As part of their ongoing development of sound services available in the Royal Albert Hall, Sound By Design have upgraded their permanent installation in the building, as well as designing a new line-array based centre cluster.

The permanent Sound By Design owned Meyer Sound MSL-2A/ UPA-1C based centre cluster system that resides in the hall has had amplification and cabling upgrades enabling the permanent inclusion of UPA-1A's as truss fills for the balcony ends and choir areas, replacing the MPS-355 loudspeakers which formed the original installation. This now means that when Sound By Design utilise one of their up-rated centre cluster designs for a larger show, there is no need to swap the truss fills - enabling a much faster turnaround of shows, which is an important consideration given our 140 shows-a-year schedule at RAH.

Additional improvements to the existing permanent install also include a new ground-floor infrastructure install with custom hybrid mains + signal cables running all of the permanent self-powered fills and subs, enabling Sound By Design engineers to have ground systems up and running in a matter of minutes, complimenting any of the flown options they supply.

The system utilises a centre hang of M2D, with outer hangs of M1D, driven by Meyer LD-3 air-compensating line drivers. The centre cluster is complimented by the new truss-fills installation, and a ground system comprising Meyer CQ-1s, UPA-1Ps, UPJ-1Ps, UPM-1Ps and 650-P subs. The whole installation has been aligned by Senior Engineer Phil Wright using Meyer Sound's proprietary SIM II System.

Utilising their new and existing infrastructure, Sound By Design can now have a fully flown, aligned and functioning concert system ready to rehearse in just two hours, saving valuable rehearsal time for double-show day clients like BBC Proms and Raymond Gubbay Ltd.

On a "Stacks & Racks" basis, the system has already found favour with FOH engineers and managers alike, and has been kept busy with work ranging from "Jose Carreras" at the classical end of the spectrum, to "Stuudmen!" (Icelandic Progressive Rockers) providing confirmation that it can definitely deliver a full-on Rock & Roll show.

Sound By Design in-house productions with the new system have included a range of large-scale classical concerts including the "UNHCR Concert for Darfur", "Siti Nurhaliza in concert with the LSO" and "Classical Response" in aid of SOS Children as well as corporate work including the Institute of Directors AGM.

For further information please contact Andy Callin or Phil Wright