Opened in 2000, the sound system at the the Quays Theatre at The Lowry in Salford Quays (UK) was as installed until a recent upgrade. With its completion, the 440-capacity theatre is again able to meet the demands of drama, comedy and music using a new L-Acoustics installation

The project was co-ordinated for the theatre by Head of Technical Services Dave Woodward. Due to budget restrictions, the new design was required to re-use much of the existing cabling infrastructure. For Adlib, the process begain with discussions about the requirements for the space. It was established that the new system needed to handle spoken word applications just as well as amplified music for gigs and concerts.

Undertaken by Roger Kirby and the in-house design and installations team at Adlib, it began with a detailed site survey and acoustic modelling, along with detailed listening tests. distributed L-Acoustics solution was proposed for its quality, coherence and power handling.

To optimise the system in the theatre, loudspeaker placement required some creativity – a total of six 12XTi full-range boxes installed close to the proscenium line make up the core stereo system on all three levels, they work in conjunction with four 8XTs with the first pair of 8s deployed for coverage across the close-field stalls seating and a second pair for delay coverage at the side-tier stalls in the rear corners of the auditorium.

A centre-hang of L-Acoustics ARCS WIFO Loudspeakers has also been introduced in the centre of the proscenium arch. The ARCS Focus system is optimised for medium throw. The hang compromises of a single SB18 sub at the top of the array with four ARCS Focus loudspeakers below.  This provides coverage to approximately three quarters of the seated audience on both Tier One and Tier Two levels. The bottom two ARCS Focus loudspeakers are directed to provide smooth coverage to the centre and rear of the ground level stalls. The low-frequency performance is supported by four SB18m Subs, with a pair at each side downstage of the proscenium.

The loudspeakers are driven and controlled with a combination of LA8 and LA4 L-Acoustics proprietary amplifiers, which have been installed in the main legacy sound and communications racks. LA-Network manager allows the operating sound engineers complete control and optimisation of each individual loudspeaker within the system.

For live events requiring higher impact sound coverage at increased sound pressure levels (primarily for any band performances in the space), four ARCS II loudspeakers compliment the system, these form conventional LR PA stacks with the four repositioned SB18ms...

Adlib has also supplied a secondary portable amplifier rack allowing ‘racks-and-stacks’ to be moved easily to other locations in The Lowry complex. This allows the ARCS II/SB18m stacks and 12XTi/8XTi Series Loudspeakers to be operated outside of the Quays Theatre space as and when required.

Some of the house signal and loudspeaker circuits already in place were modified and optimised to facilitate the new loudspeaker system, this included the extension and relocation of some loudspeaker cabling. The main signal patchbay was also extended and modified to simplify signal connectivity from a variety of in-house mixing desks including Soundcraft and Yamaha consoles.

At Woodward’s request, Adlib engineers re-used as much of the original system infrastructure as was physically possible. This included redeploying a number of loudspeakers circuits that had previously seen limited use due to their original placement.

The time frame for the installation was relatively tight - two weeks to get everything installed and commissioned – although by no means the most pressured that Adlib has encountered – the operation was carried out with the usual Adlib efficiency and there has been good feedback from the in house technicians who are impressed with the solution.

‘We really enjoy working in impressive multi-purpose theatre spaces like The Quays. The natural acoustics of the theatre are fantastic and the resulting coverage and overall balance throughout the theatre is very impressive,’ Roger Kirby says.

When initially considering loudspeaker placement for the space there were a number of restrictions including the venue’s stage width and format combined with relatively low ceiling heights at all close-field side seating positions. This could have potentially compromised the sound coverage by restricting the maximum sound pressure levels that could be achieved.

This problem was circumnavigated in two ways: A series of bespoke mechanical extension brackets were supplied and installed allowing greater distances to be maintained between the nearest seats to and the proscenium 12XTs on upper tiers.

‘Working closely with Adlib to achieve a flexible system that provides good coverage for everything, from amplified spoken word and theatre sound effects to full production music gigs within a tight budget has been both trouble free and very rewarding,’ Dave Woodward says. ‘The team and I are all very happy with the results and are receiving excellent reports on the system and sound quality now available in the space with house equipment from our venue clients and audiences.’

More: www.adlib.co.uk