ADLIB complete Villa Marina refit

ADLIB Audio and Harman Pro UK have collaborated closely to design, supply and install a JBL VerTec line array system at the Isle of Man’s new flagship multi-purpose venue – the Villa Marina.
From the outset, the brief was to specify the right production values to put the Isle of Man on the map in attracting regular touring artists of all types.
The system’s physical aesthetics also had to match the architectural integrity of the room and maintain clear sightlines from all around the auditorium. It also needed to be equipment familiar and acceptable to visiting engineers, to reduce their set up and programming times, flexible enough to meet the demands of complex productions and configurable for speech reinforcement.
When JBL launched the mid sized VerTec system in early 2003, Steve Dawson visited the UK to hear and see it system ‘in situ’ for himself. Well impressed, the resulting audio tender was based around this specific sound system.
Harman did an initial site survey and constructed an acoustic model of the venue, along with a 3D wire frame model from the architect’s drawings. The room and enclosure data and measurements, etc. were entered into EASE, an electro-acoustic simulation environment, which came up with a set of photometrics for optimum speaker positions and a great sound. They also used JBL’s line array calculation software, and the results were presented and explained to the client.
The on-the-ground installation work was carried out by ADLIB’s Marc Peers and Roger Kirby, assisted by local sound engineer Anglin Buttimore.
The main arrays are 12 VerTec 4888 elements - six per side - complete with two VT4887 under-hang boxes per side for front fill. Under the balcony are 12 JBL Control 30’s for delay, concealed behind architectural panels in the balcony roof.
Front-of-stage are four JBL AM6212/64 enclosures for out-fills. ADLIB Audio 281 enclosures are utilised onstage for front centre fills.
ADLIB also designed and built special custom sub bass units fitted under the stage, with two spare sub enclosures available to boost the bottom end when necessary.
The FOH console is a Soundcraft Series 5, complete with BSS Omnidrives for system control, BSS 960 EQs and a rack full of the most popular and common gates, compressors and effects including devices from TC, Lexicon, Yamaha, dbx and Drawmer.
Monitors feature the brand new ADLIB AA1515W wedges, designed by Marc Peers and ADLIB’s Dave Fletcher, and containing a hybrid mix of special 15 inch and a one-and-a-half inch PD and Band C drivers – containing all the best characteristics of several other drivers. These very low profile enclosures will become the new ADLIB standard wedges over the next few months. The top end response runs flat up to 16K.
Monitors offer a choice of BSS EQ or a dbx Drive Rack system with all the remote facilities. The system is again designed to be fully flexible, complete with all cable runs hard-wired to stage. The multicore incorporates 48 inputs with patch facility and satellite boxes for remote patching.
ADLIB designed and built a customised fire alarm system to integrate with the main PA. Avoiding the rather brutal ‘power cut’ to all equipment when the alarm is triggered, here, all the returns pass through relays which receive 4 Volts and shut down the amps when the alarm goes off. This is a far more efficient and friendly way of stopping the system.
(GB)