The newly-opened La Rodia entertainment complex in Besançon, eastern France, features two concert halls, a lobby bar, two studios and information/multimedia resources.
The audio system in the 2000 sqm venue was designed by locally-based company ATES Thise, which had previously worked with the site’s management team on another project.
“Despite the initial discussions about La Rodia’s audio system taking place three years ago, we advised them from the beginning to have an all-digital system,” said Pascal Lacroix of IZO, the ATES subsidiary which supplied the system. “We explained that, even if it seemed a little premature then, once the project was completed ‘le tout digital’ would be the rule!”
For the larger, 900-capacity hall, ATES selected a Yamaha PM5D at front of house and an M7CL48-ES for monitors. Six pairs of AD8HR head amp/AD convertors, an NAI48-ES EtherSound interface and SB168-ES stage boxes round out a suitably versatile system.
The smaller hall possesses a capacity of 320 and features an M7CL48-ES console for both FOH and monitors, with further SB168-ES stage boxes. Both halls include Nexo PS15 monitors, while the studios each feature an 02R96VCM mixing console.
Managed by an Auvitran AVM500-ES controller, an EtherSound star topology network links all of the spaces in La Rodia, with multiple connection points located in each room.
Reflecting on the selection of Yamaha consoles, Lacroix observed: “At IZO we have been dealing with Yamaha equipment since the very first SPX effects processor and the company’s digital consoles since the Programmable Mixer 01 back in 1993. The PM5D and M7CL are regarded as absolutely essential, so many rental companies and venues have them and virtually all sound technicians know them. They were the only choice.”
