Finland’s second largest city is home to the Espoon Kulttuurikeskus – or Espoo Cultural Centre – a top venue for performing arts and cultural life. To keep on top of its sound requirements, the cntre recently called on Meyer Sound dealer Studiotec to installed a M’elodie line array system in its 800-seat Tapiola Hall (Tapiolasali).
The system’s versatility is key to serving the mix of dance, opera and crossover performances with classical orchestras and electric bands performed by musicians from around the world, as well as its conference duties. Local children with their Finnish kantele are also among the stars at the venue.
‘The sound reinforcement system has to be very sensitive and very powerful, while the clarity must remain the same for every performance,’ says Tuomo Matikka, sound designer at the Espoo Cultural Centre. ‘Because the installation is in a concert hall, the system must also be discreet. The M’elodie setup has exceeded our expectation on all of these counts.’
The new sound system consists of LR arrays of 12 M’elodie line array loudspeakers on each side, with three 500-HP subwoofers flown behind each of the identical arrays. Two UPA-1P loudspeakers serve as front fill, and another six UPM-1P loudspeakers are placed at the stage lip depending on the configuration of the orchestra pit. A Galileo loudspeaker management system, comprised of two Galileo 616 processors, provides equalisation and time alignment, with presets tailored to the hall’s different configurations. For occasional events that require supplementary low-end support, two high-power 700-HP subwoofers are available as needed.
‘The feedback has been great,’ Matikka reports. ‘It is much easier to host the demanding performances that come to the venue now. The drastic sonic improvement is definitely welcome by audiences, musicians, and visiting sound engineers.’
The integration team included Matikka, his colleague Ilari Niemelä, and installer Studiotec.
More: www.meyersound.com
