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New Hatfield Forum Backs Soundcraft
When the University of Hertfordshire's new £38m entertainment venue, The Forum, opened its doors for the new term after a four-year development cycle, it boasted a sophisticated technical infrastructure which had carefully been put together by main AV contractors, TMC, following a competitive tender.
The centrepiece is the 1500-capacity main theatre, but this is supported by a second 310-capacity live/club (The Attic) and bar at balcony level, plus a 220-capacity cocktail bar, shops and café - all surrounding a giant atrium.
But it was the venue's experienced technical manager (and mixing engineer), Iain Rendle, who specified the Soundcraft 48-input MH3 as his monitor desk - for many reasons.
The University has a long history with Soundcraft technology, running the popular SM12 for many years in its previous live entertainment venue.
"We were aware that the MH3 had been standard spec on all their early venues - and I also wanted a dependable analogue board that could be switched to the FOH position should a guest engineer be digital-averse," rationalised Rendle, who graduated in Sound System Design at the University before taking up a permanent position with Forum Entertainments. A further recommendation from a former member of Soundcraft's R&D team, who had worked on the MH3 development, sealed the deal.
"A lot of monitor engineers are still more comfortable on an analogue board and everything is a lot more responsive on the MH3," says the Forum technician.
As for the multi-mode desk itself, Rendle says there are any amount of attributes he could single out. "There's just no compromise in sound and for the features you are getting the MH3 is amazing. They are very reliable desks, the EQ's are superb, it's quick when want to navigate something and the signal routing is very intuitive. In fact you could say I'm a big fan of Soundcraft."
In addition to the EQ, he also picked out the desk's flexibility and modularity, the ease of putting Groups or Aux Masters onto faders and the quality of the mic amp. "Having the 12 aux sends is particularly useful as we generally have a six-way monitor mix and then the stereo sends for in-ears on top of that. It's also especially good for cross-patching as we stage multiple bands with fast turn around times. It's a logical step up from the SM12."
The MH3 - which is supported by Iain Rendle's own outboard rack of premium effects - has met with universal approval from all the guest monitor engineers thus far, with bands such as the Maccabees, Hadouken, Chase & Status and Funeral for a Friend all having been through. Also giving an unconditional thumbs-up is Rendle's number two, Chris Smith, who is himself completing a masters degree in sound design, and handles most of the house mixing duties down in Monitor City.
In addition to the sound desk, TMC were responsible for supplying all the audio, video and performance lighting in the main and ancillary rooms, as well as all the house lighting, back bar cold cathode and display lighting. They detailed a high specification of sound and visual reinforcement throughout, the highlight being a giant LED chandelier centerpiece, suspended over the main theatre auditorium.
Based on an artistic concept created by Blueprint, and adorned with multiple LED spheres, the idea was taken forward by RMJM Architects and custom developed by TMC. Fabricated from a quad trussing structure the upper diameter of the motorized rig measures 10 metres, the centre 7 metres and the lower ring 4 metres in diameter - with four operational positions.
For Hatfield locals the University has also brought back to life the name of the town's old entertainment venue - the original Forum was demolished at the end of the millennium.
17th December 2009
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