Trinity Christian Academy (TCA), a growing college preparatory Christian school in Willow Park, Texas, recently debuted a new home for its football team – Eagle Stadium – with seating for 1000, an OES digital scoreboard, and a sound reinforcement system headed by Electro-Voice and Dynacord components.
TCA Trinity Christian Academy’s new football stadium
Since its launch in 1993, the school has partnered with other local schools to use its sports facilities. Eagle Stadium is the first part of a multi-million dollar three-phase project that includes baseball and softball fields and track facilities.
Colby Howerton, U.S. southwest regional sales rep for London, Ontario-based OES Scoreboards recommended one Electro-Voice MTS-4153 three-way point-source loudspeaker mounted on the scoreboard for full audio coverage of the field and seating areas. The selected MTS-4153-64 version features a 60° x 40° coverage pattern. Designed for large-scale applications, the MTS-4153 combines four 15” woofers with dual coaxial mid/high compression drivers via a single waveguide in a design focused on cohesive high output with a strong bass response.
“The school was looking for a digital scoreboard and sound reinforcement solution that would provide audio coverage on the field and stands while offering the visibility the fans need,” explains Howerton. “To mount the loudspeaker to the scoreboard, our engineering team designed a custom bracket for the top of the center I-beam. The bracket fits the shape and bolt pattern of the bottom of the MTS loudspeaker and was easy to disguise with a scrim featuring the Eagles mascot.”
The fully weatherized MTS loudspeaker is driven by a Dynacord IPX10:4 power amplifier for fixed installations equipped with OMNEO IP networking architecture enabling Dante and OCA/AES70 networking. IPX models deliver 96 kHz DSP with low latency and a high signal-to-noise ratio and are equipped with technologies for added energy efficiency and system protection.
The amplifier is rack-mounted in the press box along with a Dynacord MXE5 Matrix Mix Engine that serves as a control center and communications hub for system devices and IP-based peripherals. The system is easily controlled and monitored via a Dynacord TPC-1 touch panel controller working with the mix engine. Using SONICUE Sound System Software, installers can freely configure the TPC-1 interface screen with customizable controls that are enhanced by images, such as schematic diagrams, school colors or corporate logos.
“One of the features the school required was a system that could easily grow,” adds Howerton. “Not only might the stadium itself expand with additional guest seating, but the additional phases will require networked systems. This system allows for all that and more – it seems simple, but it’s quite sophisticated. This was one of the first applications done with an MTS loudspeaker, and we will recommend similar packages again.”
Bosch has updated its Dicentis conference system with software update V3.2, offering a platform-independent secure and scalable interface based on JSON and web sockets.
The system is capable of supporting connectivity with conference management and control devices such as touch panels and video switchers from third party suppliers via a software interface that operates independently from computer operating systems.
Extron has aligned its control interfaces with the Dicentis product portfolio, with current Extron touch panels becoming compatible with the Dicentis conference system.
Up to 100 interpreter-provided languages can be supported, with discussion management, simultaneous interpreting, language selection, voting, multimedia functions, live video feed, internet access, document viewing and third-party app support.
The system is based on OMNEO IP architecture and includes support for Dante and PoE.
The Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center is considered
to be one of the largest trade fair and congress centres in the world,
with an exhibition space spanning over 500,000m2, 19
exhibition halls and 108 meeting rooms. Bosch has created and equipped a
customised security and communications solution for all of the centre’s
exhibition halls.
Bosch installed 425 LS1‑OC100E hemi-directional
ceiling loudspeakers in the exhibition halls as they can reportedly
fill the rooms due to their coverage angle and high sound pressure
level. ‘We managed to reduce the number of loudspeakers needed by using
our hemi-directional loudspeaker,’ said Kevin Xu, product marketing
manager at Bosch Building Technologies in China. ‘Energy and operational
costs for the operator dropped as a result.’
The
loudspeakers are part of Paviro, Bosch’s networked public address and
voice evacuation system. The halls were set up with 27 of these systems
due to its architecture and use of IP technology, which made it ideal
for selecting between music and audio playback in the different halls.
‘The system has to facilitate both building-specific audio signals and
system-wide announcements so that visitors feel safe and comfortable in
the huge building,’ explained Xu. ‘For example, an announcement in Hall 1
shouldn’t interfere with the music in Hall 2 except in the case of an
emergency.’
Xu also noted how the project was challenging due to
the complexity of the installation and the small amount of time the team
had to set the systems up. ‘Supplying this huge volume of products
within such a short timeframe was a major challenge,’ he said. ‘But,
despite the tight schedule, the Bosch team came together, from global
supply chain to production and other sales regions, as a whole to
shorten the original eight-month delivery period to two months.’
Bosch has introduced LB20 commercial loudspeakers for indoor and outdoor use with a wall-mount system designed to save time. The compact loudspeaker series for installed applications includes 4-in, 5.25-in, and 8-in 2-way models with a matching dual-10-in subwoofer.
All LB20 models contain Bosch-engineered components and are suited to retail environments and hospitality settings such as bars, lounges, patios, pool areas and restaurants. They can also be used in conference and meeting rooms, fitness clubs, performing arts and sports venues and houses of worship. All models are paintable and IP54 certified for weather resistance; an IP65 weatherproof version is available for the 5.25-in loudspeaker cabinet and the subwoofer models.
The new wall-mount system allows and installer to attach the wall-mount, which has a built-in bubble level, and terminate the cables inside. It can then be painted for protection until construction is completed. The cover is removed and the pre-wired speaker with adjustable arm is slid onto the wall-mount and locked into place.
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge relies on customised security solutions from Bosch to ensure safe operations. The world’s largest sea-crossing bridge was opened by Chinese officials late October 2018. Spanning 55 kilometres in length, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge directly connects Hong Kong to Macao and then to the Chinese city of Zhuhai for the first time. At a total cost of USD 20 billion, it is a major boost for China’s Greater Bay Area, an emerging industrial and technological hotbed that is home to 68 million people and a showcase project for Bosch Building Technologies.
The large-scale project was built over the course of eight years using 400,000 tons of steel and includes underwater tunnels and two artificial islands that serve as customs ports. Ensuring the security of these two islands, where drivers need to present special permits to use the new bridge and pass customs checkpoints, was a priority from the start.
Securing vital infrastructure
With a proven track record of equipping critical infrastructures such as airports, hotels, commercial buildings and underground metros, Bosch Building Technologies won the contract to provide the artificial islands with video surveillance, intrusion alarms, as well as public address and voice evacuation systems.
On the island between Zhuhai and Macao, the Bosch partner Shanghai SAGA Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. installed more than 5,700 Bosch loudspeakers and over 260 amplifiers which are all managed via the PRAESIDEO Digital Public Address and Emergency Sound system. Fulfilling a key customer request, the installation incorporates 15 different models of ceiling, wall mount, and line array speakers to blend in with the facility’s modern interior. Furthermore, Bosch was able to match Macao’s local standards by custom-ordering solutions with British power cord, programmed with graphic interfaces in traditional Chinese lettering.
On the island outside of Hong Kong, which is home to a customs clearance port, Bosch partner Pro-United Co., Ltd. installed 2,200 public address speakers of various models, including outdoor speakers for the travel inspection building. Experts also adjusted 200 vari-directional array loudspeakers to balance sound variations from different building materials. “The Bosch technical team and partners used professional software to simulate the sound pressure level of a specific area and comprehensively simulate the entire project to ensure that the selected products can meet the requirements of different areas in the actual application,” said Lin Lizhi, Bosch Building Technologies.
A landmark project
Bosch also covered the island with more than 2,000 HD cameras including the FLEXIDOME, DINION, and AUTODOME series. Monitored from a security control centre on the Hong Kong-side of the island, these cameras support 24/7 surveillance of the customs clearance port, travel inspection building, Immigration Department and Hong Kong Customs Office. The PRAESIDEO systems on both islands enable security staff to broadcast live voice announcements via security call points, while multiple sets of intrusion alarm systems protect personnel and property. “We added the supporting intelligent call station PRAESIDEO, which is usually used for airport projects, in order to ensure that the staff can directly perform voice broadcasts throughout the call station during operation, thus making the security management more convenient,” said Wang Yiping, Deputy General Manager of Shanghai SAGA Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. The high-profile infrastructure project highlights the flexibility and broad customisation options offered by Bosch Building Technologies as a one-stop solutions provider.
Now that it is fully operational, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is already considered a key asset in the Greater Bay Area, also known as ‘China’s Silicon Valley’. The bridge reduces the travel time between Zhuhai and Hong Kong from four hours to a mere 30 minutes. It also creates a new gateway for travellers between vital transportation hubs such as Shenzhen and Hong Kong airports with while the integrated Bosch security solutions ensuring a safe passage.
Bosch Plena mixer amplifiers are at the heart of the sound setups at the new McDonald’s ‘flagship’ restaurants. These feed LC6-100S-L ceiling-mount speaker systems, which consist of 8-inch subwoofer modules and a crossover network to support four 2-inch satellite speakers, delivering BGM.
Bosch designed a configuration of its commercial sound speakers especially for each flagship restaurant using EASE Address. ‘With the acoustic analysis, we customised the sound system for each individual restaurant, to provide nothing but the best sound in each location,’ said one of the designers.
The projects were awarded to Bosch after the manufacturer presented a series of relevant case studies of previous restaurant installations to McDonald’s. Key McDonald’s decision-makers were also invited to the Bosch experience centre to hear the products in action.
‘McDonald’s has invested a lot in background music, because we know that it gives customers a good experience and brings more business,’ said Ma Lijie, director of the development department for McDonald’s China. ‘McDonald’s needs a good music system and Bosch’s wide product range meets our needs very well.’
