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O2 Academy Birmingham Technical Installation

Academy Music Group (AMG) has once again recruited the same production team for its latest venue, O2 Academy Birmingham with Adlib Audio for sound, Utopium for lighting and Dimension Audio taking care of video projection and distribution.

"We appointed the same three production suppliers who worked with us in Sheffield and Leeds in 2008, not only because of their standards of professionalism, but also their enthusiasm for the projects and aftercare service," says AMG's operations director, Richard Maides. "The response we've had from the industry about our in-house production is second to none."

Commenting on the latest project, Andy Dockerty, MD, Adlib Audio says he's thrilled to be part of the Birmingham development. "We have installed an L'Acoustics V-DOSC system for the main room. One of the originators of touring line array systems, V-DOSC is still very much regarded as one of the best. With the response to the d&b system in Leeds being so positive it was important we carried on working to the same standard. Due to the scale and layout of O2 Academy Birmingham, we specified this larger format cabinet. The system is the first V-DOSC system to be installed anywhere in the UK."

The rig comprises six V-DOSC cabinets each side of the stage with two dV-DOSC cabinets each side as underhangs. There will also be two dV-DOSC cabinets each side, to assist with audio coverage under balcony areas. Handling the low-frequency extension are six SB 28 sub cabinets per side, L'Acoustics' newest and most efficient sub cabinet to date. The V-DOSC system will be controlled by all the latest L'Acoustics LA 8 processing and amplification units and can implement any firmware updates.

Overall system control between the three rooms, peripheral levels and EQ is provided by BSS Soundweb London units. The flexible routing of these units permits any source from any room to be played in any other room at the technician's discretion. BSS BLU-10 remotes simplify system control for technicians and venue managers and are installed at convenient locations throughout the venue for local operation. The site-wide BSS network provides 12 inputs and 36 outputs all utilised to the maximum potential. All periphery loudspeakers are Adlib proprietary brand, developed for O2 Academy Birmingham's requirements.

Two Soundcraft Vi6's and two Digidesign Mixracks have been specified by AMG to take care of mixing duties. Both types of desk have the capacity to service FOH and monitor requirements as necessary on the 3,009 capacity main stage, 600-capacity O2 Academy2 and O2 Academy3 which holds 250.

AMG has previously installed multiples of Soundcraft's premier digital desks in its most recent venues, O2 Academy Leeds and O2 Academy Sheffield. The brace of Vi6's in Birmingham will move easily and quickly around the expansive 45,000sq ft venue, as part of the standard flight-cased touring package.

Commenting on the purchase, AMG's group technical manager, Ed Jackson says: "The V3.0 software upgrade has taken the desk to a new level and this is largely the reason we are specifying these at our venue. The new snapshot saving function is very important and there are other exceptional features." Jackson also notes the channel extensions offered in the software are a further bonus, giving the Vi6 96-input capacity potential.

Other features in V3.0 include finer adjustment of input and output delay trims, enhanced metering on the master bay which includes Gain Reduction, import and export of channel labels to and from spreadsheet files using USB, ganging of GEQs on output busses and selective loading of show configurations.

The new software resides within the context of a thoroughly well thought out desk. "Everyone is talking about how good the sound is and a lot of engineers are now touring with it," continues Jackson. "It makes life easier because it's one less piece of kit [touring productions] have to bring in."

The Digidesign Profile Mixracks have become an industry standard and offer flexibility for recording. Both of them have the Firewire Interfaces that allow them to link up directly with ProTools LE which will provide multitrack recording facilities for artists.

The multicore systems are wired identically in all three rooms to allow any of the desks to go into any of the different areas without the need to strip out looms and patch cables etc. thereby providing flexibility for visiting engineers.

The monitor system in the main auditorium is provided by 12 Martin Audio LE1500 wedges with a dual 15" drum sub and side-fills comprising of two Martin Audio Blackline S218 sub enclosures and two Blackline H3 cabinets. All monitoring is controlled by Crown amplification and BSS processing.

O2 Academy2 comprises a Turbosound installation, with four flown Turbosound TFL-760 cabinets. The stage is designed to house six TSW 718 sub cabinets, while TCS 59's are used for delays and infills. O2 Academy3 has a Turbosound system and utilises two TFL-760 enclosures per side and two THL-828.2 subs each side. All the Turbosound product is powered via MC2 amplification. There are an additional 10 Martin Audio LE 1500 wedges split over these rooms, six in O2 Academy2 and four in O2 Academy3. These can also be moved between rooms and are powered via Crown amplification with BSS processing. All ‘grab EQ's' in the three rooms are via BSS 960's or 966's and these are provided as an additional bonus. Shure, Sennheiser and AKG make up the majority of the 96 microphones on site with 20 DI boxes from BSS.

O2 Academy Birmingham's main auditorium has six one tonne hoists above stage giving a front, middle and back truss. There are also two ‘diamond' trusses above the dance floor. With 72 ways of dimming built into the in-house rig and further power available for touring shows, the dimming and hot power options are endless. With an installation of data networking from front of house to stage, and then distribution from stage to the front and projection trusses, multiple DMX universes can be sent down a single cable.

In-house fixtures include eight Robe 700 spots, six Robe 575 washes, six Martin 301 moving LED washlights, Robe LED blinders along with conventional 8-cell blinders and a standard eight bars of six P64 lanterns. The Martin 301's are amongst the first in the country and will be a new feature for touring LD's to use. Combined with an Avolites Diamond and a Pearl Expert with Titan software, this will provide the complete package to accommodate the majority of touring productions. Smaller set-ups of Robe fixtures and Avolites control are a perfect combination for smaller bands and DJs in O2 Academy2 and O2 Academy3.

With no corner left untouched, Pulsar Chroma range LEDs are set into stairways, ceilings and walls. This includes Chroma Panels, spheres, cubes and strips. Anolis LED lighting products are used for illuminating the bars around the venue and up-lighting pillars and walls.

The exterior of O2 Academy Birmingham has two Studio Due CS-4 Moving Par Can fixtures for a unique exterior effect, while a Robe DT3000 Digital moving head projector allows images and video to be projected across the outside of the venue and pavement.

The main fixtures inside are the two DT5000 moving head projectors that are connected to Dimension's installation of a Hippotizer Critter media server. This sends visual content to any of the 21 screens in the venue, with multiple feeds capable of sending different images to each screen. This is all carried out via Kramer distribution.

All three venues have screens at the back of the stage, and the option for artists to provide their own visual content.

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O2 Academy Birmingham Technical Installation

1st September 2009

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