INSTALLING ONE OF THE RH CONYX IC32-RDs
response to the system ( a . k . a . adding warmth ) for the live music , we expressed concern that exciting the lower frequencies without adding acoustical treatment would result in muddy sound due to the significant reverberation times at the lower frequencies . However , when I attended the church services , I had heard one of the technicians ( James Finnerty ) mix live musicians and was impressed with the quality of the sound he was able to produce despite the sonic challenges and aging audio equipment . We agreed to include subsonic speakers provided that they would only be used by qualified sound technicians and that subs would not be used in automation mode ,” recalls Bechard . “ In truth , acoustical treatments such as suspended banners or similar technologies would have taken away from the grandeur of the high ceiling .” So , considering the highly challenging acoustical environment and demanding performance requirements , the speakers needed to be exceptional . Novita considered several steerable array product options , including Renkus-Heinz ’ Iconyx line of slim , digitally-steerable line array speakers . The Iconyx have precise steering ability , excellent sound , can be remotely controlled , and have the right formfactor for column mounting . “ Aesthetically , we had to ensure that the colour of the speakers would match the stone on the stone columns . As well as Iconyx unparalleled record in the church market , the manufacturer ’ s ability to precisely colour-match those two elements ( the speakers and the columns ) made Renkus the clear winner ,” Bechard says .
“ When we first reviewed the system design , we thought , ‘ yes , this is perfect , these speakers would have been our first choice ,’” says Darrell MacLean , president and senior project manager at MacLean Media Systems , who were brought in to install the new AV components . “ In a space like this , your main challenge is volumetric – it ’ s the reverberation time and energy relative to the direct sound . You can treat reflections with absorption , which helps , but it will not significantly reduce the reverberation time unless you are doing something to reduce the volume of the room , and that ’ s just not practical . It ’ s also not desirable . The church is home to a lovely giant pipe organ that relies on the room so you can ’ t really treat the room without detrimentally affecting the music end of it . One of the balancing acts , especially when you ’ re selecting a speaker system , is that you ’ ve got to find technology that is going to work with the room the way the room was intended 100-plus years ago .”
In the end , the speaker system is quite straight forward , as it ’ s all about meeting the audio needs with as small a speaker footprint as possible and being careful with what additional acoustic energy we introduce into the space . As MacLean explains it , nearly 90 % of the seating area is covered by an Iconyx IC32-RD array on each of the left and right columns , each of which contains 32 channels of amplification and DSP . “ Renkus-Heinz ’ s RHRAON II design software allowed us to create precise coverage patterns in the speaker arrays so that we are able to control exactly where we place the energy from the speaker system . The IC32RN ’ s provide natural , full-range sound , and we can focus from about 200 Hz and up with a set of beams that are wide , but very short , which basically project 150 ft . to the back of the room but stay off the back wall and the ceiling . Our coverage variance is plus or minus 1.5 dB for 90 % of the seating area , which is exceptional in a speaker system over these distances ,” says Maclean . “ From a speech point of view , it ’ s phenomenal . I don ’ t know that we ’ ve ever put in a speaker system that provided this sort of consistent front-to-back coverage , especially in a room like this . The nice thing is , once you ’ ve concentrated that energy , and you ’ ve got that consistent front-to-back coverage from your speaker system , whether you ’ re sitting at 20 or
120 ft ., you ’ re hearing basically the same thing .”
To cover those wide and deep transepts , there are two arrays of the smaller Iconyx IC8- RD , which feature eight amplifiers and channels of DSP . As well , the altar is covered by another IC8-RD , which functions as a foldback speaker .
“ In this particular church , the baptismal font is at the far [ rear ] end of the church . So , there are points in a baptismal service when the celebrants will move front to back , and do the baptism and the entire congregation swivels around and they ’ re facing with the speakers behind them . For this , we ’ ve got a pair of IC24- RDs that cover , basically , the reverse angle for everybody . So , in that situation , the celebrants moved to the back of the church , the operators can recall a preset that basically re-tasks all of the speaker systems to originate at the far end of the room . It ’ s very effective ,” MacLean explains . “ Even those IC24-RDs on their own , they do provide fantastic coverage for just about everybody in the room .”
To top it off , there are three pairs of Renkus- Heinz CX41s as delay speakers to cover into the sides of the nave , filling in behind the columns that are shadowed from the main arrays . “ But for the most part , all of the work is done with the IC32s . All of the fill systems are incremental – noticeable but minor improvements to what the main system is providing .” And lastly to note , there is an IC8-RD array for the chapel , and a pair of CA112S-RD subwoofers for low-frequency extension .
As much as the Iconyx speakers have greatly improved the room ’ s sound , it ’ s their aesthetics that continue to most impress MacLean . “ As much as I love technology – the fit and finish of these speakers against the century-old columns is perfect and makes for a near invisible installation . Renkus , along with the folks at [ Canadian distributor ] Contact Distribution were committed to getting the look of this right . We ’ ve worked with them on many systems , and I know I can always count on them to bring their attention to all the details in our projects .”
To ensure the speakers ’ colour exactly matched the century-old stone , MacLean worked with the owners on several rounds of colour samples . Three final colour choices were provided on speaker mock-ups and left in the church for several days so that they could be evaluated under a variety of natural and artificial lighting conditions . Once a final colour was selected , a paint drawdown sample was sent to Renkus for matching , and they provided a set of powder coated samples in the same formulation which would be used on the final speaker order .
“ The speakers had to fit in with the church ’ s design . It had to be unobtrusive , and obviously the cameras had to be carefully and subtly placed , too ,” notes Shaw . “ I think they ’ ve done
28 PROFESSIONAL SOUND