A colour-matched Martin Audio architectural PA system has been specified and fitted in the new Riverfront Theatre in Newport.

Containing a 493-seat main auditorium and 150-seat studio theatre, gallery and conference facilities, the audio installation work in the arts complex was undertaken by AJS Theatre Services, working to a tender document produced by Carr & Angier to a sound system design by Peter Mapp.

“Martin Audio is our preferred loudspeaker for an installation such as this,” confirmed AJS project manager, Chris Coates. “It produces good quality sound — crisp and round — and is perfect for this kind of environment. On top of that the support we receive from Martin Audio has been extremely impressive.”

This support included décor-matching the EM enclosures in ‘Black Red’ (a kind of deep maroon). Four EM76’s are arranged in a flown central cluster with a further four set randomly at left and right of the proscenium arch. A further four EM56’s are mounted on the lighting bridge, acting as delays (programmed into a SymNet DSP) and angled down into the balcony. Martin WS2A subs are ground stacked on a perch to the sides of the pros. arch.

To provide versatility, the Studio Theatre features a further six flown EM56’s which can be moved within the complex.

The Riverfront will bring top acts to the city as well as offer the opportunity for local people to get involved in creative workshops. Thanks to the Martin Audio system the theatre is adequately equipped to present a diverse programme of comedy, opera, dance, music and drama.

Two high-profile Bristol venues have been earmarked for the newly-launched Martin Audio AQ architectural series.

Installer Mike Brice from Bristol Architectural Sound Services (BASS) has fitted Martin Audio enclosures into the new Brownstone (pictured above) and the chic Bar Pam Pam’s.

With product support from Howard Williams at Stroud-based CAV, Mike Brice cleverly designed the former venue to enable a pair of the new Martin Audio AQ12’s to replace the temporary front-facing Wavefront W2’s. Elsewhere, a pair of low-profile WTUB’s, designed for front fill, handle the vocal range, a Blackline S218, recessed into the concrete DJ booth, looks after the low frequencies and a series of tiny 5in ICT-principle EM15’s cover the peripheral areas in the hard-surfaced rectangular room — stripped back to its original brickwork as part of an interior design makeover by Interaction.

Also owned by A3 Leisure Bar Pam Pam — designed by Alison Weaver to include a champagne bar and private snug in the basement — follows a similar Martin Audio formula, with a further pair of AQ12’s added to the configuration. Again Mike Brice has built the rest of his design around a pair of WTUB’s for front fill in the main bar, this time using a combination of EM26’s and EM15’s to provide coverage throughout the multi-zone venue, which includes the stairwell and main bars/dancefloor. A pair of twin 10in EM150 ultra-compact subs provide the LF rumble, and the playback is routed and EQ’d by an Allen & Heath DR128.

“We can find every loudspeaker we need in the Martin Audio catalogue,” says Mike. “Their systems are sufficiently versatile for transparent reproduction of speech, background music and full-on dance music. We are particularly excited by the arrival of the new AQ series and had been looking forward to getting them into these two flagship venues.”