Opéra National de Bordeaux has selected a 24-fader Lawo mc²36 mixing console for the control room that serves its Grand Théâtre. The console choice followed extensive tests involving consoles from six manufacturers, with the mc²36 selected for its sound quality, competitive pricing and a compact footprint.
Proud of its Italian-style build and the acoustics that go with it, the Opéra National uses sound reinforcement during classical music and opera performances for monitoring purposes, backstage cueing and sound effects, but also for classical and contemporary ballet performances and events.
Taking advantage of the mc²36’s Ravenna capability, the console is connected to a 32-input/32-output Lawo Compact I/O unit on stage, which is chiefly used to connect microphones in the orchestra pit. An 8-channel Lawo A__mic 8 is available as ‘mobile stagebox’ to connect microphones, amplifiers or active speakers positioned in other areas. The A__digital 8 serves a similar purpose, accommodating amplifiers, wireless receivers, etc., in the digital domain. Outboard effects processors stationed in the Grand Théâtre’s control room are connected directly to the mc²36’s eight on-board AES inputs/outputs. For additional ad-hoc input and output sources, the console’s 32 local analogue inputs/outputs are connected to an analogue wall box.
The Lawo mc²36 features local inputs and outputs for a broad range of applications, with high-quality microphone preamps. The I/O section is complemented by a DSP micro-core with an internal 512x512 port audio matrix. For maximum reliability, the mc²36 is equipped with redundant power supplies and DSP cards. Support for the Waves SoundGrid with storage of plug-in parameters in snapshot and production data is also part of the basic package.
The mc²36’s Madi tie-line port and three Ravenna/AES67/ST2110-30/-31 Audio-over-IP ports provide future-proof connectivity for additional I/O devices and networking.
‘The mc²36’s sound quality is simply stunning,’ says Lionnel Soulard, Head of the Opéra National de Bordeaux Audio Department. ‘And, although the desk has preserved some of the most cherished elements of the Innovason console we used to use, this is clearly an evolved, state-of-the-art mixer whose impressive potential will become apparent as we become more familiar with it.’
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