A new permanent audio system structured around the Meyer Sound MINA line array loudspeaker is hoped will bring even greater versatility to City Casino Basel (Stadt-Casino Basel), Switzerland.
Part of Switzerland’s cultural landscape since 1824, City Casino Basel occupies two multipurpose spaces in addition to the Musiksaal, its principal concert hall. Musiksaal regularly hosts 1,500 people with performances from the world’s leading orchestral ensembles, including the Berlin Philharmonic and the London Symphony.
Until recently, the programming was dominated by unamplified music. But in the past few years interest in Jazz, Blues, and stand-up comedy has grown, highlighting the short comings of Musiksall’s long-serving speaker system.
With many touring productions bringing in their own sound reinforcement equipment, the Musiksaal team decided that it needed a high-quality loudspeaker system. It would serve the dual purpose of satisfying customers and providing a new revenue stream for Casino-Association Basel [German: Casino-Gesellschaft Basel], the non-profit organization that operates the City Casino Basel complex.
“Yes, we could have selected a cheaper system, but if we can’t rent it out successfully then we don’t really gain anything,” commented Casino-Gesellschaft Basel managing mirector Thomas Koeb. “With Meyer Sound, there is a remarkable level of international recognition. From our conversations at the start of this search, it became clear that engineers are very happy when they encounter a Meyer Sound PA.”
Installation of the new system was undertaken by Mörfelden Walldorf-based Landau Electronic in collaboration with nearby, Muttenz-based M&R Multimedia Productions. M&R will also provide ongoing maintenance and support.
Configured for optimum versatility, the Musiksaal’s new system includes 20 MINA line array loudspeakers complemented by two UPJ-1P VariO loudspeakers and two UPJunior VariO loudspeakers. A further two UPA-1P loudspeakers and six UPM-1P loudspeakers were specified with bass drive by two 700-HP subwoofers. Completing the system is 16 MM-4XP self-powered loudspeakers. Power for the entire solution is from a Galileo loudspeaker management system with two Galileo 616 processors.
A Yamaha LS9 series mixer and microphones from DPA, Shure, and Sennheiser were also part of the upgrade.
Slovenian a cappella choir Perpetuum Jazzile and Turkish music star Ferhat Göçer are just two of the acts to have already benefited from the power and clarity of the new Meyer Sound system. “The response from our customers and clients has been very positive,” Koeb finished.
www.meyersound.com
