Fitness Cartel, a vibrant luxury health club brand, has officially opened its first branch in New Zealand, located in Auckland’s Manukau City.

This wellness franchise is redefining the standard for full-service health clubs by offering the ultimate workout experience. From high-energy workouts to rejuvenating recovery sessions, every aspect of the member journey is designed to inspire and motivate. Gym owner Leo Kane combines exceptional customer service, top-tier facilities and an energising atmosphere, all complemented by cutting-edge audio-visual and lighting systems.

To help bring this vision to life, Fitness Cartel Manukau partnered with trusted audio-visual specialists Safe N Sound. They were tasked to create a luxurious fitness experience with high-quality AV equipment, captivating visuals and powerful audio systems for an unrivalled workout atmosphere.

“We prioritise using high-fidelity AV equipment and reputable brands for our projects,” says Lee Dewerson, Managing Director at Safe N Sound. “In this way we are guaranteed exceptional performance, durability and professional support from local suppliers. It was crucial for the audio systems to be tailored to the unique needs of each zone.”

After careful consideration, JBL Professional Control28-1 Loudspeakers were selected for their sleek design, versatile mounting options and rich even sound, ensuring a high-performance experience in every zone. In areas requiring deeper bass, JBL ControlSB2210 subwoofers were added to enhance the experience.

JBL PRX912 powered 12” loudspeakers and PRX915XLF compact 15” subwoofers deliver powerful audio to the Spin Studio, while JBL 8128 8” ceiling speakers provide high-fidelity sound for the reception, recovery room and changing areas.

A networked BSS BLU digital signal processor was chosen as the central hub for audio management, with BSS Contrio EC wall controllers providing flexible, reliable control.

“BSS BLU signal processors are known for their robustness and reliability,” adds Lee Dewerson. “Their open architecture platform provides limitless possibilities for audio and control designs. This setup provides independent control of the seven zones, allowing instructors to easily switch music sources and adjust both music and microphone levels.”

To ensure crystal-clear sound across the gym, Crown CDi4300 four-channel installation amplifiers and JBL CSA240Z and CSA2120Z commercial zone amplifiers drive impactful and consistent audio to all JBL Professional loudspeakers.

“This project has transformed the gym into a state-of-the-art environment that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of its members,” remarks Lee Dewerson. “By prioritising excellence in every detail, Fitness Cartel Manukau now delivers an inspiring and luxurious fitness experience. We would like to thank our audio product partner JPRO for their support in bringing this vision to life.”

“The equipment has performed exactly how we envisioned it would – reliably and consistently. It is a fantastic sounding system that fills our space with high quality sound, complementing our high-end fitout,” says gym owner Leo Kane. “The bass in the system carries well and compliments the speakers perfectly. Features we really like are that the sound levels can be managed from the back end and are reset each day, a microphone system that can work throughout the gym during events and the ability for our instructors to control their music and microphones with ease.”

HARMAN Professional Solutions gave attendees at the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) show a sneak peek of its new BSS OMNI Dynamic Keypads. These keypads take the enterprise user experience to the next level, combining the simplicity of a traditional keypad with the customisation and control of a touch panel.

Designed to work seamlessly with BSS Soundweb OMNI signal processors and AMX MUSE automation systems, the keypads use vibrant, responsive LCD touch panels that are fully programmable. Each button can show full-colour images and switch between different states, offering more options and flexibility than any standard keypad. Plus, they have a sleek, stylish look that fits in perfectly with any environment.

Additional Details and Availability

• For the latest details and availability of BSS OMNI Dynamic Keypads, please sign up and opt-in for BSS product updates.
• For complete product information and specifications, please visit:
  • BSS OMNI Dynamic Keypads
  • BSS Soundweb OMNI Signal Processors & I/O Expanders
  • AMX MUSE Automated Controllers

Perfect for everything from large venues like stadiums and conference centres to smaller spaces like meeting rooms and hotels, the BSS OMNI Dynamic Keypads make control intuitive and adaptable to any environment.

Introducing BSS Soundweb OMNI

Featuring the most powerful processor ever from BSS, Soundweb OMNI caters to the diverse needs of hospitality, large venues, corporate, education and government installations. The Soundweb OMNI family combines enterprise-grade processors, flexible I/O expanders, Dante/AES67 networked audio, an onboard scripting developed by AMX, and a vast library of processing objects, including media playback, AEC, VoIP, and more.

The platform is seamlessly managed through AVX Architect and AVX Control, an all-new software suite, built from the ground up to support the latest installed products from HARMAN Professional starting with BSS Soundweb OMNI, ushering in a new era of installed AV software at HARMAN.

Soundweb OMNI is designed to meet the specific requirements of AV system designers, integrators, and end users, while removing the pain points often found in traditional system design. It combines purpose-built hardware with intuitive software that offers the flexibility of centralised or distributed DSP, allowing system designers to choose the appropriate topology for any installation.

BSS’s commitment to supporting control system programmers is reinforced through the introduction of HControl, a human-readable, standards-based, and developer-friendly API. Soundweb OMNI also supports both 48kHz and 96kHz processing, exemplifying BSS’s commitment to audio fidelity.

Soundweb OMNI features two flagship processing devices, the 512p and 256p, which deliver exceptional DSP power and high Dante/AES67 channel counts, up to 512×512 at 96kHz. This surpasses previous generations and positions Soundweb OMNI to effortlessly meet today’s complex demands while remaining future-ready for tomorrow’s AV/IT needs.

The AVX Suite streamlines the configuration, control, and monitoring of Soundweb OMNI systems through two user-friendly applications. AVX Architect is a desktop software app for system diagramming, device configuration, network management, and custom UI design. AVX Architect allows users to add an unlimited number of processors and expanders to a single project file, while still enjoying the simplicity of a true, single canvas for device configuration. AVX Control is a lightweight software app, which provides easy access to custom UIs for controlling and monitoring devices across a multitude of platforms, including Windows, iOS, Android, and AMX Varia touch panels. These custom UIs work not only with Soundweb OMNI devices, but also Crown DCi amplifiers and previous generation Soundweb London devices, thanks to protocol-bridging technology developed by AMX.

Built on decades of innovation, BSS Soundweb OMNI is a highly scalable and flexible DSP solution. Combining powerful hardware, intuitive software, and developer-friendly features, it effortlessly scales to meet the needs of any installed application. Experience BSS Soundweb OMNI, the new standard in open architecture DSP.

“BSS has set the standard for signal processing innovation with legendary products that have driven some of the world’s most prestigious installations,” said Phil Scobee, Director of Installed Audio for HARMAN Professional Solutions. “As the new standard in open architecture DSP, Soundweb OMNI builds upon that legacy to advance signal processing and maximise system design potential for system designers, integrators, and end users.”

JPRO Interactive Showroom  |  JBL Synthesis Luxury Home Theatre Demo

Visit the interactive JPRO Showroom to experience cutting-edge audio, video and control solutions from JBL Professional, BSS Audio, AMX and more. We also feature the only JBL Synthesis-certified luxury custom cinema demo room in New Zealand, where you’ll experience sound so rich and immersive it feels as though the film is unfolding around you!

The JPRO Experience Centre is available by appointment only. Contact us or book your experience today!

New at ISE 2024

These new solutions include the BSS Soundweb OMNI Open Architecture DSP (Digital Signal Processing) Platform and AVX Software Suite, JBL Venue Synthesis Acoustic Simulation Software, AMX SVSI N3300 H.26x 4K60 4:4:4 Dante AV-H encoders and decoders for WAN, AMX HydraPort Architectural Connectivity USBC modules and AMX DX-TX-DWP-4K60 DXLink wallplate transmitters.

HARMAN also used the opportunity at ISE to showcase FLUX::’s software for immersive audio production, audio processing plug-in design and audio analysis.

We are excited to see the introduction of these cutting edge innovations from Harman Professional. Product availability to New Zealand will be communicated through our Dealer Channels. If any of these solutions are of interest to you, please contact our team of experts today!

The Opportunity

The All Blacks Experience allows visitors a unique opportunity to be immersed in the world of the All Blacks and Teams in Black and to discover more about their culture, legacy of success and connections with New Zealand.

A priority was to create a highly engaging experience for visitors. The visitor is immersed in this latest experience that steps through the process of what it takes to make, shape and be an All Black. Five interactive zones provide the opportunity for a visitor to face the full force of the haka, to prove their rugby knowledge, as well as getting hands-on in the skills area by testing their kicking, lineout and agility skills against some of the greatest All Blacks and Black Ferns – and each other.

Wellington-based company Toulouse were engaged to work alongside the project team at Workshop E to design, specify and install immersive AV, lighting and audio technology into this new experience.

Toulouse specialise in providing creative design and technical solutions for the visitor experience and arts presentation sectors. The company collaborates with key players in this space to provide some of the best experience-based storytelling, both within the country and internationally.

The Solution

The end-to-end audio architecture for the All Blacks Experience is delivered on a variety of hardware – Crown CDI Drivecore installation amplifiers, AVoIP audio decoders, a mixture of PC’s and Brightsign media players for source. There are three sets of 5.1 audio spaces within the experience.

Due to the unique audio requirements of each zone, Crown CDI4300BL, CDI4600BL and CDI41200BL amplifiers were selected. Crown CDi installation amplifiers feature Crown DriveCore technology, ensuring consistent power output and a range of input options. Designed for energy efficiency, these amplifiers also provide versatile networked audio capabilities and the inclusion of a BLU link digital audio bus to facilitate high-speed, high-bandwidth integration with BSS networks.

In each zone across the experience, the multi-channel (5.1) audio is delivered via an HDMI cable from a Brightsign media player to the AVoIP audio decoder. The six discrete channels of audio are then delivered into the BSS BLU-806 digital network for distribution to each of the Crown CDI amplifier channels.

The BSS BLU806 digital signal processor made this complex system possible with its BLU link and Dante connectivity. With configurable architecture and intuitive drag-and-drop design, it features a low-latency 256-channel audio bus, combining high bandwidth and power with user-friendly design for efficient and reliable audio distribution.

All other audio is again delivered by the Brightsign media players in a mix of mono and stereo sources, outputted into the BSS BLU network. The BSS BLU network then delivers the audio to a range of spaces within the site via a series of Crown CDI BLU enabled amplifiers.

The key challenge was the complexity of the experience and the range of requirements – from a bone rattling haka performance to an intimate ‘locker room’ conversation. Toulouse installed 160 loudspeakers and 138 channels of audio amplification across this experience. Some amplification was located in the field, whilst other zones of the experience were rack mounted and integrated into the audio network.

Each zone within the experience had uniquely different audio and architectural requirements – to address this the amplifiers and loudspeakers were matched to the composers and designer’s wishes. Extensive testing was undertaken in the Toulouse Wellington workshop with sample source audio provided ahead of the installation in order to achieve this. Creative leads were engaged with the tweaking process to ensure the clarity and depth of the audio experience matched the vision.

Some design elements added complexity to the functionality of the audio design. The ‘Haka Room’ – where the audience are face to face with larger-than-life All Blacks projected on a four-metre-high screen performing the haka Ka Mate Ka Mate – called for a subsonic boom, amplifying and replicating the power of being in front of the All Blacks as they perform the haka on the pitch.

Loudspeakers were carefully selected and deployed to achieve this truly immersive and powerful effect. Amplification within the Haka zone is through a series of Crown CDI41200BL amplifiers delivering 1200 Watts to the centre, left, right and surround speakers, with bridged 2x 1200W to each of the subwoofer enclosures.  For the loudest portions of the soundtrack, the amplifiers are maxed out on the fronts and subs – there is considerable audio being delivered into the small space, allowing the visitor to be fully surrounded in this audio experience.

The Impact

“The Crown CDI range of amplifiers offered the project the best value for the integrated audio network features and the most versatility utilising both the BSS BLU network and Dante audio together within one architecture,” says Marc Simpson of Toulouse. “The audio power and reproduction from Crown enhanced the loudspeaker performance which were also ultimately selected with value and audio performance as key drivers.

“The networking capabilities of these products afforded the Toulouse team a high degree of flexibility and responsiveness during the installation process – creative decisions were made in-situ and Toulouse needed to match the client requirements with the technical capacity within a short time frame.”

The effectiveness of the specific product and the overall impact was noted by the client:

Phil McGowan, General Manager All Blacks Experience said: “Toulouse are a trusted critical partner for us at the All Blacks Experience and their work on the delivery of audio content within the experience has been exceptional.  The finished product creates an immersive and highly emotive soundscape, delivered with crystal clear sound and high fidelity, which allows our visitors to not only hear the amazing soundtrack, but to feel it too!”

“The mighty Ka Mate haka from the All Blacks literally shakes our visitors to the bone – this kind of sound isn’t possible without reliable, professional audio equipment and a highly engaged, experienced technology partner like Toulouse who can bring their years of experience to bear to ensure the technology used is specified, installed and cared for correctly.”

The Opportunity

Renowned streetwear retailer Culture Kings recently opened their first New Zealand store in Auckland. Located in Sylvia Park, Culture Kings is setting a new benchmark for retail spaces worldwide by providing an incredible user-experience.

Music, sport and fashion are the fundamentals to its success, creating an electrifying atmosphere along with sought-after exclusive streetwear providing a premium retail experience.

Because music plays such an important role, the quality of sound and volume form an integral part of the Culture Kings international brand. The client’s brief was to have high-quality sound throughout the store and a dedicated PA System in the live performance area for DJ, MC and brand activations.

The Solution

AV integration company Avid Automation provide high fidelity customised technology solutions and were called upon to provide a high-impact, exceptional audio experience for the store.

As the store was in a mall with adjacent tenancies – one of which is a movie cinema – it was imperative that the sound design not only provide exceptional sound coverage, but effective volume control, adhering to the sound limits set by the mall.

Acoustic consultants Marshall Day were engaged by the client to ensure that all walls were acoustically treated and floating walls placed in front of structural walls to prevent audio leakage.

Avid Automation worked in conjunction with JBL Professional distributor JPRO to design an audio model within Ease to calculate speaker performance, speaker location and mounting angles – the objective to focus the audio within the retail space. All speaker locations were coordinated with the acoustic consultants.

It was decided that all wall-mounted speakers would be mounted to a ‘floating bracing’ (bracing which is not secured to the studs or joists), while Avid Automation fabricated a custom suspension system for the live performance area.

JBL Control28-1 loudspeakers, known for their consistent wide coverage and rich sonic character, were selected for the main retail area. The versatile mounting options ensured that the sound was projected in the areas they were needed, assisting with the volume requirement of the venue.

JBL SRX 812P active loudspeakers powered by Crown Drivecore Amplifiers and a full suite of user controllable DSP were deployed in the performance area, while powerful JBL SRX818SP active single 18” subwoofers provide additional bass reinforcement for DJ and guest artist appearances.

The heart or ‘ears’ of the volume management was a SoundEar 3-300 noise monitor combined with a BSS BLU-806 processor, programmed to monitor and control the overall sound level produced in the store.

System Features

• BSS BLU-806 Dante Audio Processor with open architecture which is fully configurable through Audio Architect with a full range of processing and logic objects and a “drag and drop” method of configuration provided a powerful volume control system in conjunction with the SoundEar.
• SoundEar3-300 monitors the overall SPL in the store and in conjunction with the BLU-806 manages the sound system volume reduction.
• BSS EC-8BV 8-Button controller with volume control allowed precise control of various zones and source selection.
• Atterotech Dante enabled Bluetooth wallplates and interface provided seamless device connectivity for visiting DJ’s.
• 2x JBL SRX 812P active loudspeakers and 2x SRX818SP active single 18” subwoofers provided powerful sound reinforcement for the performance area.
• 12x JBL Control28-1 loudspeakers powered by a Crown Drivecore CDI2600BL installation amplifier ensured consistent audio coverage in the retail area.

The Impact

“We are very happy to have been involved with this project in what essentially was a very basic sound system configuration, thanks to JBL’s purpose-built speakers that just work as they are intended,” says Darian Sundar of Avid Automation. “The real success and smarts of this project is based around how SoundEar and the BLU-806 are integrated to perform volume reduction. The BSS open architecture platform makes virtually anything possible. The system has performed flawlessly – which is what we have come to expect from JBL, BSS and Crown.”

“Launching Culture Kings in New Zealand is a really exciting step for us so we can deliver the iconic in-store atmosphere that we’re known for to our NZ customers,” says Simon Beard, CEO of Culture Kings. “Our Sylvia Park location gives New Zealanders an immersive experience unlike anything in the market.”

Tech Talk

“SoundEar is a SPL Monitoring device that gives the client a visual indication of the current SPL,” says Darian Sundar. “With the ability to set custom limits and thresholds in the SoundEar, the volume limits imposed by the mall were loaded into the device with a threshold a few dB under the limit, so that the client would see a visual warning prior to reaching the system limit.”

An automated volume reduction was still needed and as a result, SoundEar and BSS were integrated together and programmed so that if the volume went above the set volume limit, the BSS BLU would reduce the volume and continue to do so until the incoming level was decreased by the user.

This achieved a satisfactory result better than using limiters and compression. Signal integrity was maintained so that the audio experience within the store remained clean and undistorted.

The Opportunity

Ebbett is a household name for everything automotive in the Waikato region of New Zealand. The company has built its highly respected reputation since 1928 and now represents 20 vehicle brands across 17 dealerships throughout the North Island.

The proposed construction of the Union Square development in Hamilton’s CBD prompted Ebbett’s owners to consider relocating from their home of 93 years and create a brand-new purpose-built facility, incorporating its head office in the light industrial area of Te Rapa, northwest of central Hamilton.

The new centre of operations features numerous office and meeting spaces, a reception and board room – with one of the technical requirements being that this should be a ‘cable-free’ environment. Designed using modern architecture with a desire to create a relaxed customer focused environment for its clients, the headquarters shares the facility with Ebbett Volkswagen. The dealership facilities provide for a wide range of services incorporating a customer-focused showroom including classic car displays, large workshop, pre-sales and after-sales area and a customer lounging area.

The Solution

In order to complement the world-class buying experience with exceptional audio quality and provide clear communications to staff across the large facility, a state-of-the-art AV system was required.

Audio and Visual specialist The Listening Post (Structured Technologies) were commissioned by Ebbett to supply and install a high quality AV system that included a ‘cable free’ board room, background music and paging systems providing an even coverage of sound throughout the premises.

System Features

• JBL PSB-1 commercial-grade active soundbar ensures excellent full-range sound while minimising sound transfer to neighbouring meeting rooms
• JBL 8128 8-inch full-range cost-effective commercial loudspeakers distributed throughout the premises provide a clear, high-fidelity performance.
• JBL Commercial series paging microphones allow for intelligible communication
• Crown CDI2300 DriveCore install series amplifiers ensure a faster and easier installation thanks to preset JBL speaker tunings and advanced DSP
• BSS BLU-100 networked audio processor provides a seamless integration and management of all audio signals throughout the complex

The Impact

Karl Nation, Dealer principal says “We found the experience with Listening Post (Structured Technologies) and the Team to be very proactive in what they have done. The installation is to an extremely high standard and their follow up service is second to none. We are enormously pleased with the overall quality and outcome.”

Massey University’s heritage listed Sir Geoffrey Peren Building, recently underwent a three year $17 million renovation which has brought back to life many of the building’s original features and provided seismic strengthening. The NZ Institute of Architects Heritage Award winning multipurpose venue features the Central Auditorium, a key space which has been restored to its original elegant form and now a grand function room filled with natural light and is an ideal space for events.

The University specified an audio system that would predominantly be used for speech, with occasional musical performance. The system not only had to be versatile but easy to use, meet the aesthetic requirements in keeping with the elegant building status and of come within budget.

ML Consultants were appointed to supply and install a world class sound system and worked with JPRO’s audio team to design a system that would cover all of the customer requirements.

A Soundweb BSS BLU-100 audio processor with BSS Contrio Ethernet EC-8BV wall controller was installed to control the conference events, with the wall controller also controlling the functioning of the projector. The system processor was programmed and commissioned by ProVision Technologies.

Two JBL CBT-70J column array speakers and CBT70-JE extension speakers were installed for FOH with JBL Control25AV speakers installed for delays and balcony speakers. As JBL CBT column arrays are designed to perform without additional audio signal processing, Crown XTi series amplifiers power the loudspeakers.

JPRO’s audio designer comments “The ease model showed less than 3dB variation of volume throughout the venue for speech. This model was backed up once installed as the sound throughout the venue is extremely consistent at every listening position. It is what I like to call a good day at the office!”

For musical performances, two JBL PRX715XLF powered subwoofers were installed for when extra Low Frequencies are required.

A Soundcraft Si Impact digital mixing console was selected for its simplicity. The Si Impact offers the unique FaderGlow system for an easy-to-follow workflow. “The Soundcraft digital consoles are the easiest to use digital consoles on the market,” says JPRO. “This is perfect for a venue where the console could be used by multiple users with varying levels of ability”.

To make set up easy for the venue technician a BSSBLU-SI card was installed into the console. This provides flexibility for when a production is performed in the venue and the Si-Impact is in use, the system can be switched over to the local inputs at the console. Further expandability is achieved with a Madi Controlled MSB-16 Channel Digital Stagebox, mounted in the Auditorium next to the stage area and run via CAT5.

“We are incredibly pleased with the audio system that has been expertly installed in the Sir Geoffrey Peren Building,” says a spokesperson for Massey University. “The audio fidelity is quite impressive – we are able to hear all around the room and balcony without the sound being too loud.”

Situated in the picturesque New Zealand town of Queenstown and near to its famous outdoor sporting and tourist locations, the newly built Wakatipu High School has breathtaking views of the Remarkables mountain range and Southern Alps.

Wakatipu High is one of several Kiwi schools that are embracing OECD Innovative Learning Environment principles, with flexible learning spaces and open plan learning environments, all of which encourage collaborative educational methods. The way teachers and learners engage with each other has changed significantly, which has led to changes in the way schools are designed. As a result, many new school building projects are designed with this method in mind, while older schools are being renovated to accomplish the same philosophy.

Built in a public-private partnership, the relocated state-of-the-art school was built to designing quality learning spaces (DQLS) guidelines, ensuring good lighting, acoustics and ventilation, and to meet a high standard of technology. Wakatipu has a strong focus on arts, indoor and outdoor sports and boasts facilities like a performing arts theatre, gymnasium, a café, aerobics room, dance and music recording studio.

The high technology requirement meant partnering with experts in audio and visual system integration. Leading AV integration company Strawberry Sound provided a HARMAN Professional school integration solution. JPRO NZ, one of New Zealand’s foremost specialists in Sound System design and supplier of HARMAN Professional audio equipment, was called upon because of their audio and product knowledge base, extensive support and ability to provide a unique approach to AV solutions.
The school’s intercom paging system and the sound systems for the gymnasium and auditorium run over fibre ties with Dante distribution between zones, providing a Layer 3 backbone. Audio processing is done with the open architecture platform BSS Soundweb Audio Architect. This design element creates a completely customisable platform for the end-client with an audio and paging system tailored specifically for their needs.

Future proofing was taken into consideration with the paging and PABX system that has been programmed to offer an all-page or individual-page zones. “Due to the open architecture platform, we can add customised panel settings via iPad for the paging system if required” adds Reuben Pearce of Strawberry. “The PABX has the ability to dial into the BSS BLU-103 if needed, and page school-wide through the headset.”

Audio processing and distribution is done primarily with BSS BLU-103 and BLU-100 signal processors and audio distributed throughout the school with JBL Control series and JBL CSS8006BM commercial series speakers.

“We encountered a challenge ensuring the Dante clocks synced over Layer 3,” comments JPRO NZ’s technical specialists when talking about the audio distribution via Dante. “This was ultimately achieved with the BSS BLU-DAN that adds Dante to the BSS network and has proven to be extremely solid and reliable.”

The music, dance and drama suites are purposeful, with three soundproof rooms available. A music recording studio and dance studio overlook the impressive cultural and performing arts auditorium that features a solid sound reinforcement system with JBL SRX812P powered 12” loudspeakers flown in a left-centre-right configuration. JBL SRX818SP subwoofers are flown using a customised rigging frame and take care of the lower bass frequencies.

“We are extremely satisfied with the way the SRX series is able to handle varying content, providing consistent and even distribution in the room,” adds Ryan Dougherty from Strawberry Sound. Audio is kept within the digital domain with a Soundcraft Si Impact Digital Mixer at FOH, MSB-16i Digital Stage Box with time-alignment and processing via BSS BLU-100.

With school’s embracing technology from an educational perspective, the importance of using good quality audio visual equipment and loudspeakers is critical. “Good quality speakers mean better coverage at a lower volume, often with less speakers due to the efficiency of its coverage in a professional audio design” says JPRO’s audio experts. “This in turn has a positive impact on teachers and pupils as they are not mentally fatigued due to poor sound and acoustics.”

Building project manager Blair Grier says that Wakatipu High has the best acoustic system he has installed in his 28 years in the industry.

When asked what some of his favourite features of the school were, principal Steve Hall says “The Arts Department with its new dance rehearsal rooms and a recording studio – and the Arts Theatre that can seat up to 600 people, which would be used ‘heaps’!”

The Opportunity

The Christchurch Justice and Emergency Services Precinct was the first major government building to be built in Christchurch after a series of devastating earthquakes destroyed the city centre in 2011.

Completed in late 2017, the Precinct was purpose-built with an emphasis on collaboration, bringing together all regional justice and emergency services. The precinct is home to the Ministry of Justice, New Zealand Police, Department of Corrections, St John Ambulance, Fire and Emergency, Civil Defence and Emergency Management services. The Justice Building houses 19 courtrooms and associated court and legal functions.

The Solution

Due to the critical nature of the services rendered by the agencies in the Precinct, reliable specially configured loudspeakers and microphones are needed to reproduce high quality audio.

Leading audio visual systems integrator and supplier of courtroom and chamber technologies, Vega Global (formerly Kodum), were contracted to design, supply and install robust cutting edge audio and visual systems within the Justice and Emergency Services Precinct.

System Features

• JBL Professional Control Contractor series ceiling and wall mounted loudspeakers achieve balanced sound quality and broad, consistent coverage throughout the indoor sections.
• Control 47LP low-profile ceiling speakers are utilised in the areas with limited above-ceiling clearance with JBL’s Radiation Boundary Integrator providing very consistent coverage throughout the listening area.
• Control 47HC loudspeakers with a well-defined narrow coverage pattern provide improved sound quality and intelligibility in reverberant and high ceiling spaces.
• A range of AKG gooseneck and boundary microphones are deployed in the 19 courtrooms providing exceptional sound reproduction through the sound reinforcement and audio visual recording systems.
• Across the Precinct, BSS Soundweb audio processors form an integral part of the audio management and audio distribution.

The Impact

“During the design and construction phase it was essential the audio visual systems would work within the complex IT infrastructure of the Justice and Emergency Services Precinct,” says James Thompson, Civil Defence New Zealand. “The systems are excellent. Kodum were key partners in establishing our audio visual needs and have walked with us every step of the way. Post commissioning they have been readily available to help with fine tuning the system.”

Nestled in Henderson Valley in Western Auckland, Whoa! Studios is a state-of-the-art film studio and theatre specialising in live action, puppetry and miniatures. Its flagship offering is an original, world class, live show based on the characters and sets of Custard’s World – adapted for stage from a script by Bob Baker, BAFTA award winning screenwriter of Wallace & Gromit.

Whoa’s owner David Sutherland wanted to create an exciting family destination in Auckland with unforgettable live experiences. He says “It started out as an idea to do something fun for children and for families, to do something that was different to what they had engaged with before. We wanted to try and do something that was magical.”

David’s vision has resulted in a world class facility with a children’s adventure playground, a modern family restaurant and hi-tech studio and theatre facilities. In order to realise this vision and create a truly immersive experience alongside the mix of puppets, digital effects and live action from within the main stage movie set, leading world class AV technologies were needed.

World Class meant that one of New Zealand’s top integration companies, ITAV was called upon to knit together this immersive experience that would create lasting memories. Their brief was clear: sound quality, flexibility and ease of use.

Consultant and ITAV Integrator Paul Ivory had no doubts when it came to selecting his team that would partner on this project. Paul declares “I called on the best of the best in all different aspects of this project.”

Leading AV equipment supplier and specialists in Sound System and Video Distribution design JPRO were selected because of their far-reaching support, emphasis on relationship, as well as audio and product knowledge base.

AMX specialist Quentin White designed the video and switching distribution system. Projector mapping was suggested in conjunction with specialist lighting to create themes for the shows. AMX touch panels control scene changes, projectors and video monitors. This resulted in a unique part of the delivery and a main component now written into all live shows.

JPRO Sales Director and Audio Designer Paul Edlin designed the fully integrated networked audio system for the theatre and restaurant. BSS Soundweb and Soundcraft Vi3000 are an integral part of the audio distribution and essentially, the heart of the theatre system.

The primary objective was to keep as much of the Audio Signal in the digital domain as possible. Audio was passed in and out of the Vi3000 via Dante, into the BSS BLU-806 signal processor before reaching the Crown DCi Amplifiers that powered the JBL CBT-70J Array speakers and eight Zones such as the Green Room and back of stage.

Audio outputs for the live film studio and theatre were configured in 7.1 and 5.1 respectively. This was not only for a surround sound effect, but for localised sources as puppets came in from different locations around the room.

For the theatre, the first choice of speakers for Paul Ivory was always going to be the JBL CBT 70’s. “They are great for speech and music” he says, “the array of the speakers is perfect for having clear sound for the front and back end of the room; there was nothing else that came close to that decision.”

The new AKG MicroLite HC81 headworn microphones were selected as they are comfortable and lightweight to wear for the actors while the AKG wireless microphone technology used has a track record of solid reliability.

Through clever configuration and use of the Soundcraft VISI App, from an operator’s point of view the Soundcraft Vi3000 mixing console provided the central control point for all performance areas.

Paul Edlin from JPRO explains the use of the VISI integration: “Vi3000 controls all the actors and playback audio within the main theatre and on the second layer it controls audio in the second theatre.” This resulted in a cost saving of an additional mixing surface. Paul continues, “So the main theatre can be running a show and the second theatre can simultaneously run another show with audio controlled via the VISI iPad App.”

The approach to the AV design for the restaurant and mezzanine areas is equally as ingenious, with exceptional sound quality produced by the unobtrusive JBL Pendant speakers.

“You can walk throughout the café, into the parent’s area, toilets, the shop into the entrance way and the sound is all even, it is not overbearing in any area” states ITAV’s Paul Ivory.

All AV technologies such as switching on projectors and lowering screens, operating lights and adjusting volume are controlled on a touch panel system via an automated process. Third party systems control is made simple and easy to execute with Audio Architect and AMX seamlessly integrating together.

Through effective communication, simplistic AV and sound system design and leading World Class products from Harman Professional, the teams from ITAV and JPRO were able to put together a solution that will provide simplistic user operation for staff, and unforgettable live experiences for families.

David Sutherland concludes “We wanted to exceed expectations. I didn’t think it would be as good as this result – and that makes it all worthwhile.”

Auckland, New Zealand. The Stardome Observatory and Planetarium in Auckland’s One Tree Hill Domain recently upgraded its Cinema and Live Performance System with a 5.1 surround multi-purpose high-performance JBL AE Series sound system.

The new system was specified and installed by AV Integration company Avid Automation after they were called upon by the Auckland Observatory and Stardome team to provide a state-of-the-art sound system for the planetarium theatre.

Stardome opened to the public in 1967 as an observatory, while New Zealand’s largest planetarium theatre was added in 1997. The 360-degree panoramic theatre allows for a complete immersive experience with a full-dome concave screen on which 360-degree films are projected with laser projectors, IMAX model angled seating and the brand new JBL Professional AE series surround sound system.

“A system of this nature is a significant investment,” says Darian Sundar, Director at Avid Automation. “The venue is open to the public with performances 6 days a week, requiring the selected system to work day-in and day-out – so for Stardome and Avid Automation, localised support, reliability and versatility was key in our decision making.”

Leading specialists in sound system design and JBL distributor JPRO were chosen to assist with the supply and commissioning because of their product knowledge base and approach to the system design.

Darian Sundar continues “The primary use of the system would be to provide an immersive 5.1 cinema experience, but the theatre also doubles as a live performance venue for small bands and events – everything from strings to electronica. So, whilst having to offer an accurate cinematic experience the system would need to be capable of handling larger SPL to accommodate live performances.”

JPRO Sales Director Paul Edlin and his audio design team specified JBL AE Series loudspeakers for the theatre. “JBL have an extensive range of purpose-built products that are manufactured in-house. The AE series are specifically manufactured for theatrical sound design and performing arts facilities, so we knew that they would suit the scope of this project perfectly.”

To fit in with the demanding schedule of the Stardome and minimise down time, the Avid Automation team were given two days to remove the old infrastructure and install the new system. Knowing that this would not be enough time AVID implemented all the new system cable infrastructure ahead of time after evening show times.

“We needed to be ready for business as usual Tuesday morning,” says Darian. “To achieve this the entire sound and control systems were built off-site at the Avid workshop. We essentially torture tested the system through multiple configuration modes such as it would be used in real day-to-day use – this is the only way we could be confident that any programming issues where found and resolved. The ability to plot all JBL speakers in a 3D model of the Stardome gave us the confidence that we knew it would work 100 percent. The translation into a real-life installation was incredibly accurate with very little tweaking necessary, saving us heaps of time.”

Due to the shape of the venue, all brackets and flyware were custom-built and physically attached to the exterior of the Stardome structure.  The surround system comprises of 2x JBL AM7215-95 High Power 2-Way Loudspeakers for Left and Right, while a JBL AM7215-26 with a 120° x 60° rotatable waveguide provide accurate audio for the critical centre channel.

JBL AC18/95 compact 2-way loudspeakers were selected for the surround channels as their enclosure design allows for installation very close to the ceiling, providing a smooth, natural immersive audio experience throughout the intended listening area.

Three JBL VTX-B18 single 18″ high performance subwoofers provide a solid bass foundation for a ground-shaking experience.

“The cardioid sub array configuration is simply magic and is an integral part of the system design,” enthuses Darian. “It allows the performance volume of the bass to be focused into the room without sub-bass spill into the foyer and office areas.”

Amplification and system management is achieved with two Crown DriveCore CDI41200BL power amplifiers. “That allowed for an impressive mix of high-performance and ease of use. Taking full advantage of the preloaded JBL Speaker tunings allowed us to get the best performance not only out of the speakers but the amplifiers as well.

Additional audio system processing, including Dante distribution and interfacing with the venues fire evacuation system was achieved with a BSS BLU-806 signal processor.

The Stardome system is used on heavy rotation daily by various Stardome operators, including volunteers. It was essential that a user-friendly operating system was implemented that could be understood and operated by all. Avid Automation designed a custom touch panel interface known as ‘TP Mode’ that could be used to operate the system via the touch panel or switch the system over to ‘Console Mode’ where the Soundcraft Si Performer digital mixer with Dante card and MSB16 stage box was the main controller for live performance events.

The interface was designed in collaboration with the client to ensure it was easy and intuitive to use. Specific ‘dark mode’ colour palates were chosen to not only minimise light pollution within the observatory during shows but to also tie in with the Soundcraft Fader Glow colour coded layers of the Si Performer for continuity.

Darian Sundar concludes: “The HARMAN Professional range of products and JPRO were the only choice for us and our client to achieve all the objectives with minimal downtime. It is not only about the product; it is also about the knowledge pool that you tap into and the service you get and with this in mind everyone one benefitted.”

Apart from its role in the Church, the Cathedral has a number of functions as it serves an important civic and national role in New Zealand. It is frequently used to host services of particular attention or significant events, while the fine acoustics in the Cathedral make it a sought after venue for concerts, both choral and orchestral.

Sound reinforcement plays a critical role in the Cathedral, where the tonal balance needs to be just right, complementing the natural acoustics of the building with amplified and distributed sound, ensuring that the spoken word and music accompaniment can be clearly heard.

David Kendall Audio Visual was tasked with the sound system upgrade where leading sound system technologies were needed for the sanctuary and surrounding areas. Due to their professional audio expertise and ability to provide unique custom designs, David Kendall chose supplier JPRO to partner on the project.

“This was always going to be a challenging job – over the years quite a few people have had a crack at it,” says David Kendall, Integrator. “Thanks to the technology provided by HARMAN solutions, we were able to make big improvements while staying within the church’s budget. Lots of work went into getting the design right and even more into the installation and tuning. I am very proud of what we achieved with a very tricky acoustic space. And now the Anglican Church have a usable Cathedral space in Wellington.”

Paul Edlin and the technical design team from JPRO designed the networked audio and distribution system for the Cathedral. Soundcraft Si Impact, JBL Intellivox and CBT array column speakers and BSS Soundweb processing form the primary parts of the audio distribution, critical for the sensitive nature of the acoustics in the venue.

“One of the main objectives with the system design was to ensure that the sound energy produced by the loudspeakers was distributed evenly in the areas needed, avoiding any unnecessary reflections that could negatively affect the sound and acoustics,” states Paul Edlin. “The JBL Intellivox and CBT line array column speakers were selected as they have been manufactured to work in challenging acoustic spaces and they are perfect for speech and music.”

Earlier generation Intellivox speakers had been used as part of the previous sound system and these were re-configured and re-deployed into the system upgrade.

The main part of the Cathedral – the front Nave – is covered using JBL Intellivox DS280 Active Beamshaping Array loudspeakers which are capable of maintaining a constant sound pressure level up to 35 metres. These speakers have on-board amplification and DSP that are able to adjust to the acoustic requirements of the venue. The existing Intellivox DC280 speakers were redeployed into the rear Nave of the Cathedral.

JBL CBT-50 and CBT-100 line array column speakers, powered by Crown DCi Amplification were used for the Chancel, Choir and Front Fills.

As for the audio processing and distribution, audio is passed in and out of 2x BSS BLU-100 processors and a Soundcraft Si Impact digital mixing console. Basic education and smart system design has allowed simple operation for everyone; offering uncomplicated functionality for lay people, yet great flexibility for skilled AV operators. A BLU-100 was configured to be used as a stage box, allowing for ease of use during liturgy and preaching, as the microphones are automatically mixed using the Soundweb automix function. Control is done via an iPad with the ViSi App and the Si Impact digital mixer is used when greater control is required and for guest artists when the venue is used for concerts.

“The sound system usually has an upgrade every 10 years or so,” says the Dean of Wellington Reverend Digby Wilkinson. “I am very happy with this upgrade – the sound quality, coverage and control provided by the system is a huge improvement and it sounds fantastic!”

Events Manager and Assistant Director of Music Richard Apperley adds: “I expended a lot of nervous energy while the sound system work was underway. I am now extremely happy having heard it in action. Many thanks to David Kendall and the JPRO team for the expertise and hard work they displayed during the installation – you’re legends!”

The Opportunity

New Zealand’s most exclusive retreat Helena Bay Lodge is an 800-acre luxury resort situated in the stunning Bay of Islands. With a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces including four private beaches, a gym, massage room, swimming pool, library, lounge areas, and multiple dining areas, the facility needed a centrally controlled AV system that could comprehensively cover the residences and common areas of the resort.

To address this, JPRO worked in conjunction with Liquid Automation and ABL Group to design a cutting-edge HARMAN AV solution featuring Crown amplifiers and BSS processing. The new HARMAN solution offers complete control of the resort’s audio, lighting and video distribution systems, and integrates seamlessly with the existing building management system.

The Solution

A BSS Soundweb London BLU-800 networked signal processor and Crown DriveCore Install Series amplifiers provide networked control of 46 audio zones spread out over the property, with 126 channels of audio inputs. The system distributes audio over the network to multiple locations, and then via BLU-link to the Crown DCi-N multi-channel network amplifiers. The audio distribution system is monitored remotely, which was a requirement due to the isolated location of the lodge.

The Impact

Darian from Liquid Automation comments “All the sources and outputs were run in stereo which created a complex audio matrix. To handle this many channels we had to turn to a high-end professional audio solution and BSS Soundweb was the obvious and only choice as it is known for sound quality, reliability and flexibility.”

Liquid Automation and ABL Group also won the “Best Special Project” and “Best Design and Documentation” awards at both CEDIA Asia/Pacific and CEDIA Americas for this state-of-the-art installation.

About Helena Bay Lodge, New Zealand

Expectations are high here when you consider the $5m per guest investment: this unique $50M property has just five suites, accommodating no more than ten guests. And while financial investment doesn’t guarantee luxury and service, we are pleased to report that it does here. Every conceivable luxury is to hand. The architecture and décor is intentionally on the bland side, so as not to distract from the beautiful surrounding landscape. This is destined to become one of the world’s best hotels.

The Opportunity

The premiere entertainment destination is home to 22 of Auckland’s top restaurants and bars, a convention centre with up to 21 function rooms, two hotels and a 700-seat theatre. The Sky Tower, at 328 metres, is the tallest man-made structure in New Zealand, and offers views of up to 80km in every direction.

Co-ordinating and controlling audio on a site this diverse involves many challenges. There are several background music and television audio sources that need to be distributed to each zone, as well as local inputs in each area. Each of these sources needs to be available in every zone, and then prioritised depending on the function, or type of promotion that is running in that area.

The Solution

To gain this functionality and flexibility, SkyCity changed to the BSS BLU family of digital audio processors in 1995, and has grown to be New Zealand’s largest Soundweb installation.

The system currently consists of more than 35 BSS BLU processors and numerous ethernet control panels. Audio is distributed around the site using Dante.

The site is powered by a number of multi channel Crown DriveCore CDi and DCi installation amplifiers.

Each restaurant or bar within SkyCity has been architecturally designed and themed. Whether it be a discrete Control Contractor ceiling speaker, or something more stylised like the unobtrusive Pendant series, JBL’s extensive catalogue of purpose-built speakers help deliver that vision to the customer while maintaining the highest standards in audio fidelity. The site now totals more than 500 JBL speakers of various models.

Some venues in the complex have local control using AMX or Crestron interfaces, while a site-wide control interface has been created within the London Architect software.

The Great Hall is its centrepiece, seating up to 1,529 people in theatre-style on three levels. Designed for live performances, it includes a 17 metre stud and permanent concert platform. To ensure an exceptional audio experience for patrons with consistent, reliable sound coverage, the Great Hall received an audio upgrade to a JBL Professional high performance audio system. Auckland Live contracted Liquid Automation for the supply, programming and installation of the system.

Liquid Automation’s Commercial Sales Team noted that there were several important considerations when contemplating the design for this audio system, which were re-enforced by their customer Auckland Live who had very high expectations for its performance.

Firstly the heritage status – any system would need to be approved by the heritage panel so that it could not be any more obtrusive than the existing system and the Loudspeakers had to blend in with the existing colour scheme and overall look of the reflector panels.

Secondly the system must be easy to use for day to day operation as the Town Hall is a multi-use venue and the operators needed to be able to reconfigure the system to allow any combination of speaker zones to be activated, and it should be configurable as delay support for temporary PA systems when required.

The technical considerations included the redesigning and installation of new speaker brackets within the permitted loading limits, providing consistent sound coverage across the three vertical levels of seating, achieving good speech intelligibility from the audio system within a reverberant venue, fixing historical issues with noise in the audio chain caused by the mains power supply in the venue, the long cable runs between amplifiers and speakers and, the long analogue cable runs between the operating positions and amplifiers.

With a building of this heritage, three design approaches were considered: firstly a Line Array solution (JBL VTX), secondly a Steerable Array Column solution (JBL Intellivox) and thirdly a Point Source Cluster solution (JBL PD – Precision Directivity).

Careful consideration was given to each approach including in-depth modelling and system design. After a detailed review of all options the JBL Precision Directivity Point Source Cluster was considered to be a highly effective approach.

The PD6322 Full Range Three-Way Loudspeakers and the PD6212 Full Range Two-Way Loudspeakers allowed excellent vertical and horizontal pattern control and, good bandwidth response down to 40hz (PD6322) as well as the ability to precisely aim the cluster and in keeping with the aesthetic of the previous system.

Liquid Automation’s Commercial Project Manager and Shore Engineering Ltd co-designed the main central cluster array bracket to allow fine adjustment “pan/tilt” of every speaker in the cluster. The speaker angles were set in precise alignment in accordance with the computer modelling.

To complement the PD central cluster, JBL Application Engineered Series AC16 two way compact loudspeakers were installed under the balcony areas and were also used for stage fills and delays. The AC16 speakers offered high output and high fidelity which was required for the system brief of a multi-use sound system.

JBL CBT70J Constant Beamwidth Technology™ Two Way Line Array Column speakers were used for Circle delays. “The asymmetrical vertical coverage of these speakers sends more sound towards the far area of room to make front-to-back sound levels more consistent,” says Paul Edlin, Audio Designer at JPRO. “This made these speakers the perfect choice for the circle delays.”

Dante Audio was enabled using BSS BLU Processors allowing for a noise free digital backbone of up to 128 channels between the three critical locations – the control booth, the lower plant room below stage floor and the upper amplifier rack in the town hall roof.

All three were connected via fibre optic cable. The BSS Soundweb network provides complete routing options between all three locations as well as automated scenes to enable any combination of speakers to be turned on or off which allows for maximum flexibility.

Using Harman’s own HiQnet Audio Architect control software, Liquid Automation provided an elegant user interface using a touch screen PC to help the operator quickly and easily switch between the required modes to fine tune the setup. Audio Architect gives the system administrator one software platform to help manage and control the critical components in the system in real time including BSS Soundweb (routing), Crown ITech amplifiers (main cluster) and Crown DCI Amplifiers (all delay speakers).

Continuing on with a need to make the system fully digital, the Digital Mixing Console chosen was the Soundcraft Si Performer as it allowed direct connection to Soundweb (via Dante) while also allowing a fibre optic stage box to be run to the stage for additional patching (via Madi).

Auckland Live Technical Operations staff and clients have commented on the excellent audio in the Great Hall. “The versatility of the system has reduced the need to install temporary sound reinforcement systems for events. Back-up and support from JPRO through initial teething issues has been excellent.”

In September, 2010, Mother Nature dealt a cruel blow to the southern region. The roof of Southland Stadium collapsed under the heaviest snowfall seen in decades, causing extensive damage to the main arena and seven community courts. From adversity has sprung a new stunning multi purpose venue, capable of conducting a wide range of event modes from large scale concerts to sporting events and exhibitions.

The main SBS Sports Arena in the stadium has a capacity of 4,500, with retractable seating. The stadium also has eleven other community basketball, netball and volleyball courts, four rebound Ace tennis courts, four squash courts and several business / function rooms.

The audio equipment is installed in two racks. The first, in the main plant room, consists of three BSS BLU series processors – a BLU-800 for processing, two BLU-120’s for input and output expansion, and two Crown CTS8200CN multi-channel, Cobranet amplifiers.

Minimizing cable run lengths was an important aspect of the stadium system design, so the second equipment rack was located on the gantry level above the stadium floor. This rack houses a second BLU-800 processor, a BLU-BOB and eleven Crown MacroTech HD amplifiers. Audio transport between the two rack locations is via Cobranet digital networked audio.

Twenty two JBL Precision Directivity PD5322 speakers cover the main arena seating. These are switchable in pairs for maximum flexibility and level matching through the stands, and to allow areas to be turned off when not in use.

The Community Courts and foyer are covered by JBL CBT-70J speakers, and other areas supplemented by JBL Control 47C/T in-ceiling speakers and Control 67HC-T high ceiling pendant speakers.