Rider-friendly K and A Series win in competitive purchasing process for Meppel’s cultural hub
Meppel, The Netherlands – December 2020 – Schouwburg Ogterop, in the northeast of the Netherlands, hosts a varied programme ranging from classical productions, drama, dance, cabaret and music to contemporary shows. Earlier this year, when the decision to install a new sound system in the theatre’s historic large hall was made, the theatre’s technical team invited Audio Innovation Foundation (AIF) to help them source a solution that would cover the needs of all the various types of visiting productions. The results of the rigorous selection process determined that L-Acoustics K and A Series would deliver the required combination of high sound quality, excellent speech intelligibility and even coverage over the entire listening area.
AIF is a non-profit foundation that aims to improve the quality of sound reinforcement in the live events market. It provides independent consulting and process facilitation. At Ogterop, the AIF team of Erik Hendriks, Thei Munten and Rob Goedee provided a competitive purchasing procedure to ensure the best system was chosen for the venue and, as the theatre is publicly owned, also ensure the best financial return.
“Everybody hears, sees and experiences a sound system in a very personal way,” explains Hendriks. “But to empower them to be able to describe what they are hearing, and then to be able to qualitatively assess it, is much more complicated.”
Hendriks organised a day for the theatre’s crew to listen and evaluate their existing sound system, training them to identify the different evaluation criteria. All participants were invited to appraise the system based on the importance for a specific role: audio crew, lighting crew, head of production, visiting engineer, audience, etc.
“This process allowed us to learn how to listen to what a PA system actually does with sound, assess the impact it has on each role within the theatre and remove any preconceived preferences,” says André Posthuma, Technical Manager at Schouwburg Ogterop.
Then, five leading loudspeaker brand distributors, including L-Acoustics Dutch partner Fairlight, led by René van der Linden and Ben Brouwers, were invited to demonstrate. “We asked the suppliers a simple question: can you give Schouwburg Ogterop your best shot within the boundaries of our budget?” adds Posthuma. “After a very tough competition, L-Acoustics won the shoot-out based on the system’s quality and rider friendliness.”
The final system configuration comprises left / right hangs of six Kiva II topped with an SB15 sub, with a centre cluster of two A-10i Focus and one A10i Wide. Infill is catered for with one X8 stage left and right plus an additional KS21i sub per side. The system is powered by four LA4X amplifier controllers.
“We are very grateful for the way René, Ben and the Fairlight team took on this task,” Posthuma remarks. “And we are very, very happy with the end result.”
“Sometimes there are theatres that capture the imagination so much that it feels, beyond the commercial interest, an honor to be able to supply an L-Acoustics system,” concludes van der Linden. “Ogterop, with its beautiful hall and excellent acoustics, is such a location, and the collaboration with the technical crew of Ogterop and the AIF team felt like a really good fit.”
About L-Acoustics
Founded in 1984 near Paris, France, L-Acoustics is the market leader in professional sound reinforcement technologies. With over 550 team members worldwide and offices in Paris, London, Singapore, Los Angeles, and New York, L-Acoustics is present in over 80 countries via our network of Certified Providers. Focused on solutions that elevate the audience experience, more than 20% of L-Acoustics’ talent is devoted to R&D in the areas of acoustics, applications, mechanics, electronics, signal processing, and software development. In recognition of creating innovative professional sound technology, L-Acoustics was named as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2020.
Recognized for pioneering the line source array, L-Acoustics continues to shape the future of the professional audio industry with L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound technology, a multidimensional, object-based approach to designing, mixing, and processing sound that results in extremely natural and intelligible audio, and a more vibrant, authentic connection between artists and their fans. Now also available for exceptional private sound spaces with L-Acoustics Creations designs.
L-Acoustics technologies can be heard in places like the Hollywood Bowl, Dickies Arena, Allianz Arena, home of Bayern Munich, or the Philharmonie de Paris, as well as the world’s top-grossing festivals, and on tour with world-class artists such as Mark Knopfler, Aerosmith, and P!NK.