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Marquee Audio Set the Stage for Carling Academy 2 Bristol
In June 2006, Academy Music Group launched ‘Carling Academy 2 Bristol’, a secondary room within the Academy, emulating the success of the ‘Academy 2’ concept in its sister venues in Birmingham, Liverpool and Newcastle. This was a production-complete, 350-capacity, stand-alone gig venue to also act as an additional area for full entertainment at club nights and dance events.
The inspired decision by Academy Music Group to add an ‘Academy 2’ live venue is paying huge dividends, according to Paul Glave, technical manager at Carling Academy Bristol. “Last August nine acts performed, however, this year we have only nine days off.”
The sound technology install has been masterminded by Marquee Audio, AMG’s long-term suppliers. Having already unified the monitor rigs in the Group’s multiple venues around the UK, this summer Marquee focused upon Bristol.
The company’s managing director Spencer Brooks commented: “The core elements of the system have been used in other AMG venues with great results and the continued technical consolidation of the venues has guaranteed continuity of specification and performance.” The new room has already witnessed many outstanding performances, including The Automatic.
Marquee Audio assessed the requirements of the venue, which was for a reconfigurable, dual purpose system for a live format and club night scenario. Their project manager Scott Wakelin worked closely with AMG’s Operations Director Steve Forster to evolve the perfect solution based around the powered Turbosound QLight series.
“I am a big fan of Qlight, which Marquee Audio also put into Birmingham’s Carling Academy 2,” says Glave. The overall system control is under the command of a BSS Soundweb 9088ii/LL, with an SW-9010 ‘Jellyfish’ remote panel. The Academy utilises all line inputs — three stereo inputs and a mono for the infills, as well as an input from the main room system enabling distribution to Academy 2.
Facilities are also in place for a DJ, delivering Technics SL1210’s, Pioneer CDJ-1000’s and Allen & Heath XOne2:464 mixer to be used on the stage or wherever required. Paul Glave believes: “The Allen & Heath mixers are friendlier towards PA systems because they don’t put out such a hot signal. In addition to this, they provide mic inputs for versatility.”
In unison with the sound installation, Utopium provided stage lighting, in the form of LED parcans (less heat output for the performers), conventional PAR 56 cans and Robe DJ scrollers.
As for Paul Glave, he couldn’t be more pleased. “It’s extremely rewarding to get my head back into working with an additional, smaller venue. We are delighted to receive such positive feedback from visiting sound engineers, who say that the sound quality is excellent.”
In picture: Bedmonster on stage at Carling Academy 2, Bristol.
19th September 2006
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