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KV2 Open The Box in Belfast
Utopian Leisure have just completed their third new venue launch, this time in the spectacular Odyssey complex situated on the riverfront of Belfast City opposite the famous H & W (Titanic) Shipyards.
The Box is a two tier nightclub and bar venue offering a diverse selection of style, imagery and dynamic, impact filled music. Following on from their successful openings of Sam Jacks and Bar 55 in Newcastle and Love Shack in Durham, both managing director Bob Senior and operations director Carl Hornsby knew exactly what they wanted and how to express and achieve this on their large project with regards to sound and vision.
Once again Carl Hornsby called in Andy Austin-Brown of KV2 Audio to specify a new sound system to match the standards that had been installed in the previous venues, using KV2 Audio products exclusively. The relationship between the two companies has been forged through a mutual desire by both parties to produce stunning sound fields and high dynamic performance along with exemplary backup and service via the designated installer and KV2 Audio representative. “It’s a very simple way of doing business, but it works,” says Austin-Brown.
The Box represented another ever increasing challenge, that of being able to contain and control sound without creating external noise pollution. In this case the Odyssey complex is surrounded by a multi-screen cinema complex, an IMAX cinema directly above and several well know chain restaurants in the surrounding building.
LSFX of Coleraine are the KV2 Audio representatives in Northern Ireland and were the obvious choice to fulfil the needs and expectations for the new project. Managing director Darren Gardiner commented: “I was very pleased to be introduced to Bob Senior and Carl Hornsby by Andy. Apart from anything else it gave us the unbelievable chance to re-fit this venue as we had previously completed the original installation when the venue was operated as Precious over five years ago. I knew all the foibles of the building. Working closely with Carl I was able to explain the problems associated with the Storm cinema above. From the outset we were able to provide the necessary advice, building works and soundproofing to alleviate future problems and we designed the system to take all of this into account.”
A well chosen route of KV2 ES1.0 mid hi enclosures and a combination of KV2 ES2.5 & ES1.8 subwoofers, supplemented by well placed KV2 EX10 active loudspeaker enclosures, was chosen for the ground floor nightclub dance floor system. On the first floor, for the first time, a true five-way system was designed utilising KV2 ES1.0 mid hi packs with the sub bass compliment consisting of a combination of ES2.5 subs with VHD1.21 subs operating below them. These were all actively driven by the new EPAK 2500R controller/amplifiers adding enormous weight and authority to the sound.
Again, a multiple system of KV2 EX10 active loudspeaker enclosures were utilised for infill and re-enforcement. Overall control of the whole audio system was provided by the new BSS Soundweb London Blu units, two were used allowing complete matrixing and remote call up and control. Damian McFaul from LSFX spent a considerable amount of time designing the Soundweb software to fulfil all of Utopians requirements, even giving them what Carl Hornsby calls his ‘bass buttons’, these allow the level of the subs to be changed at the push of a button. Another point worth noting is that LSFX have set the system up with remote access for their engineers, if a problem occurs on site an engineer only has to log in to the system via the internet to check the status of the equipment, very useful in preventing unnecessary call outs.
As usual Darren alongside Andy Austin-Brown provided the set up and overall balancing of the system. Utopian’s Carl Hornsby commented: “Considering we are working in such a difficult acoustic environment the sound system has exceeded all my expectations. My thanks to the team at LSFX and KV2 for all there support.” So impressed was Hornsby, that he also awarded the full lighting and vision effects installation to LSFX proving the ability, dedication and skills of the installation team as well as their strong relationships with their manufacturing suppliers.
7th December 2006
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