Sound Division — the Circus ringmasters
Full AV package and first Xone:DX / ITCH combo for Covent Garden venue
A Victorian building in Covent Garden has been reopened as a burlesque cabaret diner following a £2m conversion by owners, restaurateur Trevor Davies and his son Adam.
The 130-cover site has a rich heritage. Formerly used as a stable for elephants and horses by the Royal Opera House in Victorian times it was most recently trading as a jazz venue when the two entrepreneurs saw it.
With a nod in the direction of its animalistic origins, the aptly-named Circus — which has been breathtakingly designed by Tom Dixon — features a unique quartz dining table running the length of the club which transforms into a dance platform later in the evening. This is surrounded by a bar at the far end and a second dining room to the side of the DJ booth, as well as a lounge set to the rear of the venue.
But in this world of glitz and mirrors, the performance table is not the only original feature. London-based AV integrators, The Sound Division Group, have specified the first new Allen & Heath Xone:DX with Serato ITCH software to enable Adam Davies to fulfill his
Henry Besant from the Worldwide Cocktail Club, who has a long history of working with the Sound Division Group, recommended the company to the project, and managing director David Graham was soon discussing with Adam Davies the prospect of incorporating Serato Audio Research’s ITCH software.
“Adam wanted a high power, computer controlled sound system,” he said. “We knew Allen & Heath were planning to bring out the Xone:DX, a new music production software controller which would do so much more to manipulate the Serato ITCH software than previous devices.
Now installed, the Xone:DX, is a 20-channel USB soundcard featuring total integration of the full 4-deck software, with the ability to send up to 168 individual MIDI control messages and connect to external devices — all operated from a new dedicated Mac laptop.
With Sound Division’s project managers Dean Osborne and Elliot Patterson having experience of Serato ITCH, integration was relatively straightforward, with implementation aided by an intuitive GUI which Sound Division designed for the operators.
“Allen & Heath have added a lot of features to facilitate four deck mixing — it will take any device with a line input capability and has a recording feature so you can record a set live,” said Patterson. “On top of that, ITCH also provides AIFF, WAV, MP3 and AAC
Adam Davies himself says, “My goal was very specific. With this system DJ sets can be saved, with everything mixed and ready to go. Also I was concerned about DJ’s playing what they wanted and with this I can restrict them to playing what’s on the hard drive. I can also link the other PC to my lighting system, and when we have an act playing I have all the cues automatically programmed.”
The music plays out to the four zones through Martin Audio’s architectural AQ loudspeaker range, with eight AQ8’s surrounding the main dining stage area and multiples of AQ6 in the secondary dining area, bar and lounge, reinforced with a recessed AQ212 (2 x 12) sub behind the DJ booth. These are powered by a combination of Martin Audio MA1.3S and MA 900 amps.
The long refectory table has steps at either enabling the cabaret artistes to walk up and perform, either on the table or the overhead trapeze. And when the operation shifts to live mode, artistes take advantage of the venue’s compact live PA setup comprising of two Shure PG58 radio mic systems, which are mixed through a Yamaha 12-channel MG124CX console.
Knowing that Adam Davies wanted a highly theatrical environment, Sound Division specified DMX lines and additional power feeds to accommodate seven ETC Source 4 Junior profiles and four Martin smart MAC moving heads, projecting powerful gobos and graphics onto the pelmet under the glazed conservatory roof, and scattering beams off two rotating 16” mirrorballs.
Two powerful 400W UV cannons have been installed, one either side of the stage, with the purpose of illuminating the trapeze artists/performers. Within the lounge there is a second smaller stage podium with a dancing pole,and here performers are illuminated with PAR 16 Birdies and a Minuette Fresnel.
The second PC drives the Zero 88 24-channel Jester ML24 lighting controller, into which his cues are programmed, as well as the BSS Soundweb London BLU-16 (4 in/8 out) digital processer, which provides all zoning, EQ presets and system protection. A BLU-8 remote control panel has been installed to provide emergency backup should the main PC fail.
For projection, a Panasonic PT-FW300 3500 ANSI lumen WXGA HDMI projector and Euroscreen 8ft widescreen electric drop-down projection screen have been installed to run early 20th century circus-themed show reels and for corporate presentation purposes.
Now that the venue has enjoyed its successful baptism, plans are underway to extend the Tuesday-Saturday trading by introducing Sunday brunch sessions, Monday opening and pre-theatre menus.
Summing up the AV integration at Circus, David Graham said, “This is a unique concept and Adam Davies has taken a very adventurous approach in bringing everything under software / laptop control. He is part of a new breed of venue owners who are very on top of what’s going on in the market, and we’re delighted to have helped him pioneer this and fulfil his ambition.”
April 2010
Equipment List:
Loudspeakers
Main Dance/Live Stage: Six Martin Audio AQ8 8” + 1” full range enclosures and AQ212 (dual 12in sub), driven by Martin Audio MA1.3S (2 x 650W amps @ 4 ohms). Main Bar: Two Martin Audio AQ6 (6.5” + 1”) powered by an MA900 (2 x 450W @ 4 ohms). Dining area beside DJ booth: Two Martin Audio AQ6’s powered by an MA900. Rear Lounge with podium: Four Martin Audio AQ6’s and AQ210 (2 x 10”) sub powered by pair of MA900 (2 x 450W) amps. Toilets: JBL Control 25AV powered by one channel of an MA900.
Control
Allen & Heath Xone:DX Professional MIDI USB Controller, integrated with four-deck Serato ITCH software; Martin Audio AQ8 monitor powered by Martin Audio MA900 amplifier; Shure PG58 radio mic; Yamaha MG124CX 12-channel mixing desk; BSS Soundweb London BLU16 (4 in/8 out) and Soundweb London BLU8 programmable remote panel (back-up). Lighting: Zero 88 Jester ML24 desk.
Lighting
Seven ETC Source 4 Juniors; two Anytronics 8 x 5A dimmer pack; four Martin smartMAC moving heads; two Spotlight 400W UV guns; two 16” mirrorballs; two Thomas PAR 16 Birdie lanterns (second performance area).
Projection
Panasonic PT-FW300 3500 ANSI Lumen WXGA (Widescreen and 4.3)HDMI projector; Euroscreen ES-CEL2417 8ft Widescreen (16:9) electric projection