University of Manchester Enhances Audio Quality with EM Acoustics Equipment Upgrade
The Martin Harris Centre at the University of Manchester Gets a High-Tech Makeover
The Martin Harris Centre, home to the Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall and the John Thaw Studio Theatre, needed a serious tech upgrade to keep up with evolving teaching and performance needs. Enter Stage Electrics, teaming up with EM Acoustics to update the audio systems, ensuring flexibility and top-notch audio quality for a wide variety of events.
Karl Spencer, senior technical and buildings manager at the Martin Harris Centre, was all about efficiency: "We needed a solution that would free up space in both venues, improve technical operations, and enhance overall audiovisual quality." EM Acoustics, a British company Spencer loves to support, delivered just that.
The concert hall, primarily hosting classical music concerts, comedy, and spoken word events, required consistent acoustic coverage without compromising aesthetics. EM Acoustics and Stage Electrics tackled this challenge with a comprehensive sound system designed by Greg Clarke, EM's brand manager. The system included left and right hangs of eight HALO-C line array loudspeakers as the main PA, supported by two R8 loudspeakers at stage level, and further low-frequency support from two S-15 subwoofers.
The John Thaw Studio Theatre, serving as both a teaching space and a venue for talks, poetry readings, and screenings, needed a new surround sound and video processing setup to become a full-blown cinema facility. EM Acoustics and Stage Electrics installed a point source distributed loudspeaker system comprising seven R8 right, left, and center hangs, twelve EMS-51X for cinema-quality surround sound, and two S-15 subwoofers.
Both venues have benefited from user-friendly system control, making them accessible for students, staff, and outside users. The audio system is integrated with the in-house Symetrix control system via several touchscreens, with preset configurations allowing the spaces to adapt to various use cases with ease.
Karl Formstone, senior project manager at Stage Electrics, was thrilled with the transformation: "The neat design of the HALO-C line arrays and point-source systems fitted seamlessly into these spaces, providing powerful sound reinforcement while keeping the focus on aesthetics." Formstone also praised the immersive audio environment provided by the Studio Theatre's new point source distributed system.
Thanks to Stage Electrics and EM Acoustics, the University of Manchester's students now have access to state-of-the-art facilities, streamlining operations, reducing setup times, and allowing students and teachers to thrive. And if you're a tech whiz, keep an eye out for the latest collaborations from these AV powerhouses!
- The tech upgrade at the Martin Harris Centre includes new products like the HALO-C line array loudspeakers and S-15 subwoofers from EM Acoustics, showcasing its commitment to technology in education-and-self-development.
- The concert hall's features now consist of a surround sound system for cinema use and a touchscreen-controlled Symetrix system, converting it to a versatile space suitable for a range of events, from performances to lectures.
- To cater to the diverse lifestyle needs of the students at the University of Manchester, the modernized Martin Harris Centre offers products and services such as an immersive audio environment in the John Thaw Studio Theatre and flexible audiovisual solutions in the Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall.
