(l-r): Mike Sinclair (VP/Owner, Audio Inc.), Stephen Tolve (President/Owner Audio Inc.). Kelley Prestridge (UPAC house sound engineer) stands behind Tolve.
Rahway, NJ (December 19, 2011)—The Union County Performing Arts Center (UPAC), housed in the restored Rahway (NJ) Theater, built in 1928, recently updated its audio system.
A classic vaudeville house, visitors experience live performances in a vintage vaudeville and silent movie palace. With just over 1,300 seats, the theatre, restored to its golden age, is one of the largest functioning centers for the performing arts in Union County. The theater is listed on both the National and State Registers of Historic Places and now operates as a multi-purpose venue for the performing arts.
Audio Incorporated was recently hired to renovate the theater’s audio, replacing it with a new Nexo and Yamaha audio system. “We had installed the theatre’s last sound system about 15 years ago, and all the equipment still functions to this day,” states Mike Sinclair, VP/Owner, Audio Incorporated. “The client was in receipt of additional funding and decided to update the sound system to current technology, so they came back to us to design/install a new system.”
Sinclair said Audio Inc.’s biggest challenge was UPAC’s budget. “We had to choose very carefully when designing a system that would suit the artists they had been booking. Since we had worked with them for many years, they trusted our recommendation of a Nexo Geo S8 system, a couple of Yamaha Installation Series speakers, and a Yamaha M7CL-48ES digital audio console.” Sinclair said they re-purposed some of the older equipment to use in other positions.
The Nexo rig layout consists of seven Geo S805s and two Geo S830s per side, and two CD12 Subs. “We added a Yamaha IS1218 per side on the stage to add a little more thump from 35 to 100Hz to the floor of the auditorium,” says Sinclair. “And, we added a Yamaha IF3115/95 speaker for use as a center channel speaker for the movie screen.” Nexo NX4x4 amps power all of the Nexo speakers, and Yamaha XP Series amplifiers power the Yamaha speakers.
With a large Asian and Hispanic population around the area, the facility is used for cultural and ethnic productions. Local promoters book Jazz, Blues, Classic Rock, and Jersey bands such as Southside Johnny as well as comedians like Joe Piscopo. UPAC also books The Great American Songbook artists—from songwriters to Broadway actors who perform solo shows.
“The client had noticed that the Yamaha M7CL digital console was a regular on the artist riders they had been receiving,” notes Sinclair. “We agreed that it was a good selection for the venue and suggested that the EtherSound version would be the best choice not only because of ease of installation, but also because we believe the ES version console has a warmer and richer sound.”
Audio Incorporated,
www.audioincorporated.com
Nexo and Yamaha
www.yamahaca.com
