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Allen & Heath Roll Out iDR in the Cheesecake Factory Chain
TAB Technical Services, a leading US AV systems integrator working in the hospitality and retail industries, has become a major installer of Allen & Heath's iDR DSP audio distribution and processing systems. For one client, The Cheesecake Factory, TAB has installed the A&H iDR-8 at 75 percent of the national restaurant chain's 60 locations, according to company president Todd Berman.
Although materials, ceiling height, and décor differ slightly between locations, says Berman, the A&H iDR installation at each Cheesecake Factory restaurant is essentially the same. "It's pretty much an 8 or 10 zone system in each venue. The iDR works out well because there are 10 outs - 2 monitor jacks in addition to the 8 main outs.”
Using the multi-zone control and processing capabilities of the iDR-8, audio in each area of the restaurant may be separately programmed and controlled, continues Berman, who also has years of experience with Allen & Heath's DR128 digital installation mixer. "We're able to ‘EQ’ each individual zone. We have paging going into some of the zones, plus different sources - such as CD music, or television sound, or satellite music - also going into the zones."
Set up of the system involved ‘set-and-forget’ Windows-based software, which is then removed, allowing the iDR to run as a standalone unit. The iDR System Manager software is “very simple to use, very easy,” comments Berman. “I get all the audio sales guys coming to me, but it's actually the easiest software compared to all the others that I've seen - it's very straightforward."
Employee access to the system is limited to the functions on the remote control, and although the iDR system integrates with Allen & Heath's PL Series of remote controllers, Berman has found that the hospitality chain prefers to utilize a system that more closely matches the point of sale touchscreens with which employees are already familiar. "We initially set the iDR system up the way we want it, then use a Crestron control system to control the volume levels, source selection, and various other aspects."
He continues: "From an operator point of view, having a colour touch panel makes it as simple for them as possible. I set it up so they have full control over various zones, but they can also hit one button for opening at lunch or dinner and it'll take all the zones to a predetermined level."
Berman reserves particular praise for one specific attribute of the iDR system. "One of the features that we really like is the Ethernet jack on it. I hook it up to a wireless base when I'm setting up a venue, so I'm able to walk around with my wireless laptop to the various rooms and set the equalization. The owner really likes that application."
The systems are typically integrated with JBL ceiling speakers. "The owners want really good sound but they want it to aesthetically fit in. They don't want to see speaker boxes," he explains.
Summing up the iDR system, Berman says: "It's an awesome system. It's probably a bit of overkill, but I'd rather have more tools at my disposal, and you certainly get what you pay for." It also allows TAB to keep service calls down to a minimum. "What we aim to do is set up a system and we don't want to go back into that restaurant unless we're going to eat there!"
5th November 2004
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