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Audio Video Electronics Implements Tannoy QFlex At St. Frances Basilica

Home to one of the oldest Catholic congregations in the United States, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is sometimes referred to as the heart of Santa Fe, and for good reason. Although the Cathedral Basilica was dedicated in 1887, the site has been a focal point of worship for the community since 1610.

The first church built where the current structure now stands was destroyed during the Pueblo Indian Revolt of 1680, but another was built to replace it in 1714; a portion of which still stands within the existing building – a small adobe chapel dedicated to Our Lady La Conquistadora housing the oldest representation of the Virgin Mary in the nation.

In addition to serving the spiritual needs of it’s own congregation, the Cathedral Basilica’s rich history attracts approximately 100,000 visitors annually. As beautiful as the Cathedral is, however, for some years it has had a problem, says Wanda Vint, Director, Development and Donor Relations at the Cathedral Basilica. Put bluntly: “You couldn’t clearly hear the word of God.”

With the August 2011 installation of a state of the art sound system that depends heavily on a pair of Tannoy QFlex digitally steerable column arrays that’s all changed.

The major thrust behind the project was a 2009 visit made by the Cathedral’s Rev. Monsignor Jerome Martinez y Alire to the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis. Surprised that such an old and similarly acoustically reverberant space could sound so good, he asked who had designed and installed the system and was referred to Minnesota-based, Audio Video Electronics (AVE).

The project that initially caught the Monsignor’s ear was undertaken before QFlex was available, explains Kevin Crow, AVE’s VP of sales and marketing, but both spaces had similar issues: “In the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, the RT was 5 to 6 seconds in the mid frequency band.”

In order to meet the Cathedral Basilica’s needs, Stefan Svard, AVE President and system designer, specified a pair of Tannoy QFlex 40s. Placed on a pair of columns roughly 6 feet above the floor just in front of the altar, the QFlex provide coverage to approximately 75 percent of the 1200-capacity, 90 – 65 foot space. They also provide low frequency support throughout the nave, the south transept, and the Our Lady La Conquistadora chapel.

Additionally, smaller Community Entasys arrays were installed as rear fills for the nave, and to provide reinforcement for the chapel and other ancillary spaces.

Basic EQ, tuning and system commissioning was done via Tannoy’s proprietary VNET software, with the processing handled by the onboard DSP within each QFlex, Svard says, but the system also incorporates a Lectrosonics Aspen DSP to handle mic mixing for the Earthwerks FM series podium condenser microphones specified by AVE, and matrixing for both the QFlex 40 and the additional fill speakers. The Lectrosonics Aspen is controlled by an iPad, which allows users to adjust volume levels easily depending on the type of service in progress, how much of the space is in use and the number of congregants present at any given time.

Naturally, the Cathedral Basilica’s atmosphere had an impact on the choice of QFlex, as did the ability to diagnose any issues the church might have using the QFlex array’s remote monitoring capabilities. But the main reason for choosing QFlex, Svard says, was experience. When he first heard QFlex he was cautious in his assessment. After a shootout with a competitor’s product in a St. Cloud, Minnesota house of worship, however, his opinion changed.

“We’ve done a number of Catholic churches, going back 6 or 7 years, using various steerable array products. Every product has strong points and weak points, but in that case, Tannoy’s QFlex was the clear winner.”

“If I’m in the front, middle or back of a room, the EQ that I need to correct is the same,” he continues. “Other products I’ve used shift in character. QFlex is the only product of its kind that retains its frequency response – its spectral consistency – across its coverage pattern.”

The result is a dramatic improvement in speech intelligibility and the sound quality of both background music and live performances by the Cathedral Basilica’s choir. Still, Vint was concerned some parishioners would not welcome the technology, particularly those who were uncertain they needed a new system, or that it might detract from the church’s historic atmosphere. “But the sound is so clear, we haven’t had any complaints at all.”

Monsignor Jerome Martinez y Alire is equally satisfied: “The sound quality is incredible, as is the appearance of the loudspeakers themselves. We were concerned about how modern speakers would look in such an old, historic church – with custom paint finish to match our walls they all but disappear. The clear, audible sound is a gift to our parishioners and visitors alike.”

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dBTechnologies is an Italian-based speaker manufacturer, leading in the Touring & Live sound market by providing innovative audio solutions. Their flagship ViO series is made up of an entirely active/self-powered series of loudspeakers. The dBT lineup also includes passive loudspeakers, software, and amplifiers, all delivering uncompromising performance. dBTechnologies speakers headline some of the largest festivals and concerts worldwide, setting standards in both Live and Installation markets.