Sound Division design & equip ‘unique digital gallery’
Advanced integrated AV solution for Bar Sequence
A unique interactive video bar has been opened in Islington’s Essex Road by Aria Ariantalab, with the clever technology design and integration within a confined space project managed and installed by the Sound Division Group.
Ariantalab spent close on £1 million perfecting the concept and fulfilling his dream to create a 75-capacity digital gallery (with separate pavement seating) in which everyone from media creatives to the gamer generation can interact in a social environment.
The owner needed to find technology specialists who could implement his dream, and his online research led him to Sound Division. As soon as he saw their enviable portfolio of top London venues, he knew he had found a system integrator compatible with his requirements.
However, his brief provided a particularly challenging task for the company’s MD David Graham and his project team
“Aria had a specific idea of what he wanted and had clearly done his research well,” said David. “This represented a different kind of challenge in which we had to design an intuitive Soundweb London BLU-16 user interface at the bar to route the audio signals to three zones, with a Kramer VP-8x8 8 x 8 switcher for the video matrix.”
The decision had been taken early on that there would be no wall-mounted controllers in this venue as would normally be the case for a system of this type. Said Soundweb programmer Martin Barbour, “This led us down the path of using the bar audio playback PC as the central control surface, which gives access to all audio routing and control functions for the venue in a simple and user friendly interface.
“A simple serial connection between the Soundweb London processor and Kramer video switcher gives the end user complete control of their AV system from the same interface.”
Seven Optoma EX525ST 2500 ANSI Lumens projectors were specified in view of their short-throw attributes over just a 1.3 metre projection distance. This enables anyone from graphic designers, media artists or photographers to bring in their work on a memory stick, plug into a resident laptop (or their own) and decorate the blank canvas walls with stills or moving images via one of the projector inputs (which also take Denon DVD feeds). Via the matrix any source can be routed to any projector.
In addition to the resident laptops there are three plug-in points for customers to plug in their own laptops if necessary, along with purpose-designed folding laptop shelves.
As for the sound, volume can be controlled locally — the highest SPL registering at the rear-end dancefloor, where the booth is equipped with industry-standard playback equipment (Pioneer CDJ1000’s and DJM 800 mixer and Technics SL’s) to quietest in the front area lounge, overlooking the pavement.
For playback Sound Division specified six wall-mounted white Martin Audio AQ8 on rotatable brackets, set in pairs down the length of the rectangular room, with an AQ210 2 x 10” ultra compact bass speaker, all processed by the 8-in/ 8-out Soundweb. These are powered by Crown XTi2000 amplifiers.
To complete the picture, and complement Space Design’s interior concept, Sound Division were also tasked with supplying a quantity of AVR LED lighting products to produce some stunning bar effects — warm white around the back bar mirror, RGB LED’s glowing out from under the bar and MR16-type fittings along the back of the seating and drinks counters which were installed by Manad Ltd, the main fit out contractors.
Aria Ariantalab now believes he has filled a unique space in the Capital’s landscape and that this is probably “the first truly digital bar in the UK”. He says, “Essentially this is an opportunity for people to share their digital life in a social context, away from their home PC’s. In fact I believe we are the first truly digital bar in the UK.”
The place can be used for tutorials and seminars, while potential resident DJ’s and VJ’s can be assessed at Bar Sequence’s Wednesday ‘Open Deck’ nights. For guests, Bar Sequence offers free Wi-Fi and is open until 3am. “David Graham was very focused throughout and pleasant to deal with,” says Aria. “His equipment choices proved perfect for the task.”
The Sound Division MD retorted, “This is a truly unique concept and it was a pleasure to be involved in the development. We are increasingly becoming specialised in audio and video integrated systems and receive a high level of technical support from Kramer and Optoma.”
Once he has the Islington venue established, Aria Ariantalab plans to open a series of similarly-profiled Bar Sequences.
June 2009