Melbourne’s Deakin University recently carried out a major $250K upgrade to its
busiest and largest lecture theatre, The Rusden Theatre — setting a high benchmark
in terms of its AV integration.
InSight Systems, who have provided the University with AV solutions for several
years, were brought in, and working alongside Neil Clarke, the University’s AV &
Networks Unit Leader, and the facility’s eSolutions team, their project team fast
tracked the work through the school holidays to complete the AV integration in the
670-seat auditorium on time.
The goal was to provide an installation that could be operated by staff, and as such
would require the minimum of technical support. Aside from improving the
presentation space and communication with students, they provided intuitive control
interface, automated camera system, video conferencing, programmable lighting
and flexible connectivity.
The installation also features a top of the range matched sound system with a pair
of Powersoft’s new state-of-the-art X8 amplifiers driving an EAW KF720 line source,
along with two SB180zP 12′ subs mounted within the screen wall and delays at the
rear. This was initially recommended by Ben Clarke, Technical Support Manager at
equipment suppliers Production Audio Video Technology (PAVT), and adopted by
staff at Deakin.
A single X8 (four circuits per side) has the capacity to power both arrays, allowing
the other to take care of the delays/fills.
Ben Clarke confirmed that PAVT had specified this combination previously with
excellent results. He also cited the advantage of the simplification of the rack wiring
due to the internal routing, and the minimal rack space occupied (16 channels in
just 4RU).
In fact Powersoft’s X Series raises power amplification to a new standard of quality
and usability with its innovative channel routing, worldwide compatible three phase
power supply and fully-featured DSP.
In addition, it supports AES3, two redundant Dante™ by Audinate® digital streams
and analogue inputs, providing up to four different selectable input sources per
channel.
With Arup acting as acoustic consultants, once the line source option had been
preferred to a point source solution, the line array hangs were suspended out wide
close to the side walls and trimmed high so as not to obscure sightlines and
interfere with the projection video. The placement required Arup to treat the first
reflection with acoustic panelling. “This was critical in eliminating the traditional
problem with this concept — heavy comb filtering due to heavy reflections from
walls right next to line arrays,’ believes Clarke. The addition of the JF10 delays
obviated the need to throw so much energy into the room while small-format Ecler
speakers helped draw the image down to the front rows.
With the addition of a new bulkhead wall and additional building work to reinforce
the front of the theatre, the transformation of the venue has been incredible.
In summary, Ben Clarke stated, “Universities in my experience are always happy to
look at new technologies when a special project is being considered — and in my
view the heroes of the audio piece are the Powersoft X8’s. They just sound
phenomenal and are a pleasure to use.’
