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Community Theater

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This system design template describes two different loudspeaker system designs for a theater with a sloped floor and balcony. This fully-equipped performance venue hosts local, regional, and national acts. It is a medium-format performing arts hall offering broad seating areas on the first level plus additional balcony seating.

Room design - option 1

For higher output levels or acoustics that present too much naturally reflective sound, a more directional loudspeaker system will deliver clearer music and voice articulation. The IV6 Modular Vertical Array offers line-array type directivity. Two IV6 arrays are configured to address all seating areas with supplemental front-fill loudspeakers arrayed across the stage lip. While there are no line-of-sight disruptions from any seats to a large portion of the array, there may be a need for supplemental fill speakers for the last rows on the first level. Grouping subwoofers close together achieves higher levels from a smaller number of subwoofers. To provide even bass coverage to all patrons, the outer subs are signal-processed with a short delay and a lower frequency Low Pass Filter (~60Hz) than the inner subs (~80Hz). This approach can apply as a design strategy for similar venues with wide prosceniums and a need for several subwoofers (for higher output).

Community Theater OPT1 - ISO.png Community Theater OPT1 - Side View.png

Community Theater OPT1 - Top View.png

 

Equipment list

Below is the list of loudspeaker and amplifier equipment used in this design:

(2) IV6 Arrays - Each array has [9] 1122/05, [1] 1122/15 elements

  • 18 - Community IV6-1122/05      IV6 Modular Vertical Array : 12-Inch 2-Way, Nominal Beamwidth (H x V) 1122/15 – 120° x 5° 
  • 2 - Community IV6-1122/15        IV6 Modular Vertical Array : 12-Inch 2-Way, Nominal Beamwidth (H x V) 1122/15 – 120° x 15°  
  • 2 - Community IV6-GP-AF        IV6 Glidepoint™ Array Frame

IV6 Array.png

 

 

 

 

Two mirror image IV6 spiral arrays (increasing curvature from top to bottom) cover the entire space providing even SPL throughout, utilizing progressive attenuation settings from our Passive Acoustic Optimization tool in EASE® Focus 3.

 

  • 4 - Community IC6-2082 High Output Dual 8" Two-Way Installation Loudspeaker; 50 Hz to 19.5 kHz, /26 - 120° x 60°; /96 - 90° x 60°

IC6-2082.png

 

 

 

Front fills provide localization for patrons near the stage.

 

  • 8 - Community IV6-118S IV6 Modular Vertical Array : Single 18-Inch Subwoofer, 37 Hz to 132 Hz, Sensitivity (1W/1m): 102 dB (Deep bass)

IV6-118S.png

 

 

 


Four ground stacks of two (2) subwoofers each are spaced below the front of the stage facing the audience.

 

  • 4 - Community ALC-3202D         Amplified Loudspeaker Controller:   2 Channels x 3200W + DSP and Dante 
  • 1 - Community ALC-404D            Amplified Loudspeaker Controller:  4 Channels x 400W + DSP and Dante 

 

Room design - option 2

A medium to large-format loudspeaker array addresses the majority of the first floor seating. In this case, a set of three IP8-1153/64s arranged in a monaural exploded array reinforces on-stage action while preserving localization for the audience. The main array’s coverage partially extends into the under/over balcony areas, but supplemental loudspeakers (IC6-1082 under balcony, IC6-2082 over balcony) ensure uniform coverage. Having supplemental fills allows for specific system adjustments to cover each area that acoustically differs from the larger open main floor space.

This system can be powered by two ALC-1604D and two ALC-404D

Community Theater OPT2 - ISO.pngCommunity Theater OPT12 - Side View.png

Community Theater OPT12 - Top View.png

 

Equipment list

Below is the list of loudspeaker and amplifier equipment used in this design:

  • 3 - Community IP8-1153/64       High Power 15" Three-Way Installation Loudspeaker; 30 Hz – 21.8 kHz, /64 (60° x 40°), /66 (60° x 60°), /94 (90° x 40°)

IP8-1153.png

 

 

 

 

  • 3- 6 Community IC6-1082          High Output 8-Inch Two-Way Installation Loudspeaker; 52 Hz to 19.5 kHz, /26 - 120° x 60°; /96 - 90° x 60°

IC6-1082.png

 

 

 

  • 2 - 3 Community IC6-2082         High Output Dual 8" Two-Way Installation Loudspeaker; 50 Hz to 19.5 kHz, /26 - 120° x 60°; /96 - 90° x 60°

IC6-2082.png

 

 

 

  • 2 - Community ALC-1604D        Amplified Loudspeaker Controller:  4 Channels x 1600W + DSP and Dante 
  • 2 - Community ALC-404D         Amplified Loudspeaker Controller:  4 Channels x 400W + DSP and Dante 
  • I Series BalancePoint Flyware

Subwoofers

For purpose-built venues of this type, subwoofers can often be integrated into, or perhaps concealed within, the stage front. Where possible, array the subwoofers evenly across the front of the stage to avoid the “power alley” effect caused by positioning them at the extreme right & left of the proscenium. Overhead subwoofer suspension may warrant cardioid or forward-steered arrays to raise bass levels in the seating while preserving GBF (Gain Before Feedback) on the stage.

Amplified loudspeaker controllers 

Biamp's line of Community Amplified Loudspeaker Controllers (ALC) offers factory-optimized DSP processing, protective limiting and amplification, as well as signal routing, zone switching, and remote monitoring for virtually any Community loudspeaker application.

Standard Ethernet communication protocols allow for fast system design, system control, and remote system monitoring. Analog and Dante® inputs included in each model are assignable per channel in static or failover/backup configuration, supporting quick and easy integration into any new or existing system. 

Community-authored loudspeaker presets include equalization, high pass filters, and multi-stage limiters tailored to each model, ensuring consistent sound quality and full loudspeaker protection in every application. Additionally, each Community loudspeaker preset includes loudspeaker power and impedance information, allowing the system configuration software to display the total power and impedance of multiple parallel wired loudspeakers, further reducing the time and effort required to match complete loudspeaker systems with the appropriate ALC models and output channel configurations.

In-depth control and monitoring is accomplished via ArmoníaPlus® system manager software.

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