowd-wowing superclub that attracts clubbers from all over the world to its expansive premises in East London. Void Acoustics has been this venue’s sound system of choice from the outset, and together; these two businesses have shared an incredible journey together. Following a tragic fire at the original club in 2016, the newly rebuilt venue is thriving like never before. Rising like the phoenix from the ashes, as depicted in a mural on the outside of the club, the rebuild brought with it the opportunity to extend the range of Void Acoustics products installed and mastermind an acoustic vision that best served the different indoor and outdoor areas. Void Acoustics took great care really understanding what the team at Studio 338 wanted to achieve and worked meticulously on planning the sound system to ensure clubbers experience fully immersive sound, whether they are partying inside the main dance room, relaxing upstairs, or enjoying themselves outside in the garden. Larry Field, Technical Manager at Studio 338, installed several systems throughout the club that are ideal for the different types of space. Opting for a four-point Air Motion system in the Terrace results in an undeniable connection with the music that feels the same, regardless of where guests are positioned in the room. The Studio benefits from six Air Vantages, angled perfectly

for maximum coverage. Meanwhile outside, the Nexus system ensures sound travels in a balanced way, right to the back of the garden, without overwhelming guests dancing near the front. With an aesthetically pleasing all-white fibreglass setup, uniquely customised with Studio 338 branding and logos, the Terrace’s Air Motions, together with the white Air Vantages in the Studio Room, and Tri Motions in The Loft make for a truly powerful audio experience in every section of the club. Having such a vast area of large open outdoor space, together with indoor floor space to tailor the acoustics to, there were a number of technical challenges to overcome to make this installation a thriving success. Dan Perrin, Studio 338’s Music and Events Director, has praised Void Acoustic’s clever innovations to get the very best from what is, from an acoustic standpoint, an outdoor arena in Zone two of London. Void Acoustics’ Managing Director, Alex Skan, noted that the biggest challenge was giving clubbers an incredible dance experience without incurring noise complaints from local residents; a mandatory requirement for the outdoor terrace area. “Using several acoustic techniques we’ve developed at Void, it was possible to get a high SPL arena in an outdoor area in the middle of London,” he said. “Previously the club was only permitted to have 89dB on the dancefloor; we managed to achieve levels in excess of 105dB,

without any noise issues.” The problem was solved by deploying a bass array that focusses bass on the dancefloor, while reducing off-site noise to below ambient levels. The super wide coverage from the Nexus 6 outdoors ensures even mid-high coverage for everyone attending 338’s legendary parties. Dan added that the problem-solving process included working closely with the local authorities to ensure all neighbours are kept happy. “It’s loud, clear and precise. It’s a special place to play,” Steve Lawler, VIVa Music label boss and regular at Studio 338 said. Dan has a wealth of experience hearing sound systems all over the world and knows exactly what he he likes: “I have always preferred Void Acoustics installations. We chose Void Acoustics for Studio 338 because we wanted to bring something both sonically and aesthetically new to London. I had already experienced Void systems at places like DC10 but we still put them through an audition process against all the major players. Unsurprisingly, Void Acoustics won out; we find Void systems have a uniquely warm and round feeling that suits us more than the output found in comparable products from other brands. It’s a bonus that the loudpeakers look so distinctive and eye-catching too. The support we have received from Void has been second to none.” www.voidacoustics.com

IMPÉRIAL

COMPANY: OUT BOARD LOCATION: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

In the heart of Brussels, private members’ bar Impérial oozes with charm and the underground cool of a turn of the last century speakeasy. The vintage atmosphere and jazzy vibe that draws guests in, however, integrates a full, leading edge, audiovisual solution with TiMax SoundHub and dcontrol central to the immersive environment, realised from concept by Belgium’s premier design and installation integrator, FACE Projects. The vision of Carl de Moncharline, owner and manager of several successful Brussels venues was for an ‘immersive environment creating spherical sound experiences’, as well as a stylish lighting system in keeping with the historical façade and vintage ambience of the venue, that was versatile enough for live jazz concerts, a DJ clubbing experience, or even as a cocktail bar. The challenge to create this in a low-ceiling and small, 300 sq metre space fell to long term and trusted audiovisual partner, FACE Projects, working in conjunction with refurbishment Project Manager, Laurent Grietens, of Wisely. Simplicity was key to the specification for the venue. Dramatically different sound environments would need to be recreated at the flick of a switch, which for FACE, made TiMax a necessity. FACE CEO, Karel De Piere, said: “I do not even want to think how we would set up the sound system without TiMax, no other product could provide this level of precise control.” The TiMax SoundHub-32S spatial audio matrix controls a total of 38 discrete loudspeakers from Electro-Voice. Effective sound control without spillage is a deliberate consequence of the many distributed

loudspeaker sources, which help avoid noise pollution for the neighbouring buildings. Having said that, the loudspeakers integrated into the walls and ceilings of the venue are powered by three eight-channel Powersoft Ottocanali amplifiers and a Duecanali for the subbass units, which ensure a solid club vibe in the space. Dave Haydon, Director of TiMax developers Out Board, visited to assist with immersive rendering of the space and programming object-based spatial effects. Zone overlays were created within TiMax to segment the venue space, which can also be aligned across the full venue area. From a static image for live music sets to dynamic movement for evenings of clubbing with a DJ, presets and different spatial effects are defined to suit the requirements of each of the club’s audio configurations and performance formats. One of the most exciting soundscapes that activates the clubbing experience is described as a sound shower, which as the name suggests, submerges guests in sound, with TiMax spatially blending speakers spread along the low-arched ceiling of the venue with others in the walls. Stijn Vermeiren, FACE Project Engineer, added: “One of the set-ups makes soundscapes very simply travel into 180° on two axes, which even at quite low levels gives a very clear spatial feeling.” Controlling TiMax, as well as all the other elements of the venue’s audiovisual system is the control solution, dcontrol, developed independently by FACE’s Vermeiren. Driving integration to the next level, dcontrol is a software-based solution that interconnects unrelated audiovisual equipment, fixing the highly complex

problem of connecting devices that do not natively speak to each other. dcontrol links the venue’s devices, synchronising the settings and controls across an open management system not limited by a few brand protocols or closed systems. The club’s haute technological backbone interfaces, but does not disrupt the magical veneer of the club’s ambience: the authenticity of its visage is paramount. Impérial glows in the warm white rows of Lucenti Pearls, controlled and powered via DMX. Configured as a pixel LED ceiling matrix, 230 individually controlled Pearls are daisy-chained on wired festoon cable. The lighting integration appears historically authentic while also serving as versatile entertainment lighting, which has the full colour spectrum at its disposal for video-mapped lighting displays on club nights. It is also functional within the space as the festoon fitting and discreet DMX powering complement the low ceiling and further house lights are not required. Club founder, Carl de Moncharline, is delighted with the outcome of the club integration. “The results are just as I planned for. The building is beautifully historic and we have worked with its style to create an equally beautiful inner space for guests to enjoy, which adapts to the club’s changing needs. I work with FACE because they realise in the space exactly what I ask for and more,” he said.

www.outboard.co.uk

PANAMA

COMPANY: PIONEER PRO AUDIO LOCATION: AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS

The Panama nightclub in Amsterdam has been at the forefront of the Dutch music scene for more than 16 years, presenting a wide variety of styles and featuring a well-balanced mix of global and local DJs. The venue has a capacity of over a 1,000, and as well as its essential nightclub function, acts as a multi-purpose event space that puts on a diverse programme of events. The production team at Panama is tireless in seeking to improve its customer experience and has progressively improved the sound system at the club over the years. Although happy that its existing system was good and met most of its needs, the club’s management wished to take the club’s audio provision forward and introduce even greater clarity, power and detail, to further enhance every aspect of its offer. Seeking a more immersive solution, Panama chose Pioneer Pro Audio XY Series loudspeakers and appointed AVL Rent under the leadership of Wouter Ruijter to install the system. The new front of house system at Panama comprises four XY-3B and eight XY-118S and Club Manager, Thijs Eilerts, was immediately struck by the improvement: “My first impression was that I was

very, very happy. This was a far more immersive experience - way more crisp and it takes people to another level. You can hear way more detail in the sound through the system so you tell far better what the producer was trying to communicate through the music...through the sound system. As a sound engineer myself, that makes me very happy indeed.” The clarity and power of the system and its importance to audience and performer alike, was a theme taken up by highly respected DJ, producer and owner of Toolroom records, Mark Knight, who recently played through Panama’s new XY-Series system and shared his thoughts: “When you go to a nightclub you want to immerse yourself sonically, so the system needs to have a real presence. If you play on a good sound system like tonight’s, loud doesn’t hurt you, loud is cool, it’s distortion that hurts and there was no distortion at all. What I really did notice was the stereo field was really quite distinct. There are certain things I play that I don’t normally notice playing live outside the studio but they were really quite apparent tonight.” The feedback from clubbers has been excellent.

Thijs reported that since the new system was installed, he has been approached by customers who are very enthusiastic about what they see as a clear improvement in the venue’s sound quality. Panama’s Programmer, Nick Van Houtrijve, as might be expected, is delighted with the response. He sees the new XY-Series system as a fundamental driver of business at the club: “The first thing to say is that the sound is so clear. It doesn’t matter how hard the system is being driven. That’s what people want - they want loud music but they want it clear. If the system is no good, people complain and the promoter is not going to come back. If you put in a new party and it’s the first time they’ve heard Panama, Amsterdam and they think it sounds amazing, they’re going to come back.” The verdict on Panama’s new XY Series system is unanimous. The decision to upgrade the club’s system has been endorsed by management, customers and performers and is considered an integral part of maintaining Panama’s position as a hugely influential venue at the heart of Amsterdam music culture. pioneerproaudio.com

DC10

COMPANY: POWERSOFT LOCATION: IBIZA, SPAIN

Over the years, Ibiza’s storied venues and their associated parties have achieved mythic status among the initiated, and one of the White Isle’s most infamous hotspots, DC10, recently celebrated its 28th birthday, as well as marking two decades since the introduction of its keystone event, Circoloco. In order to properly acknowledge this momentous double anniversary, owners and co-founder of DC10 and Circoloco, Andrea Pelino and Antonio Carbonaro, gave the green light to a large-scale overhaul of the venue’s already impressive audio setup. The new installation was set to encompass three main areas of the club, including their individual DJ booths - and required a major system architecture redesign. This vision became a reality thanks to a number of key relationships, and resulted in a comprehensive and professional audio system for the club - driven by a substantial backbone of Powersoft amplifiers. Valerio Cherubini, owner and founder of project integrator, Loud Professional, explained: “For the last few years we have been extensively testing Powersoft gear, especially the X Series, and have had our best ever results. The optimisation of the system installed at DC10 became more precise thanks to the amplifiers’ fidelity and to the great potential of Armonía for truly detailed and smooth sound reproduction - we’ve never heard anything like it. This is why we decided it was imperative to have Powersoft by our side.”

The massive amplifier inventory previously installed at DC10, which has been in place for the past six years, was substituted for 20 of Powersoft’s powerful and energy-efficient X8 units. The ambitious project required an elite international team, which was comprised of George Stavro, Director of Sonic Lab Audio USA / Integral Sound, Christophe Chappelle (also from Sonic Lab Audio) and Loud Professional Italy’s Cherubini, Fosco Cicola, Michele Azzimonti and David Mandaradoni. There was also a local in-house team that comprised of Pedro Comesaña and Adil Jaabak, who provided additional assistance and were responsible for the day-to-day operation of the sound systems throughout the season. Loud worked closely with George on the new loudspeakers, taking time to focus on presets that would help to achieve the desired results. In the main room at DC10, the new system was designed with an L-C-R configuration consisting of four Loud Professional Formula F215 line arrays, four Loud Professional VH Sub121H subwoofers, eight Loud Professional VH Sub 118R subwoofers, four Loud Professional VH F15 loudspeakers and two Loud professional VH Sub 118Rs subwoofers. It takes five Powersoft X8 amplifiers to drive this configuration, with a pair of Xta DP448 audio management systems and a cisco router also in place. On the terrace, the main system, again in L-C-R configuration, is made up of eight Loud Professional

Formula F215 line arrays and 10 Loud Professional Formula F221 subwoofers, with the DJ booth housing a similar setup to the main room, consisting of four Loud Professional VH F15 loudspeakers and two Loud Professional VH Sub218R subwoofers. This setup requires seven Powersoft X8 amplifiers, as well as two XTA DP44801 digital processing amplifiers and a Cisco Router. Finally, in the garden area, the main system consisted of six Loud Professional Formula F215 line arrays and four Loud Professional VH Sub218H subwoofers, with two delays - a larger L-C-R configuration consisting of four Loud Professional VH Layer112H+EMD line arrays and four Loud Professional VH Sub218R subwoofers, and a smaller L-R setup made up of four Loud Professional VH Layer112H+EMDs line arrays. While the garden DJ booth rig was identical to that on the terrace, the system required eight Powersoft X8 amplifiers and two XTA DP448 digital processing amplifiers along with a Cisco Router. DC10 owner, Andrea Pelino, concluded: “In my opinion, this is the best installation we have had at DC10. Everybody seems to agree, from DJs and producers, to promoters, booking agencies and visitors. We did it for all of them, ensuring that the sound quality is at its best and guaranteeing the maximum comfort.” www.powersoft-audio.com

Photos: Courtesy of Le Milk

LE MILK

COMPANY: HORTUS AUDIO LOCATION: MONTPELLIER, FRANCE

Hortus Audio recently developed a sound vision for a transformative project in a popular local nightclub in Montpellier, France. The plans were set for Hortus Audio’s French distributor (and parent company), Audio Sud, to install over 50 individual items from its inveentory of international brands. The loudspeakers, bass cabinet, line array cabinet, amplifiers and controller stemmed from nine different Hortus Audio products. Le Milk , which is located in Saint-Jean-de-Védas in the Montpellier metropolitan area, would forever be changed by synchronised sound waves emanating from Hortus Audio’s premium clubbing system. With a capacity of 1,200, Le Milk’s owners sought acoustic power and reliability to cover the 600 sq metre nightclub. With an average height of 5.5 metres, the 400 sq metre dancefloor was the centrepiece of Audio Sud’s installation of 16 610W two-way passive speakers and 16 1000W subwoofers. The 610W MP15 has a 15-inch bass reflex loudspeaker, a two-inch compression driver and delivers at eight ohms. The MP15 is part of the Hortus Audio passive speaker S Series, while the BW118 subwoofer is among four other products in the bass cabinet series. Five nights a week at Le Milk,

the 18-inch BW118 delivers at eight ohms with a bandwidth of 65Hz to 250Hz. The 16 loudspeakers and 16 bass cabinets were mounted across the walls in an equally distributed manner to channel all the songs and beats for the majority of clubbers. To further equip Le Milk, Audio Sud integrated two of Hortus Audio’s passive line array bass cabinet, the LVT15, in the 200 sq metre VIP lounge. The 15-inch double wave loudspeaker cabinet is often used with the 480W two-way passive line array, the LVT6. However, beyond the LVT Series, its versatility allows for multiple configurations. For the VIPs, each LVT15 powers four MP15. Meanwhile, for all the clubbers, the DJs wield a full range system to monitor and reinforce the sound levels. Audio Sud installed two EVO-12A for the DJs. The 1000W low-frequency + 250W high-frequency amplified EVO-12A comes with an integrated digital signal processor (DSP). It has a 12-inch double wave loudspeaker, four by four-inch bass reflex loudspeakers and a oneinch compression. Hortus Audio’s sound vision and Audio Sud’s installation further expanded to crystallise Le Milk’s music and clubbing experience. Behind the scenes, a delicate and comprehensive

Hortus Audio sound system of amplifiers also enables the boom and bass for the club goers. A total of 11 amplifiers were integrated alongside the other equipment. Aside from installing eight amplifiers originating from three recently discontinued Hortus Audio DN series models, Audio Sud placed three EA-1000 amplifiers at the disposal of the club’s sound technicians and DJs. Developed in the middle of Hortus Audio’s EA Series between the EA-450 and EA-2000, the EA-1000 powers two 1,000W at eight ohms. It can also power two 1,700W at four ohms, as well as two 2,800W at two ohms. The installation of the Hortus Audio DSP processor, the HSL-48, was vital for overall sound precision as well. With four inputs and eight outputs, the HSL-48 expands on Hortus Audio’s HSL-36 (three inputs and six outputs) and its HSL-24 (two inputs and four outputs). With built-in DSP and Wi-Fi, the HSL-48 processes the music ensemble for Le Milk in addition to processing a much wider range of Hortus Audio products. To the present day, Le Milk has chosen to solely rely on Hortus Audio to provide diverse music and beats for thousands upon thousands of clubbers in Southern France. www.hortusaudio.eu