With a record number of visitors expected to attend PLASA Focus this year (held at the Royal Armouries, Leeds 17-18 April), its professional development programme now has even more to offer attendees.
The programme is scheduled to begin in the Bury Theatre where The Institute of Acoustics will present When Entertainment Meets Life Safety – an investigation into the integrated relationship between broadcast sound and the life safety audio systems that are a prerequisite in the arenas and stadia.
Examining the Restoration of Newcastle’s Theatre Royal will be Peter Hall from Sansome Hall Architects, Jon Woodley of Charcoalblue Theatre Consultants, Theatresearch’s David Wilmore and Mark Priestly from Unusual Rigging. The session will look at how historically authentic refurbishment and 21st century technologies do not have to be mutually exclusive, with special focus on how the transformation of the Frank Matcham gem was achieved in time to celebrate the theatre’s 175th anniversary.
Listen Up! Diagnosing Sound System Problems with Our Ears will be presented by The Institute of Sound and Communication Engineers. The demonstration will be led by Peter Mapp and Jon Raper, two prominent UK sound system practitioners, and is aimed at those interested in learning how to optimise and efficiently fault-find a pro install audio system.
The PLASA Focus Exhibitor Demo Room, situated in the Wellington Suite, will host d&b audiotechnik’s Can You Hear Me at the Back?, which will explore how to deliver sound to every single seat in the house. This will be followed by another d&b session to help attendees discover what methods can be used to achieve even sub-bass coverage, while minimising unwanted energy elsewhere; Steve Jones will investigate the methodology behind realising a nice, even, bottom end.
Audio-Technica will discuss An Insight Into Medium/Large Scale Wireless Installation. The session will start with an overview of licensing, including information on channel 38 wireless systems. Logan Helps, Audio-Technica’s training and product support specialist, will also discuss distribution systems and antenna mounting, as well as looking at the microphones suitable for a multiple channel wireless microphone installation.
PLASA Events manager Sophie Atkinson commented: “As promised, we are bringing a broad choice of sessions to Leeds, including a look at some exciting regional projects and some special sessions presented by some of the industry’s most talented people. As always, all sessions are free to attend.”
Photography: Chris Toulmin
www.plasafocus.com/leeds
www.dbaudio.com
www.audio-technica.com
