AKG Wireless Microphones Get University Focus

In an installation that advances the curriculum for one of the nation's best performing arts schools, AKG's wireless microphones were selected for their flexibility and dependability at the University of the Arts.
A/V and Acoustics consulting firm Metropolitan Acoustic incorporated the latest in audio equipment from AKG into the system design for Terra Hall's Ellen and Ronald Caplan Centre for the Performing Arts. The system will become the focus of two side-by-side theatres that cater to students learning everything from performance to multimedia presentations.
The University of the Arts is located on Broad Street in Philadelphia, which is currently one of the most difficult cities for wireless installations in the nation due to the abundance of wireless equipment being used in the area.
In addition to this challenge, the University had a goal of linking the side-by-side theatres with audio, video, data, fiber and the wireless systems so that the equipment could be shared or work independently from one another.
They decided on an array of AKG equipment that included: four AKG C5 Handheld Condenser microphones, four AKG D5 General Purpose Vocal microphones, four C1000S and four C518M instrument Condensers, ten wireless microphone systems that included a variety of handheld and body pack transmitters and much more.
Saben Shawhan, Senior Consultant for Metropolitan Acoustics, said: "Our client wanted the theatres to serve as a show place for the University. We needed a system that had a lot of flexibility with interchangeable microphone elements and the ability to reallocate frequencies as the RF landscape changed. The system also needed to accommodate a variety of presentations, musical performances and theatrical productions each with different wired and wireless microphone demands. With the Harman products, that's exactly what we got."
Renovations on the Ellen and Ronald Caplan Centre for the Performing Arts began three years ago. Initially conceived of as a basic renovation, the project expanded into the creation of a state-of-the-art performance facility consisting of two side-by-side theatres; one is primarily designed and used for music recitals and the other for theatrical performances.
In addition to the AKG components, the theatre also utilises two Soundcraft Vi4 Digital Consoles, two BSS Soundweb Blu-160s and one Blu-120 audio processor. Because of his past experience with Harman products, Shawhan says that he knew the reliability and flexibility of the Harman components would be required to successfully integrate a project as technically demanding as this one.
Shawhan continued: "With the scope of the project, we knew we had to do a lot of coordinating. There is an abundance of lighting, sound and video equipment plus acoustical reflectors and adjustable acoustic curtains all within a tight space. Having some flexibility with the equipment locations and the ability to modify setting and programming as the installation progressed was key to having a successful installation."
(KMcA/BMcC)