21 Nov, 2019 | Symetrix
Located on Palm Island, between the Dubai skyline and the Arabian
Gulf, Atlantis Dubai includes a world-famous resort, the world’s most
Instagrammed hotel, award-winning restaurants, a waterpark, and much
more. Wavehouse, Atlantis Dubai’s an all-encompassing entertainment
venue, features zones for kids, families, and adults, including a
bowling alley, kids play area, two-story arcade, projection room,
restaurant, indoor/outdoor stage, indoor/outdoor bar, outdoor lounge
area, and wave simulation pool. Whether you like to be active or want to
kick back and relax, it’s all here.
Installing a sound system to serve a venue the size and complexity of
Wavehouse was a major challenge. However, the team at Dubai systems
integrator Pulse Middle East (www.pulse-me.com)
was fully up to the task, thanks to its extensive experience providing
AV systems to high-end venues in the region. Led by Managing Director
and audio engineer Joe Chidiac, the Pulse Middle East team designed and
installed a Dante-enabled audio system for Wavehouse based on two
Symetrix Radius NX 12×8 DSPs and one Radius NX 4×4 DSP.
“We were brought in to design and install a sound system for live
music, background music, and non-emergency paging that would have
complete flexibility for the operator to play any source in any and all
zones,” Chidiac recalls. “Having so many different entertainment
functions, the sound system needed to be separated by function and music
requirements, so Wavehouse was separated into 11 main zones for source
selection and volume control. The 11 zones are then divided into
sub-zones for additional volume control, allowing the operator access to
25 sub-zones to be able to cater for special events. Each individual
zone can be monitored from the AV room speakers.”
The Wavehouse system is hosted on the hotel’s network, with fiber
connecting two separate AV rooms connected to the main intermediate
distribution frame. Connection points for Dante devices around the venue
are on CAT6 cable. In addition to portable devices, audio sources
include a Pioneer DJM900 DJ mixer with CDJ2000 multi-players, connected
with an AVIO adapter; a Midas M32 console with DN32-Dante card; and
several TV receivers plugged directly into the Symetrix Radius
processors. On the output side, Powersoft amplifiers drive loudspeakers
from TW Audio and Martin Audio.
“The Symetrix Radius makes it easy to manage the Dante network, and
it’s extremely reliable,” comments Pulse Middle East Head of Audio Andy
Morris. “Most DSP for the loudspeakers at Wavehouse was done inside the
Powersoft amplifiers but it was necessary to set balancing and delays
within the Symetrix Radius DSPs in order to be able to change these
settings for different operation modes. Symetrix Composer software made
it easy to integrate our Powersoft amplifiers and enabled us to set up
the routing without having to use Dante Controller.”
The Pulse team also used Symetrix Composer’s SymView GUI authoring to
create a control server. “We made custom control pages for each zone,
plus a diagnostics page for problem solving,” details Morris. “Because
it’s hosted on the hotel’s network, there is flawless wi-fi coverage
throughout the venue, so the operators can sign in and control any zone
from anywhere around the venue.”
Designing, building, and configuring the Wavehouse system and
providing a user-friendly interface, while keeping up with the
construction schedule, was no easy job. But using Symetrix Radius
processors and Composer software, Pulse Middle East met every challenge.
“We had to work on the installation in parallel with construction and
interior design in order to finish on time but we got it all done, and
the system performs fully up to our expectations,” Chidiac reports. “Our
customer is very satisfied.”
20 Nov, 2019 | ETC, High End Systems
ETC
and High End Systems will exhibit the latest innovations in lighting
technology in a combined booth at LDI 2019. Visitors will get the chance
to see
powerful fixtures, sophisticated controls, and intuitive rigging
products in booths 325, 425, and 525.
Among
the new in-booth products is the upcoming Augment3d programming
environment. This exciting tool will be included in Eos v3.0 and enables
programmers
to control and design in a three dimensional space. Live demos of
Augment3d will take place throughout the show.
The
High End Systems booth will be packed with new automated and effects
fixtures to view. The SolaPix family makes its grand entrance at LDI
with an exceptionally
bright wash. The HaloGraphic Pixel Definition featured in the SolaPix
provides improved face definition with edge lighting on the pixel cells.
For more unforgettable effects, TurboRay will turn heads with its many
different looks as a washlight or hard edge
beam. Additionally, SolaFrame 1000 and SolaWash 1000 make their first
appearance at LDI this year. Booth visitors will also get a first peek
at an upcoming addition to the Sola line of automated fixtures.
The
ArcSystem family of LED house lights heads to LDI with the addition of a
new Pro One-Cell High Output luminaire, packing more than 8,000 lumens.
For
advanced networking solutions, visitors can learn more about the
Response Mk2 DMX Gateways, offering easy-to-read status screens and a
configuration
interface on every unit. Rounding out ETC’s family of Show Control
Gateways, the Response SMPTE Gateway is another new solution on display
at LDI.
ETC and High End Systems will spearhead a number of sessions at LDI, including:
Students
are invited to the annual Student Session led by Nick Gonsman in room
N258 on November 23 at 6:15 to discuss all things lighting with product
experts
from ETC.
14 Nov, 2019 | ETC
ETC
celebrated the opening of ETC Dubai – The Studio with a launch event at
the new premises in Dubai Media City. The new site, which consists of
a black box space for product demonstrations and an area for console
training sessions, welcomed industry professionals from across the globe
to the inaugural event.
Attendees
met with product specialists from ETC and High End Systems and received
demonstrations of the newest innovations including High End Systems’
new automated fixtures SolaWash 1000 and TurboRay.
The
latest member of the Sola Series, the SolaWash 1000 features a full
framing system and is available with either an Ultra-Bright or High CRI
engine.
Alongside this was TurboRay, the distinctive fixture creates dynamic
effects from its animation and gobo wheels and can be used as a powerful
hard edge beam or narrow-angle washlight.
Visitors
to the opening were also shown Augment3d in the space’s black box area.
The award-winning 3D programming environment which is part of the
Eos v3.0 software is designed to increase programming speed and
dramatically improves workflow.
In
addition to providing a base for product demonstrations The Studio will
host regular training sessions in the region. ETC’s Eos and High End
Systems’
Hog 4 console sessions are currently available for registration (etcconnect.com/Training)
with more courses planned in the new year.
“We
are thrilled to have ETC Dubai up and running with a space that
specifically offers specialist product demonstrations, training sessions
and a
black box area. It is the only space in the region to provide this and
we are delighted to expand our offering and sales support in the Middle
East territory,” comments Regional Sales Manager for the Middle East,
Mark Larcombe.
12 Nov, 2019 | ETC, High End Systems
With an eclectic program of events, this year’s Summer Nostos
Festival (SNFestival) attracted more than 200,000 people and featured an
array of High End Systems and ETC gear across five stages.
Athens’ most modern cultural landmark – the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center – played host to the annual, week-long SNFestival. The center’s beautiful gardens, the canal, the National Library and the Greek National Opera were transformed into stages for music and theatrical performances, family activities, educational workshops and sports for visitors of all ages and backgrounds.
George Tellos of LightingArt oversaw all lighting design for the
festival. With a team of five lighting programmers, Tellos was tasked
with illuminating the vast and varied schedule of events while under
tight time constraints. It involved designing, programming and operating
50
shows over eight days. This was a manageable challenge for Tellos,
who is familiar with working under pressure, thanks in part to his role
as LD for the Sochi Medals Plaza at the 2014 Olympic Games.
This year’s events featured concerts by Neneh Cherry, Rita Wilson and Andrew Bird; Ana Sánchez-Colberg’s dance performance “Seven to Seventh”; Brian Eno’s music and image installation 77 Million Paintings; and the festival’s largest collective work, Tape Art.
“For the Alternative Stage we needed absolute silence for some of the performances and High End Systems’ SolaFrame Theatre fixture was perfect for this,” Tellos says.
“For some of the shows, including Rita Wilson, I used the SolaFrame
3000,” he adds. “I wanted an amazingly bright and precise fixture, and
anything else looked subdued in comparison. With its high CRI, low
shutter distortion and great zoom range it was an
obvious choice.”
Supplied by PRG XL VIDEO and UTG, the SNFestival lighting package also featured products from ETC – High End’s parent company. These included an Eos Ti and two Gio lighting control consoles; and Source Four LED Series 2 Lustrs, Source Four LED CYC Adapters, Source Four Fresnels and ColorSource Spot fixtures.
“ETC
and High End Systems products are first-class,” Tellos concludes.
“Working on this production I was reminded that even with a little
quality equipment you can do great things!”
11 Nov, 2019 | Dynacord, Electro-Voice
Pepe Khumalo, from the Johannesburg branch of Prosound, discusses the company’s sound system installation at the AFM Church in Botswana. The characteristics of the Electro-Voice EVA line array speaker system for fixed installation combined with the shape of the building made the system the perfect choice for the church.
Find The Best Sound System For Your Church with Electro-VoicePepe Khumalo, from the Johannesburg branch of South African Electro-Voice partner Prosound, discusses the company’s sound system installation at the AFM church in Botswana. The characteristics of the Electro-Voice EVA line array speaker system for fixed installation combined with the shape of the building made the system the perfect choice for the church.
#ElectroVoice #Dynacord
Posted by Electro-Voice on Tuesday, 29 October 2019
7 Nov, 2019 | Symetrix
When Luxury Travel Intelligence named Kudadoo the world’s best
new luxury hotel for 2019, it greatly understated the case. Kudadoo
isn’t just a luxury hotel; it’s a stunningly gorgeous, private,
adults-only, tropical island resort. Part of the Republic of Maldives in
the southeastern Indian Ocean, Kudadoo offers 15 private over-water
bungalows with a spa, bar, restaurant, infinity pool, game room, and
much more-and it’s 100 percent solar powered. Want 24-hour access to a
butler? You get that too, along with just about anything else you’re
likely to want.
Naturally, nothing less than a first-rate sound system will do for
such a high-class facility. To that end, Kudadoo Maldives Private
Island’s management asked the top-flight team at Pulse Middle East of
Dubai to design and build a sound system that would give them complete
flexibility to play background music, and sometimes live music, from
various sources around the island resort, yet be simple enough to
operate without a technical person on site.
Led by managing director and audio engineer Joe Chidiac, the Pulse
Middle East team designed a Dante audio network for Kudadoo managed by a
Symetrix Radius 12×8 EX DSP. The system serves the bar, restaurant,
pool area, spa, salt room, games room, and restrooms.
“This
installation was very special, since the location is extremely
particular-and breathtaking,” notes Chidiac. “The main difficulties at
Kudadoo were the logistics, the hotel being on an island in the
Maldives, and the timeline. The system was installed and integrated in a
three-day stay, after the initial visit and overseas prep. Due to the
surrounding water body, many measures had to be taken in order to
complete everything on time and have a lasting result.”
“Another main challenge was designing a user-friendly interface that
could be operated by anyone, while still giving options for different
sources and volumes in each zone,” adds Pulse Head of Audio Andy Morris.
“One way we got around this was to use logic automation within the
Symetrix Radius EX so that certain events, such as a band starting to
play from a certain Dante adapter, would cause the background music to
automatically fade out in the concerned zones, gradually fading up again
when live input is no longer detected.”
In addition to portable devices, audio sources for Kudadoo’s network
include a Pioneer DJM900 DJ mixer with CDJ2000s, connected with an AVIO
adapter; a Midas M32 console with DN32-Dante card; and several TV
receivers plugged directly into the Radius 12×8 EX. On the output side,
Powersoft amplifiers drive loudspeakers from TW Audio and Martin Audio.
The Pulse Middle East team installed CAT6 cable throughout the facility,
routing input from the portable devices via Dante connection points to
the Symetrix Radius DSP and from the Radius to the amplifiers. Symetrix
ARC-3 wall panels enable simple user control of volume, mute, and source
selection.
The
Radius 12×8 EX DSP provides 64×64 Dante 1000 Base-T networking, along
with 12 switchable analog mic/line inputs and 8 analog balanced line
outputs. That’s plenty of I/O for the Kudadoo audio network, but more
can be added with option cards should that be required in the future. A
second Dante port enables daisy-chaining multiple units and redundant
Dante network audio implementation. Delivering studio-grade sound, and
programmed using Symetrix’ Composer open-architecture software for
Windows, the Radius 12×8 EX can run hundreds of audio processing and
control modules for a wide variety of applications.
“The Symetrix Radius makes it easy to manage the Dante network, and
it’s extremely reliable,” assures Morris. “We also like the way Symetrix
Composer software makes it easy to integrate our Powersoft amplifiers.
Having all the routing set up in Composer instead of using an additional
piece of software like Dante Controller saves a lot of time and
confusion. All the routings are there in Composer, clear to see and easy
to restore should any issues arise.”
Far out in the southeastern Indian Ocean, luxury beckons at Kudadoo
Private Island, Maldives. There you can enjoy tropical breezes, gorgeous
blue seas, and virtually anything you want, anytime, anywhere. While
you’re relaxing, you’ll enjoy background music to match, thanks to the
new Symetrix-managed sound system provided by Pulse Middle East. “The
people at Kudadoo are very satisfied with their new sound system,”
confirms Joe Chidiac. We suspect that’s as much of an understatement as
Luxury Travel Intelligence calling Kudadoo a “luxury hotel.”
