ABU DHABI, UAE – Bond Communications, an AV system integration firm, faced a tall order with the sound upgrade for a large ballroom within the seven-star Emirates Palace Hotel. The new system needed to fill a 265-foot-by-80-foot, 2,800-capacity space and work discreetly in three separate, divisible modes.
The hotel, operated by the Kempinski Hotel Group, also required that the system be flexible enough to deliver high spec intelligibility across the frequency spectrum for presentations, yet still be capable of concert-style reinforcement from a conventional Left/Right stage system, when the venue was cranked up for live entertainment.
Bond opted for a combination of Martin Audio's OmniLine scalable micro-line arrays and a W8LC Compact Line Array. Richard Maunder, from Martin Audio's Dubai-based distributors VTI, and Peter Child, Martin Audio's applications engineer, were also brought in to provide design support and EASE program measurements.
"It was decided to use line array loudspeakers for the main front-of-house system as these have more ‘throw' than a conventional loudspeaker and the dispersion pattern is very predictable thus offering more control over the large coverage area," said Child.
Normally, to cover a distance such as the length of the ballroom, a long line array, accurately articulated and flown, would suffice, and delays would not be needed. But the relatively low ceiling height of the ballroom dictated that a different approach be taken.
The solution came in the form of a five-box array of W8LCs on each side, supported at the bottom of the hang by a single W8LCD Downfill box to maintain clarity, impact and fidelity. The addition of four delay points, comprising time-aligned W8LCDs, also distribute the sound further down the room in an even manner. Used only as required (rather than part of a permanent install), this delay system maintains the tonality and dynamics of the system.
Although mounted discreetly behind an acoustically-transparent cloth, the W8LC would normally function more than adequately as a full-range system. However, also incorporated into the design are eight WS218X dual 18" subwoofers (four per side) providing low-end extension that can be used as required.
For stage monitoring, 10 Martin Audio LE1200S floor wedges have also been supplied.
When split into three parts for the ballroom's conference mode, 12 clusters of 16 OmniLine enclosures provide the playback. The design consists of two OmniLine columns at each end of the three conference sections so that the point of focus can change, based on the physical location of the presentation.
This approach also ensures that intelligible speech and high quality music playback are delivered as unobtrusively as possible.
The design team set up the OmniLine using the system's dedicated optimization software. Peter Child first worked out the calculations in the OmniLine software before exporting an XGLC file for later use in the EASE program.
"It was then just a case of inserting each of the 16 hang OmniLine GLLs into their correct locations in the EASE model and importing the XGLC file, which automatically applied the correct inter-cabinet angles and EQ as determined by the OmniLine software." he said.
The system is powered entirely by Martin Audio amplification. The WS218X subwoofers are driven by a pair of MA18Ks; the main FOH system and W8LC/LCD delays are run from a total of 18 MA5.2Ks and the OmniLine system is assigned to nine MA6.8Qs.
System control is via four mix racks housing CobraNet-enabled SymNet Express DSP, configured with 12-in and 4-out. "This enables me to route any source input to any of the zones," said Schuh.
The DSP is set it up so that each room can be used in its single configuration – and as further rooms are added, the installer can create a separate output on the console to provide full functionality over all four zones. "The system needed to be really flexible because it would be used for different events," Schuh said.
Any input can be routed to any zone and the zone assigned to the main system. It will also automatically send the delay taps to the time-aligned OmniLines when the system is used in presentation mode. The OmniLines also help bring out the HF of the installed W8LC system and boost the intelligibility, given the length and shape of the room.
"The aim of the system was to have it set up for ease-of-use, consistency and flexibility – and that's what we have achieved," Schuh added. "For the size of the room and type of events staged, I'm extremely happy with the result – and so is the client."
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