RG Jones performs at the UK's premier Contemporary Dance School
5th May 2010
Located in the heart of London, "The Place" unites dance training, creation and performance in their purpose-built centre, which houses some of the best studios in the city. RG Jones Sound Engineering were commissioned to design and install a complete AV solution throughout the main studios.
RG Jones Specialist AV Engineer and Project manager Jamie Short explained “this school is a lively, fast-moving hub of activity, offering training to the highest technical and artistic standards. I knew that they would need a system that was not only high-quality to match, but also fast and simple to use.”
The studios are grand in their design, and huge moveable wall panels allow the studios to combine as one. Therefore, two portable control racks were provided so that the studios could be used in either a combined or independent mode. Each contains a Blu-ray Player, handheld radio microphones an input panel for Ipod or laptop and an Audio Mixer to control level. Extron switcher/scalers for the visual elements were also utilised. Four control input points are provided in each studio to allow the rack to be used from differing areas, and the main equipment rack is installed in studio One. Four Martin Audio AQ28 loudspeakers and a Martin Audio AQ210 sub are installed in each studio. Two 50” Plasma screens and a 4000 Lumen projector completed the solution.
“I specified the Martin Audio AQ series after demonstrating a number of loudspeaker solutions within the studios themselves. We all felt that the Martin solution would provide the full dynamic range required in a professional dance studio, with the AQ210 subs providing some real punch in the low end” explained Jamie.
The speaker system can be operated in a number of configurations, giving the studios an extremely flexible solution. It can be controlled via a custom built BSS Soundweb GUI operated on a laptop computer, or from a simple control panel on the main racks.
The entire video and control system is distributed over Cat5 cable, which minimises the visual impact of running cables throughout the studios. The video system displays can be controlled from the push of a button in the portable control racks, meaning a complex system can be controlled quickly and easily by the various teachers and students.
“We worked closely with the facilities team to achieve minimal impact to the look of the studios whilst providing the flexible solution they required”. Our biggest challenge was finding time when the installation could take place as the studios are extremely busy!”