The large Curve site provides a main performance auditorium, a studio theatre, a recording studio, and rehearsal and seminar rooms.
The audio setup for the venue was developed by Graham Lister in conjunction with an ‘end user consultation team’ that included sound designer Ben Harrison.
“The brief was that the sound equipment had to be state of the art and able to cater for every kind of production that Curve might be likely to stage, with minimal extra hire costs,” commented Harrison.
A long-time Yamaha user, Harrison observed that the Yamaha consoles are able to work together “seamlessly”, enabling great flexibility of use across Curve’s various spaces.
The consoles were supplied by Oxford Sound & Media and comprise a PM5D in the main auditorium, an M7CL in the main studio theatre, a DM1000 in the recording studio, three 01V96s for use wherever required, and two MG166C analogue desks for the rehearsal facilities.
Two DME64N digital mix engines – one in the main auditorium and another in the studio theatre – are on hand to provide control of the house loudspeaker system and to manage other audio processing functions.
“We also specified a number of AES/EBU cards which can be used in the PM5D, M7CL or 01V96, because there is an audio network throughout the venue. It makes for quick and easy turnaround of shows and means we have unprecedented levels of control in a complex building,” said Harrison.
IMAGE CREDIT: Will Pryce
