After several decades of tenancy, school management, teachers and students finally got a home that is rarely seen in high schools dealing with culture. They have the honor of standing side by side with the first Concert Hall in Novi Sad, where they will express their creative potential.
As part of the consortium that won the tender for the construction of the school and concert space, AVL Projekt got the opportunity to equip the Concert Hall with the most modern audio and video equipment, stage lighting and mechanics.
Although our company has several decades of experience, this project was in many ways a challenge due to the complexity of technical and technological solutions and their unification, as well as the amount of work.
The multi-purpose Concert Hall with 480 seats, combines several different and complex technical and technological systems:
- Audio and video systems
- Signal-communication system
- Technological video recording system
- Stage lighting system
- Stage mechanics system (stage mechanical equipment with electric drives, curtains and accessories)
The installed audio system is intended for the sounding of different performances such as ballet, musical-scenic and theater performances, including film projections and speaking performances.
It consists of the main sound system for the hall, i.e., two speaker line array groups on the left and right side of the stage composed of loudspeakers d&b 10AL and d&b 10AL-D, as well as cardioid subwoofers d&b 27A-SUB. The central speaker group consists of two d&b 10A array boxes that are used for speech reproduction. The parameters of this system are set in d&b ArrayCalc software. With accessories for hanging speaker groups, it is possible to adjust the angle of the speakers.
In order to provide additional sound for the first rows of the auditorium, front field speakers were installed in the front of the stage, while portable active speaker systems RCF ST12-SMA II were supplied for effect reproduction and stage monitoring.
Part of the audio system are various Audix dynamic and condenser microphones for instruments, vocals and choir, with different directional characteristics. Diversity dual wireless microphone receivers are connected to a matching antenna splitter and a pair of active wideband Audix antennas for additional wireless microphone signal amplification on stage.
The operating frequency is selected automatically via the auto-scan function on the receiver, while the transmitter is set automatically via an IR signal.
The sound is controlled from a separate room, the tone control, where:
- DiGiCo S31 32-channel digital mixing console processes audio signals with effects (EQ, reverb, compressor/limiter, gate, delay),
- Dual CD player and USB recorder for recording and playing sound,
- monitor speakers, headphones and preamplifier for monitor microphones in the hall, monitoring and control of audio signals and
- centralized audio system control server with d&b ArrayCalc software for computer simulation of d&b speaker system parameters and creation of sound design according to space characteristics.
The hardware part of the audio system, i.e. the amplifier department, is located in a separate air-conditioned room.
The 19” rack cabinet has the following built-in equipment:
- DSP audio matrix 4x8 for signal processing and correction
- power amplifiers for speaker systems in the hall, i.e., d&b 10D AMP and d&b 30D AMP amplifiers for signal processing and distribution and
- centralized audio system control system with 24-port switch
Part of the audio system is related to the video projections that will be held in the hall.
Within the DSP matrix, the 4-channel mixer is intended for the realization of smaller sets with 2 microphones and video projection. It is controlled by selecting the appropriate recorded scenario (preset) via the touch screen of the remote-control unit installed on the stage.
Radial EXO-POD passive broadcast splitter was delivered for signal distribution to journalists during multimedia presentations. It has one balanced input and 10 transformer-isolated balanced outputs, each with a Ground Lift switch and XLR connectors that prevent external interference from entering the audio system.
The system for multi-channel sound reproduction during video projections makes the Dolby cinema processor CP950, a Blu-Ray/DVD player, as well as the main hall sound system (left, right and central speaker group, as well as a subwoofer) with speakers for surround effects. Setting the operating mode of the sound system and switching from concert to cinema mode is done via the XTA digital DSP matrix by pressing the touch controller.
The video projection system in the hall is intended for playback of Blu-Ray and DVD videos: concerts, ballet performances, operas. It is also intended for video presentations, as well as an addition to scenography with the possibility of projection on a projection screen or cyclorama.
In addition to the Sony VPL-FHZ75 laser video projector, this system also includes the following central equipment located in a 19" rack cabinet:
- Aten presentation switcher with built-in HD resolution scaler
- Blu-Ray/DVD player
- Media Player with 1TB hard disk
- PC notebook with accompanying software
HDMI signals of HD resolution are transmitted from the video direction to the video projector, as well as from the video connection boxes to the video direction via the Aten VE801 – HDBaseT transmitter and signal receiver via the S/FTP Cat6 cable.
The image is projected onto a motorized rear projection screen with a gain of 0.8 in 700cm x 500cm. The screen is mechanically connected to an electric drive in the back of the stage, which brings it into the appropriate position and is connected to the mains power supply in order to position the projection surface by remote control.
The installed signaling and communication system (intercom system) with its concept and equipment will enable the mutual communication of the technical staff engaged in the realization of stage events and the reproduction of the background of the play - the central device of this system is the ClearCom MS-704 main station, which is connected to the installation via a connection box to which all installations from the intercom connectors located in the light control, sound control, video control, amplifier department, dimmer department, second gallery of the hall are brought lighting fixtures and working positions on the stage. 1-channel and 2-channel intercom units, as well as portable belt pack intercom units with head-mounted MTK are connected to these connectors. Next to the connection box of the inspector's desk, there is also an installation for transmitting the background of the performance via two fixed condenser microphones with shotgun supercardioid characteristics Audix M1250BS in the first gallery. Light signals are installed above the entrance door to the stage to inform about the working mode of the stage and to ensure silence in the communication area.
This system can be integrated with the building's public address system (PA system), which informs the audience before and after the performance in the entrance hall and cafe. It can also be used to reproduce security notices in incident situations, if necessary.
The video recording system in the Concert Hall consists of 4 moving PTZ IP cameras with HD 1080p resolution. One captures the total stage from the second gallery, two are placed on the side walls to monitor the events on the stage and in the hall, while the fourth camera is on an electric pull above the middle of the stage to capture portraits of the conductor and other shots.
More details about stage mechanics system installed in the Concert Hall you can find HERE.