Q-Sys Platform Installed At Twickenham Stadium

A QSC Q-Sys audio management system, supplied by Shure Distribution UK, has been installed at London's Twickenham stadium.

The Q-Sys platform, based around a pair of Core 1100 processors (one main and one redundant Core), routes audio and controls the PA and Voice Alarm systems at the venue, and replaced an outdated Peavey Media Matrix system.

2015 is a big year for the Rugby Football Union (RFU). As well as hosting key matches in the annual Six Nations Championship in February and March this year at Twickenham, the ground will also be the venue for the final of the quadrennial Rugby World Cup at the end of October. With these key events in mind, the RFU elected to refurbish the stadium’s audio systems at the end of last year in time for both tournaments. The Q-Sys audio management system was specified by Vanguardia, programmed by consultant Richard Northwood of RH Consulting, and installed by the project’s AV integrators Sysco.

Twickenham's existing PA speakers and Lab.gruppen amps were not replaced, but integrate seamlessly with the new Q-Sys system. Audio inputs to the system were installed from the Master of Ceremonies’ box, and also at the players’ tunnel to allow input from on-the-spot commentators and live bands playing before fixtures.

According to Richard Northwood, the installation was one of the first to use Dante interfaces with Q-Sys internationally, feeding 64 channels of digital audio via Dante from a mixer in the stadium to the recently released CDN64 Dante interface cards in Q-Sys. The audio is then processed within Q-Sys and routed on to the PA’s Lab.gruppen amps via Dante, passing out of Q-Sys once again via the CDN64 cards.

The installation proceeded almost without incident, and was ready for use before the new season of fixtures began in early 2015, well before the Six Nations tournament.

www.shuredistribution.co.uk

(CD)