Located in a 120-year-old former glass factory in Queens that later became the manufacturer of door frame products, Knockdown Center now hosts live performances and events that are supported by a new sound reinforcement system utilizing L-Acoustics components in a design and installation by Boulevard Carroll Entertainment Group (which has offices in New York City and New Jersey).
“We were long overdue to get something more substantial,” says Knockdown Center marketing manager Daniel Martin-McCormick. “Especially with a very busy calendar that covers a wide array of different genres, including a lot of electronic music that really needs powerful sound, as well as world-class pop and metal performers who also need a different type of impactful.”
In addition to its highly varied show lineup, Knockdown Center also has to accommodate a range of event scales—“sometimes it’s 3,200 people, sometimes it’s 1,800, or even under 1,000,” he says. “So, the new rig had to be something that would cover that full range. It couldn’t under-power a larger show or over-power a smaller one.”
The main system comprises 14 K2 enclosures divided into left-right arrays with two A15 per side as outfills. In addition, seven K3 per side as well as two A15 per side are arrayed as delay loudspeakers further down the length of the main hall. These, along with four A15 fills and four Kara II frontfills, become the main PA system when only a smaller portion of the room is used for an event. Only the system’s KS21 subwoofers and frontfills need to be moved for this reconfiguration; the rest of the retuning is done via presets in the LA Network Manager software and P1 processor. A combination of LA12X and LA4X power the entire system, including an assortment of X12 speakers used as wedge monitors on stage.
“This is a challenging venue in that there are a lot of possibilities for reflections, including the brick walls, the floor, lots of wooden and iron beams, and more,” explains Daryl Moore, Boulevard Carroll Entertainment Group’s head of audio. “There are also a lot of empty spaces in the rafters where sound can get lost. Combining that with their need to adjust for different-sized events and shows was pretty complex. Fortunately, the L-Acoustics systems were more than enough to meet all those needs.”
Anthony Fischetta, CFO at Boulevard Carroll Entertainment Group, says the system makes sense as a business proposition for Knockdown Center since venues must be as flexible as possible to accommodate a wide range and size of events. “It’s become much more competitive, and they want to book as many different types of events as possible, so the sound system has to be able to deal with everything,” he says. “The way we have the system designed and deployed, it can handle everything from big music concerts to more intimate art events, and every event gets the sound it needs.” And, he adds, the P1’s deft processing helps ensure that the sound stays on the audience and away from reflective surfaces, assuring the quality of the coverage.
The maiden voyage for the venue’s L-Acoustics system took place in late July when the venue hosted OUTLIER with Bonobo doing a DJ set and performances by Jacques Greene, Romare, O’Flynn, and Juan Maclean. “Knockdown Center’s first shows with the new rig have covered a wide range of styles, and the sound has more than kept up with them all,” says Moore. “The bands and artists have absolutely loved the sound.”
