DH Media Tech and RCF head down the mines
Published: ASIA
KOREA: An RCF sound reinforcement system has been installed at the Gahak Mine Cave Art Centre in Gwangmyeong, Korea. The centre is nestled 270m inside a cave, providing installers, Audio PA, with several challenges including speaker placement – in order to maintain the interior heritage – sound reflectivity and resistance to moisture.
Gahak Mine Cave was originally created around 100 years ago to mine for gold and silver. Having been abandoned in 1972, the cave was largely forgotten about until recently, when a reconstruction project undertaken in 2011 recreated the cave as a tourist attraction – complete with a museum, a 350-seat cinema and an ore exhibition. Due to its location, the centre maintains a consistent 12-degree Celsius room temperature allowing it to hold events including concerts, choir performances and musicals at any time throughout the year.
DH Media Tech – the company in charge of design and construction – made the decision to install a line-array system into the cave. According to DH Media’s manager Mr Lee, the system was deemed more appropriate than point source due to its minimal visual impact, and because ‘the positions of the speakers and the audience is very uncommon’. Other considerations included the fact that the installed speakers needed to be waterproof to protect against the ‘constant water drops and humidity in the cave.’
The main installed system consists of four RCF TTL31/WP speakers on either side of the stage together with a TTL12/WP subwoofer. Because of the speaker locations and the asymmetrical shape of the space, the system was then tuned to produce an even coverage.
The system is powered by an RCF HPS2500 amplifier, whilst further system adjustment can be achieved via the installed RCF DX4008 processor, both of which are installed in the venue’s broadcasting room. Tying everything together is a Midas Venice-U32 analogue audio console.
Additionally, Shure and Sennheiser wireless microphones, a Denon DN-D4500MK2 dual-CD player, Yamaha SPX2000 effect processor, and Canare patch bay was integrated.
After the installation, Sound Solution provided technical assistance for the final system inspection.