The new multi-format theatre in the Pavilion Arts Centre at Buxton Opera House in Derbyshire has selected a combined Allen & Heath iDR installation and iLive system to oversee audio distribution and FOH mixing.
The 360-capacity auditorium, which hosts a varied programme of theatre and conference events, has an iDR-32 MixRack and iDR-8 Mix Processor installed in a backstage sound rack, with an iLive-T80 Control Surface at FOH position. There is also a PL-6 remote fader panel and a laptop loaded with iLive and iDR control software in the studio, as well as a PL-10 rotary control panel in the prompt corner position. The rest of the PA system comprises Martin Audio speakers and amps.
“An iDR-8 was installed in the main Opera House to control the speaker PA system and we’ve been impressed by its versatility and user-friendliness, so a combined iDR-8 and iLive mixing system was the obvious choice for the new venue,” explains Guy Dunk, technical manager at Buxton Opera House.
The Arts Centre’s iDR-8 also controls speaker management and the iLive system manages FOH audio. The combined system enables the venue to set up different scenes for different configurations.
“The flexibility of the iDR-32 and iDR-8, along with the PL remote, has been invaluable; we have one control solution for two venues without the need to move equipment around,” said Jim Morgan (pictured), deputy technical manager. “The ability to have multiple instant points of control – at FOH with the T80 surface, on stage with a laptop, and in the studio with a laptop and PL-6 – is fantastic. iLive is infinitely configurable, so at the push of a button we can hand the desk over to inexperienced users, then 10 minutes later hand over to a pro touring engineer for a full blown rock‘n’roll show.”
