BroaMan Route66 AutoRouters' role in Royal Albert Hall's major sound upgrade

BroaMan Route66 AutoRouters' role in Royal Albert Hall's major sound upgrade posted: 24/04/2019

SFL installs redundant fibre network and largest ever one-room speaker set-up

London's iconic Royal Albert Hall has completed the biggest improvement to sound in its auditorium since the installation of the iconic acoustic mushrooms' 50 years ago. Costing over £2 million, the project took 693 days of labour, 15,291m of cable, and 465 individual speakers, in the world's largest loudspeaker install in a single room.

With equipment supplied by Autograph Sales and installed by SFL, the digital distribution network adopted a ring topology and the selection of multi-format I/O cards included analogue, AES, ANA, DMI Optocore and DMI Dante.

Within this, a pair of BroaMan Route66 Optocore AutoRouters, managing Optocore links from the DiGiCo desk environment, have been specified as central routers in a redundant starred network-this is to cater for the large number of patch panels distributed around the venue to the d&b audiotechnik loudspeakers.

Compatible with Optocore and DiGiCo fibre loops, the added functionality of the AutoRouter on the Route 66 makes it ideal for large installations such as this where there are multiple connection points.

As a Grade I listed building, the intricate new sound system proposal required special building consent and had to work within the fabric of the famous Victorian venue.

The project drew on the most detailed acoustic surveys and modelling ever undertaken in the Hall, courtesy of leading acousticians Sandy Brown, and ground-breaking installation methods.

The new system also features the first ever circle, gallery and box speakers, bringing the sound closer to all seats, radically improving levels, tone, and clarity for every seat in the house, meaning sound quality is now equal throughout the Hall for the wide range of programmes hosted, ranging from boxing to ballet and everything in between.

Craig Hassall, Chief Executive of the Royal Albert Hall, said, This investment is about more than just updating the sound system, it's about future-proofing the building as we approach our 150th anniversary in 2021, so that it is fit for another 150 years.

Incredibly, none of the several hundred shows that took place during the installation period were stopped or affected, thanks to an overnight engineering work schedule carried out by installation company SFL.

About the Royal Albert Hall

The Royal Albert Hall is the world's most famous stage. Over the past 148 years, it has hosted everyone from Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein and Edward Elgar to The Beatles, Ella Fitzgerald and Adele. Last year, its breathtaking auditorium presented 401 events by the world's greatest performers - taking in rock, pop and classical music, dance, films, Cirque du Soleil and even tennis - with the magical setting and inspired artists creating amazing memories for audiences.

Opened in 1871 to fulfil Prince Albert's vision of a central hall to promote the arts and sciences, the Hall is a registered charity that remains true to his founding ambitions within a modern context. It hosts more than 1,000 events a year in its secondary space, the Elgar Room, and beyond, broadening the Hall's appeal to incorporate younger and more diverse audiences.

Its Education & Outreach programme reaches more than 200,000 participants each year, working with schools, young people and the community, as well as other charities such as Music for Youth, as part of its extensive public benefit remit. It creates memories, changes lives and provides inspiration through music for all, regardless of age or background.

About BroaMan

BroaMan (Broadcast Manufactur GmbH) is the company behind high quality products made in Germany, that are aimed at broadcasters as well as production companies, sport facilities, professional AV integrators and many more applications. The company offers customised solutions as well as standard devices for every application that requires SD/HD/3G video transport or routing - whether a big and complex system for broadcast studio or OB Van, or a simple point to point for a small church, conference hall, etc. With DiViNe (Digital Video Network) all open standards can be integrated - digital video, audio and data - on the same fibre infrastructure. One of the main differentiators from other companies providing video over fibre solutions is the approach. BroaMans customers can order a video system on demand, which is unique, and requires a different level of complexity and features, and yet it still has the best price ratio on the market. BroaMan systems are tailored to match the customers needs. Besides tailor made systems, BroaMan offers Standard Devices, which includes the Mux22 BNC Intercom. For the complete list of Standard Devices see: http://www.broadcastmanufactur.com/index.php/news-events/news/198-faster-delivery-time. BroaMan has over 25 years of experience in creating fiber infrastructures and has provided many products for use in the portfolios of well establish companies such as ClearCom, DiGiCo, RTS and many more.

LINK:	https://www.live-production.tv/news/cultural-events/broaman-route66-au...
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