SSE upgrades PA and monitor system - SSE Audio
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SSE upgrades PA and monitor system
SSE Audio upgraded the house PA and monitor systems at Indigo at The O2,
with d&b audiotechnik on a QSC Q-Sys platform
Audio Installation
Indigo at the O2
The dome of The O2 is perhaps one of the
most iconic structures on the London skyline.
Originally built to house the Millennium
exhibition in 2000, the dome was
subsequently redeveloped as a leisure,
concert and exhibition venue. SSE Audio
designed and integrated the sound system for
the main bowl and continues to service this
installation.
As well as the main arena, nestled under the
giant roof structure of the dome is indigo at
The O2 - a 2,750 capacity live music venue,
for music events, club nights, after show
parties and corporate events. When the
management at indigo decided to upgrade
the venue's house PA system, they turned to
SSE Audio.
It was essential to equip the venue with a
premium quality, rider friendly system to
meet the demands of some of the leading
J-Series Arrays
artists and the diverse mix of musical genres
and applications hosted at indigo. The venue's
Technical manager, Rob Burrows was tasked
with finding the optimum system to suit
indigo’s needs.
“We looked at the big players for PA including
JBL, L-Acoustics and d&b before opting for
the J-series,” explains Rob Burrows.
“I’ve long been a fan of d&b audiotechnik’s
system design ethos and their J-Series. With
added J Infra-Sub it's ideal for the wide
variety of music that passes through here." Subs are sited under the stage apron
Indigo at the O2 v2_0 FEB 2021
SSE Audio's Sales & Systems Integration MD, Alex Penn managed the sale. “Rob had already been through the testing process and the decision to go with J-Series for indigo was set. For SSE it was a case of coming up with the optimum configuration that worked from both an audio and aesthetic perspective." "The previous install was flown as a single array to cover both the ground floor and the circle and this had an impact on sightlines to the stage. With the J-Series we opted for separate hangs to cover the upper and lower areas and this has significantly improved the view of the stage from all seats." Q-Sys Platform At the heart of the new system is a QSC Q-Sys Core QSC Q-Sys Core 510i at FOH 510i. Installed in the comms rack backstage the unit performs DSP functions and control for the entire system. At front of house SSE Audio installed a second Core 510i, configured as an I/O frame with analogue, Dante and AES inputs. These inputs are used to connect both house and visiting FOH consoles into the J-system. SSE Audio's technical team integrated three touch screens - at FOH, on stage and in the comms room - each with its own custom designed Graphical User Interface. The functionality of each screen differs, applicable to its location in the venue, but each forms a part of the Q-Sys ecosystem. At front of house, engineers can route the mixing console output through to the house system, make EQ adjustments to tailor the system to their own personal taste and monitor amplifier outputs. To access the system each visiting engineer is assigned their own log- in, which allows them to recall any settings they have saved from previous sessions at the venue. On stage Q-Sys GUI interface
Rob Burrows explained, “We have a constant stream of
visiting engineers passing through indigo for the many
acts we host. We wanted to give them an interface where
they could access all the primary controls quickly and
easily. The Q-Sys ecosystem allows engineers to tune the
system to their own personal taste and recall those
settings each time they mix here. Then at the end of a
show we can restore the default settings ready for the
next event.”
The GUI screen on stage has a similar setup to the FOH
screen, but features a matrix where outputs from the
monitor console can be routed to different amplifiers that
power the onstage monitors and side fills. In the
communications room the screen can access all the
functions of the FOH and monitor positions along with
additional admin features and access to the d&b
audiotechnik R1 control software.
Alex Penn added, “The Q-Sys interface gives engineers
access to all the key functions they require to produce
their show, but does this intuitively through the GUI
meaning they don’t need to have prior knowledge of the Each hang comprises 6 J-Series cabinets
software to operate. It also gives the venue peace of mind Six d&b J-Subs and two d&b J-Infra Subs have been
that engineers are only given access to parameters we installed underneath the stage apron to provide the
want them to be able to manipulate, while at the same bottom end to the system, with a further three J-Subs
time locking down the d&b system’s ArrayProcessing to flown centre offering consistent LF coverage across the
ensure optimum performance at all times.” venue. Also under the apron are six d&b T10s to provide
infill, with a single V10P left and right, ceiling mounted to
d&b audiotechnik J-Series provide outfill to the ground floor of the auditorium.
A total of four hangs of J-Series were installed in the
In the upstairs balcony area six Y10Ps act as delays
venue, two flown low left and right to cover the ground
providing coverage to the rear seats. The entire system is
floor auditorium, with two further hangs flown higher to
powered by the d&b range of installation amplifiers, with
cover the indigo’s balcony seating. Each hang comprises
the audio for both FOH and monitors run entirely over a
six J-Series cabinets making a total of 24 across the four
Dante network.
hangs.
Indigo at the O2 v2_0 FEB 2021
The system is also configured to run d&b
audiotechnik’s ArrayProcessing. This
software provides signal processing for each
individual box and enables a uniform tonal
balance to be delivered throughout the
auditorium.
ArrayProcessing was key to delivering the
performance indigo required from the J-
Series. Alex Penn explained, "The premium FOH GUI Screen showing amplifier config
seats in the venue are the front rows of the
upstairs balcony. The issue was that these
seats are very close to the array hangs, which
could result in the public being exposed to
excessive dB levels. We used the
ArrayProcessing to ensure consistency was
maintained wherever you are seated in the
venue."
Monitor System
As part of the package SSE Audio supplied a FOH GUI showing array levels
comprehensive d&b audiotechnik monitor
system for on stage. Side fills of d&b V8
cabinets and V-Subs are mounted on dollies
to enable quick and easy positioning. A d&b
V-GSub with a d&b M2 monitor is used for
drum fill and 17 d&b M4 monitor cabinets are
available for the artist's individual monitor
mixes. The entire monitor package is again
powered by the d&b installation range of
amplifiers.
Rob Burrows is delighted with how the
system sounds. “We have a system here that
indigo Technical Manager Rob Burrows with SSE
does justice to indigo at The O2’s role as one Audio Managing Director Alex Penn
of the premier live music venues in the
Capital. Since the system went live the
response from promoters, engineers and the
general public has all been really positive.”
Alex Penn summed up, “It was great to work
with Rob and the rest of the team at indigo
once again. The result is a top spec system,
which is simple to operate and will provide
them with excellent service for many years to
come.”
To learn more, visit sseaudio.com
SSE AUDIO SALES & SYSTEMS INTEGRATION HEAD OFFICE
SSE Audio is a Solotech Company, leaders in live production, Burnt Meadow House
audio visual and venue integrations. North Moons Moat
Our brands include SSE Audio, Wigwam and Sigma Products. Redditch, B98 9PA
All other brands and trademarks are the property of their United Kingdom
respective owners. Tel: +44 (0)1527 528822
Indigo at the O2 v2_0 FEB 2021
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