d&b audiotechnik systems were recently installed in two performance spaces at Oxford University’s new Schwarzman Centre, a major new academic and cultural hub housing seven humanities faculties, research institutes, the world-famous Bodleian Humanities Library, and public performance spaces. The Schwarzman Centre is designed to draw creatives and academics from around the world to focus on experimentation and co-creation.
The Sohmen Concert Hall, which will be used primarily for unamplified orchestral presentation, has been equipped with d&b’s CCL (Compact Cardioid Line Array) system for amplified performances. The deployable main PA consists of two mobile ground-stacks, left and right, each comprising two CCL-SUBs, two CCL12 and one CCL8 units.
Additionally, 44S cabinets provide front-fill, Y7Ps cover the balcony, and a combination of E8 and E6 boxes covers the choir stalls. M6 monitor wedges and a B6-SUB for drum-fill are available for the stage, with D40 amplifiers.
Meanwhile, the Black Box Performance Lab features a d&b Soundscape immersive audio system comprising three 360° rings of d&b 8S loudspeakers – 16 on the lower ring, 16 on the middle, and nine plus two 21S-SUBs in the ceiling. The system is designed to reproduce immersive mixes created in the centre’s Dolby Atmos-equipped music studios.
The installation utilises d&b’s Create.Control software, which the company describes as a major development for d&b Soundscape. The software’s visual interface is designed to offer sound object and show control capabilities, including control of the Z-axis in the Soundscape environment for Atmos playback.
Creative Technology carried out the supply and installation of the systems. Theatre consultancy Charcoalblue led the design of the technical performance infrastructure for the Schwarzman Centre, which was designed by Hopkins Architects.
Dicky Burgess, AV consultant, Charcoalblue said: “They needed a top-quality mobile solution – a PA that was deployable, not permanent, because architecturally, the room is beautiful. The size was one of the main reasons for choosing CCL, but also the cardioid technology. The amount of sound produced by those small cabinets is quite amazing.”
James Frost, project engineer for Creative Technology, added: “Create.Control is a huge improvement in the d&b ecosystem, making Soundscape more approachable.”
