–Adagio Pro Provides Design Support For Geometrically Challenging Main Hall–
The Congress Palace (Ciudad de Oviedo) recently opened in the heart of Spain’s Asturian capital and has already become the newest symbol for its spectacular architecture.
Designed by Valencia-born architect Santiago Calatrava, this visually stunning exhibition and convention center has left its own indelible footprint on the local landscape.
Set on three floors, and elliptical in shape, the 50, 951 square foot Congress Palace consists of several different function room and exhibition spaces — but without doubt the most spectacular is the main auditorium. This unusually shaped 8,202 square ft. hall has a seating capacity of 2,144 seats, with a height of 149.6 feet up to the dome.
With the complex geometry (and high reverberation time) of the room, the choice of sound system was critical—and after an extensive study of electro-acoustic systems the decision was taken to specify an OmniLine® micro array system from Martin Audio.
According to Marc Rovira, product manager at Adagio Pro, the Martin Audio distributor in Spain, given these challenging conditions, it was logical to propose a system with a large coverage control pattern, especially in the vertical plane, to achieve optimum intelligibility.
Thus two hangs of 24 OmniLine elements, with a 9.25 ft. drop have been flown on either side of the stage.
Rovira and the project manager of Adagio Pro, Bernat Camacho, knew that given the micro size of OmniLine, the array would provide a perfect and discreet solution. Each module measures just 9.6 x 4.5 x 7.8 inches and weighs just 9.9 lbs., with drivers and mechanical alignment techniques purpose designed by Martin Audio for this product. Up to 32 modules can be interconnected and in many cases just one amplifier channel per array is required, while the system achieves high levels of SPL and delivers unprecedented vertical accuracy.
However, in this instance the installers MEDIACOM 95 and GMI preferred to divide each column of the array into three zones or channels of amplification to produce a higher level of control in the audience. Processing was carried out in a Martin Audio DX2 4 in/8 out DSP environment, which manages the different levels and equalization of each column.
Camacho, supported the installation every step of the way, initially presenting a 2D model using OmniLine’s own software, before constructing a 3D visualization using EASE software, in order to study the coverage throughout the room and the predicted levels of intelligibility.
The full integration of the audiovisual systems was implemented by MEDIACOM 95 and GMI with the final tuning and commissioning carried out with the engineering team of Adagio Pro. The result is a loudspeaker solution of high quality, which is impressively discreet at the same time.
For more about Martin Audio, please click to www.martin-audio.com.
About Martin Audio®
Founded by audio engineer David Martin in 1971, Martin Audio pioneered the use of all-horn-loaded bass designs in world-class touring loudspeaker systems for groups such as Pink Floyd, ELP and Supertramp. Located outside of London, Martin Audio now embodies a sophisticated mix of acoustic design, research, mathematical modeling and software engineering for a wide range of products in the installation, cinema and touring sound markets.
