The first UK installation of Martin Audio’s MLA Compact Multicellular Loudspeaker Array has taken place at popular Brixton live music/party venue Brixton Jamm, as part of a £350,000 refurbishment.
Kent-based Martin Audio dealer Old Barn Audio (OBA) supplied and fitted the potent concert system in the upgraded back room. At the same time, the company installed a similarly high SPL DJ and playback system in the adjacent bar using Martin Audio’s new CDD Coaxial Differential Dispersion technology. According to Ian Gough, who co-owns the venue with Jonathan Allen, the whole turn-around, giving the Brixton Jamm an expanded 650 capacity, took place inside three weeks.
“The idea was to reorganise how we present ourselves,” said Gough. “We were aware of the presence of MLA at high profile events like Glastonbury and British Summer Time in Hyde Park, and realised that it was appearing increasingly on riders. By offering MLA it would put the venue on the small band circuit with promoters and agents.”
The owners reviewed other premium brands but have backed Martin Audio frequently over the 17 years they have owned the venue — first with a W8C/WSX system before more recently adding a pair of Martin Audio XD15 from Old Barn Audio.
“It was because of our success in selling Martin Audio in the past that we were given the nod,” said OBA director Phil Clark. “We loaned them one of our demo MLA Compact systems for evaluation, and they loved it, as did the artists coming through.”
The system that he and partner Neil Kavanagh designed is based around a conventional stage proscenium system, three MLA Compact elements a side, with a pair of arrayed Martin Audio CSX218 direct radiating subs under the stage apron.
On stage, musicians have the option of four classic Martin Audio low-profile wedge monitors and an LE1500, while a Martin Audio S18 is used for drum fills. And when the stage reverts to club mode, the XD15 cabinets are pressed into service for DJ monitoring purposes, frequently supplemented by the S18.
In view of the low ceiling, OBA designed bespoke flying frames so that the array could be trimmed as high as possible, and then used Martin Audio’s proprietary Display software and VU-NET to tune the system. “Display plots the room and predicts the splay angles and this is then transferred to VU-NET for control,” Clark explained. OBA analysed and time-aligned the room using Smaart software to further ensure optimisation.
In the main bar room, dominated by an imposing brick style frontage, are six CDD12 (1 x 12in) full-range speakers and two single 18in WS18X floor-mounted subs, on which are pole-mounted two XD12, facing back to the DJ console for monitoring purposes. Signal processing remains in the Martin Audio domain since presets are stored in an Engineer 818 (8-in/8-out) DSP for both daytime BGM (accessed via a wall panel at the bar) and the main DJ. Live music can be routed from the main room if necessary, where again the presets have been tuned in Engineer and locked out.
Speaking of MLA Compact, the venue’s technical manager and sound engineer, Stuart Crossland, confirmed: “We’ve received great feedback. The system is very responsive, providing really even coverage, and there are added features that conventional line arrays do not have. It is nice to have a system no-one else has, plus it’s a touring system so bands were happy to use it.”
Concluded Phil Clark: “MLA Compact was the obvious choice for them; it’s cutting edge, rider friendly and reasonably priced — and the system will seriously enhance the venue’s reputation. It is a privilege to have carried out the first MLA Compact installation in the UK and to have done so in such a prestigious venue with so much history.”
