Maybe you already heard of one of the most recent productions by La Monnaie? It was the famous opera Lucia di Lammermoor, performed in April last at Cirque Royal for which Amptec did the entire audio installation. This was an interesting challenge for us to do an Optocore set up and to introduce the newest crop of d&b: the T-series.
For the signal distribution system the technical team of La Monnaie opted for Optocore for several reasons. The fact that all destinations are digital, the possibility of synchronous and redundant transport of audio, video and data, bridging long distances and ultra low latency are just some of the many features that convinced them to use Optocore.
Besides, VRT radio too used an Optocore system to capture their multitrack radio recordings, so using Optocore meant VRT could connect to the system.
La Monnaie used an Optocore network consisting of five devices: a LX4AP stagebox with 48 high quality preamps and 16 line outs, two sets of YG2-YS2 cards for the PM5D (FOH) and M7CL (monitors), a DD32E AES converter to drive the d&b amps, all equipped with AES inputs, and a DD4ME MADI converter to drive the house recording system and to connect the second ring used by the VRT.
VRT used a separate Optocore ring with a MADI box, to receive max 64 channels from La Monnaie, an extra LX4AP stagebox to receive the 24 extra recording mikes. All these signals where converted back to analog via a LX4B and a DD32e equipped with X6 line out modules.
During the design of the system, the decision was made to use two separate rings (connected via MADI) for the signal distribution since both the FOH and the recording engineer wished to have control over the network. The FOH technician used a PM5D to control gains of his part of the ring. The recording engineer used a PC to control his part of the network. In total VRT received all 48 channels used by the FOH technician and an extra 24 used for recording mikes.
Not only audio but also video and LAN were transported over the Optocore network.
When starting to work on the design of the PA system, many difficult criteria and difficulties emerged: the approach had to be semi acoustical, amplification had to be done at very low levels (singers weren’t amplified), the system had to be ‘invisible’, hidden between the trees. In addition to these criteria came the size of the venue, its shape and weight limits for the flying.
d&b came just in time with the launch of its new T-series, in the beginning of 2009: in comparison to the Q-series, which we wanted to used originally, the T10 is less in weight, its dispersion is wider (so we could use less sources) and with less amplifiers we could attain a very satisfactory result.