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LIVE SOUND RECORDING INSTALLATION A/V BROADCAST POSTPRODUCTION March-April 2017

UPGRADING RASHID MEDICAL LIBRARY

AMBEO EXPLAINED

NEXT GENERATION SOUND PRODUCTION

INSTALLING MEYDAN ISTANBUL

Singapore: MICA (P) 101/07/2016

SOUND PRODUCTIONSOUND PRODUCTIONSOUND PRODUCTIONSOUND PRODUCTIONSOUND PRODUCTIONSOUND PRODUCTIONSOUND PRODUCTIONSOUND PRODUCTIONSOUND PRODUCTIONSOUND PRODUCTIONSOUND PRODUCTIONSOUND PRODUCTIONSOUND PRODUCTIONSOUND PRODUCTIONSOUND PRODUCTIONSOUND PRODUCTIONSOUND PRODUCTIONSOUND PRODUCTIONSOUND PRODUCTIONSOUND PRODUCTIONSOUND PRODUCTIONProducing immersive

audio for broadcast

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NO COMPROMISE DIGITAL 6000

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OVER A SPAN OF 17 YEARS, THE AUDITORIUM WITHIN the Rashid Medical Library has screened and broadcast live surgical operations in HD in addition to hosting live events, presentations and conferences. Serving as the media hub for all Dubai Health Authority’s (DHA) hospitals, the 500-seat training venue was earmarked for a full A/V upgrade in 2016-17. Adeco Technologies Ltd was called upon to design a digital audio system that would interface with a future video network upgrade for all the multi-purpose venue’s needs.

Having been acoustically treated by EEC LLC in 1997, the auditorium’s interior design within the fan-shaped room has been maintained to a high standard and as such did not require refurbishment. However, the cabling infrastructure including the conduits between the rear control room and the new loudspeaker positions needed to be replaced

during the summer of 2016. ‘We work closely with Thomsun Trading here in Dubai and consulted them at an early stage of this project,’ admits Adeco Technologies LLC A/V sales manager Ranjith Janardhanan. From Thomsun’s side, support engineer Varun Asokan was on hand at all times to ensure configurations and programming of the DSP went without a hitch. ‘Yamaha produce highly functional, reliable and easy-to-use end-to-end digital audio systems and for this venue, we were sure that this Yamaha solution would be perfect,’ adds Mr Asokan.

The previous Montarbo 24-channel analogue mixing desk that had served the auditorium’s needs for almost two decades has now been replaced by a Yamaha QL5 console. ‘I’ve been employed here for 12 years now and the needs of the venue have changed remarkably over that time span,’

The auditorium at the Rashid Medical Library has moved from analogue to digital thanks to an audio upgrade from Adeco Technologies. Richard Lawn nds out more

76 PRO AUDIO MEA March–April 2017

FEATURES: INSTALLATION

Located in the Umm Hurair district of Dubai the Rashid Medical Library serves as the media hub for all Dubai Health Authority’s (DHA) hospitals

Portable DXR15 speakers are employed for events throughout the facility in addition to stage monitoring

Adeco Technologies LLC A/V sales manager Ranjith Janardhanan, DHA A/V technician Jasim Peringattuthodi and other team members together with Thomsun Trading representatives in the rear control room

The 500-seat fan shaped training venue combines L-C-R ceiling- mounted Yamaha DSR115 speakers augmented by DSR118W subwoofers located under the stage

Operation critical

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March–April 2017 PRO AUDIO MEA 77

FEATURES: INSTALLATION

furthers DHA A/V technician Jasim Peringattuthodi. ‘We have to cater for an increasing number of live performances and as such we required more specific inputs on stage. Also, when switching from a live event to broadcasting a surgical procedure and then a lecture meant having to reset the analogue settings, which were never perfect. In addition, the audio and video signal paths could not be interfaced.’

With its integrated processing and large touch-panel displays together with touch and turn knobs, Mr Peringattuthodi and his team can smoothly operate the audio simply and quickly. ‘We originally selected a L5 console, but decided the auditorium would require more exibility and an

increasing number of inputs over time and so we specified this 4-channel input desk as the budget allowed,’ says Mr anardhanan. ‘It’s extremely versatile – in addition to mixing all the events within the venue, the QL5 allows them to broadcast the live screenings to parked OB vehicles. The 1 -channel Automix is a particularly useful feature,’ adds Mr Asokan.

The ability to create a Dante IP network capable of handling multiple audio channels on a single cable was a major consideration in the design. Whilst negating the need to

physically patch connections for each channel, low latency digital transmission also benefits from a lack of induced noise and signal loss. ‘Particularly for broadcasting, the Dante protocol is highly reliable as it provides redundancy. Additionally, you can patch any input to any output in the building, empowering the QL5 as a remote I O device for any other Yamaha console in the building. This is useful for smaller events when a portable PA system is patched in,’ explains Mr Asokan.

onnected via at- e cabling, the venue’s DSP presets have been stored in a Dante-enabled Yamaha MR 7-D signal processor. An Acoustic Echo Canceller enhances remote

conferencing systems, whilst ensuring automatic mixing for multiple microphone inputs. rucially for a hospital, it also comes with a speech privacy function allowing the masking of conversations where confidential information needs to be protected. In addition to adjusting the levels of the microphones, the MR 7-D takes the signals from the Blu-ray player and other inputs, processes them with internal EQ and other effects such as feedback suppression, before distributing them to the active speaker system.

Operating within a 9 kH system, microphone inputs fed into the Rio-3224D I O digital stage box are then mixed by the QL5 console, processed by the MR 7-D and then returned to the Rio I/O rack for speaker output. Three ceiling-mounted Yamaha DSR115 cabinets comprise the main L-C-R point source loudspeaker system for the auditorium. Supplemented in the lower frequencies down to 50Hz (-3dB) by four DSR118W subwoofers located under the stage, a further six D R12 speakers serve as delays for the upper and under-balcony seats. The active speaker system is completed with a stock of portable D R15s that are employed for events throughout the facility in addition to stage monitoring.

‘We created new speaker positions with customised brackets,’ furthers Mr anardhanan. ‘The cabling was the hardest part – the rest was straightforward. The DSR115 cabinets only weigh 22kg each and these have been affixed to a steel grid in the ceiling and individually connected to the Rio-3224D I O digital stage box via at- e cabling.’

Despite being equipped with Yamaha MSB7 monitors, mixing in the closed rear control room can be compromised. ‘Fortunately, we can manage and configure system settings in the auditorium using an iPad with the StageMix App,’ explains Mr Peringattuthodi. ‘It’s much easier to tweak the settings when you’re mobile. Wireless remote mixing control can be applied either of ine or online for setup via the P .’

On stage, there are nine facility panels each allowing audio, USB, V A and HDMI connection for the portable podium, which is further equipped with a pair of Shure M 418D gooseneck microphones. To enhance venue exibility further, Adeco Technologies LLC added eight channels of Sennheiser ew300 wireless receivers and transmitters including handheld and lapel models to the existing system. With a digital video upgrade imminent, the existence of the Dante digital infrastructure forms the basis for the new HD and 4K hardware to be fixed where required.

‘The integration of a digital audio network has provided us with so much more exibility and ease of use,’ Mr Peringattuthodi concludes. ‘The main settings and configurations can be switched at the ick of a switch, whilst any problems that do occur can be highlighted and eliminated almost immediately. Should we need to expand or make changes in the coming years, it will be simple.’

www.adecotechnologies.com www.dha.gov.ae www.thomsunmusiconline.com

Operating within a 96 kHz system, the Rio-3224D I/O stage box receives its Cat-6e inputs within the Dante network from the MRX7-D processor and QL5 console

The MRX7-D takes the signals from the various inputs, processes them and outputs to the active speaker system

A Yamaha QL5 console is used for mixing live performances, broadcasts and seminars in the auditorium

The 500-seat fan shaped training venue combines L-C-R ceiling- mounted Yamaha DSR115 speakers augmented by DSR118W subwoofers located under the stage

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SENNHEISER IS aiming to reduce the complexity of immersive audio microphone setups with the Ambeo VR Mic. Described as ‘an ideal tool for any professional VR production’, the manufacturer states that the microphone ‘puts everything into a compact and easy-to-use handheld’.

‘The demand for compact microphones that capture spatial audio to match visual 3D experiences has increased enormously in the recent past. For the user to gain a truly immersive experience, however, it is imperative that the sound within VR is also 3D,’ said Kai Lange, product manager, broadcast and media at Sennheiser. ‘The Ambeo VR microphone has been designed specifically for VR AR purposes and enables VR content producers to capture the natural, immersive environment, providing a realistic and immersive experience for the user.’

The Ambeo VR Mic is an Ambisonics microphone that calls on four matched KE 14 capsules in a tetrahedral arrangement, reportedly allowing users to capture the sound that surrounds them from a single point. It is fully balanced and has 48V phantom power for each capsule. The 400g handheld microphone comes complete with a split cable with four colour-coded and labelled XLR connectors

according to the capsule position, a Rycote suspension mount and a foam windshield. Operating within a 20Hz to 20Hz frequency range, the Ambeo VR can handle a maximum SPL of 130dB(A).

As Sennheiser is directly targeting VR production agencies, VR content creators, the Ambisonics community as well as studio engineers and owners with the microphone, it enlisted the help of these professionals in the development process. ‘To ensure that the Ambeo VR Mic is “right on target” with what the AR VR community needs, the entire development process was accompanied by intensive field testing with VR content producers,’ explained Mr Lange. ‘In fact, we have just concluded an extensive creators’ programme with participants from across the international VR audiovideo industry, who put the microphone through its paces.’

One of the key results of this programme was the encoding software that translates the A format file generated from the recording of the four microphone channels into a B format file W, , Y and . This format is recognised in the Ambisonics world, the W component being the omni and the , Y, components being figure-of-eight capsules along three spatial axes. The A to B format encoder will be available in VST, AAX and AU plugins for the customer’s preferred digital audio workstation, and as a stand-alone version for Mac or Windows.

www.sennheiser.com

Sennheiser is meeting the demand for compact microphones in 3D audio applications with the Ambeo VR Mic

A-ZCONTENTS

A IP /IP 44Amate Audio Xcellence EASE 3 compatability 40A C B P / 40A L C /S 64Antelope Audio FET-A76 compressor 50API Audio 512v mic preamp 50Apogee MiC 96k 48ARX USB DI Plus 69Audient iD4 audio interface 48Audinate Dante Control 3.10 60Audio Precision Updated Android Audio Test App 68Avid Pro Tools 12.6 49beyerdynamic Quinta TB 53B&C Speakers MBX Series 42Biamp TesiraLUX 54Blackmagic Design Teranex AV 65Blue Mics Bottle Mic Locker 34Bosch Dicentis software v1.3 54B D /C C /C S R BroaMan New Route66 models 65Calrec Br.IO 46Clear-Com FreeSpeak II FSII-SPL splitter box 54Crestron DM Dante blades 62Dan Dugan Dugan Control Panel for iPad 50D T /G 42dBTechnologies Opera series 36DiGiCo S31 44DirectOut EXBOX.BLDS MADI 60D PA / CPA 46Ecler ePlayer1 firmware 62Extron LinkLicense SMP 351-352 66BT DE /VAIE 60

Focusrite Red 8Pre 43Fulcrum Acoustic CS118 subwoofer 38G A SPA /ES / S 40Hortus Audio Curve Series 40BL P CBT / C C 37

JoeCo BlueBox 48JTS Microphones TC-22 mic capsule 34

VP /T O 64LaON Technology LT150 54Lawo R3lay virtual mixer software 56LD Systems U500 wireless system 34Mackie XR Series studio monitors 38Martin Audio BlacklineX 36Mog Technologies Skywatch 66Netia Monitoring tool for Media Assist 58NUGEN Audio Halo Upmix update 56Omnia Omnia.11 V3.0 56Powersoft Armonía V2.8 46

SC A E S / S S 38RCF E12, E16, and E24 mixers 42Riedel Communications MediorNet Control App 56Røde Microphones New Stereo VideoMic Pro 34RT APRO CLC / 52Sennheiser Ambeo 3D audio 33Shure SM58 Anniversary 34Sommer Cable Epilogue 68Sony VPL-D200 series projectors 66Sound Devices Wingman App for 6-Series 50Studer Glacier Series 44TASCA R/ /DR III T T PUR/TS /TS S 69TC Electronic Clarity M 52T N E/E S 62T A /DTS A 62TSL P PA /PA IP 60Turbosound Flashline monitors 42Universal Audio Manley VoxBox 53Verity Audio Ambience series 40Video Devices H.264 for Pix-E 64

V P /A A 58 T A P /A P SDA/ A V

WyreStorm MX-1010-HDBT-H2X 4K switchers 68Yamaha Nuage v1.8 46

INSTALLATION • A/V • LIVE SOUND • BROADCAST • POSTPRODUCTION • RECORDING

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Spatial audio goes compact

November–December 2016 PRO AUDIO MEA 33

NEWPRODUCTS

The Ambeo VR Mic calls on four capsules to capture spatial audio

The microphone aims to remove complexity from VR recordings with its handheld design

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