Lightmoves wins Montagner Auditorium contract
Published: ASIA
AUSTRALIA: Lightmoves was contracted to supply and install the sound and lighting equipment for the Genazzano FCJ College’s recently unveiled Montagner Auditorium. The Kew-based Madeline Centre for Music and Performing Arts’ 456-seat auditorium was fitted with a JBL VRX line array system, distributed by Jands.
The JBL line array was described to be the ‘ideal’ solution for the auditoriums’ high ceiling, curved walls and minimal space in which to mount a speaker system.
The system comprises eight JBL VRX928LA array top boxes, two JBL VRX 915S subs, and four JBL AC15 front fill speakers. For amplification there are two Crown Xli4000 stereo units for the arrays (two speakers per channel), two Crown XLS2000 stereo units for the subs (the two channels on each are bridged for extra power) and one Crown XLS2000 stereo unit for the front fills (again, two speakers per channel).
A Soundcraft GB4 32/4/2 mixing console was also selected, as well as two Lexicon MX300 stereo reverb/effects processors, a Lexicon MPX1 multi effects processor, and a DBX-231 graphic equaliser. Additionally, the front fill speakers are used for front coverage when the auditorium’s retractable seating is in use, which brings the venue’s capacity from 416 seats to 450.
The venue also utilises a Clear-Com RM-702 professional remote intercom station and a selection of Shure models comprising four Beta 58s, four Beta 57s, and an MX412/C.
‘I find that the front of house suits the space very well,’ commented Sam McKenzie, Genazzano’s theatre technician. ‘We’ve had performers including the cast from the musical Hairspray, international speakers and prestigious guests, and many have commented on how good the sound quality is in the auditorium. Listening in different areas of the auditorium I find that there is nice even coverage throughout, and running the subs in stereo is great during productions where panning can be used as a special effect,’ he remarked.
The auditorium is now equipped with acoustic curtains that can be closed to dampen reflections during presentations, which can be opened during acoustic performances where the room amplifies the sound. ‘The Madeleine Centre is not the only place that Oaklands Productions utilises the VRX system,’ explained Mr McKenzie. ‘We also use it in various other venues due to it’s wide horizontal coverage – we find that it is the best tool to get even coverage in particularly wide spaces.’
Mr McKenzie said that he felt ‘right at home’ working with the Soundcraft GB4, adding that it has worked ‘extremely well’ for the events it has been used for so far. ‘Overall the GB4 is a great, reliable, and easy to use desk which has suited the venue very well,’ he stated.
The Madeleine Centre incorporates a series of classrooms, drama rooms, a gallery space, as well as the Montagner Auditorium, which is used for drama and theatre studies, music classes, band rehearsals, meetings, assemblies, seminars, concerts, recitals and theatre productions.