HEP HALL, a theatre/performance space located on the eighth floor of a large-scale shopping mall and entertainment center in Japan’s Umeda commercial district of Kita-ku, recently underwent a recent technical upgrade headlined by Martin Audio CDD-LIVE self-powered loudspeakers.
“HEP HALL has been popular as a theatre venue for a long time. However, since the previous permanently installed loudspeakers were a fixed left-right proscenium system, a separate PA often had to be brought in by touring productions,” explains the venue’s manager, Mr. Marui, from management company D Jam Create. “As we have now added a portable CDD-LIVE solution to the original PA, it has given us more flexibility; it means production teams no longer need to carry their PA, and we can handle various events in different parts of the building — not only plays but also live music.”
One set of CDD-LIVE 12 and SXP118 subwoofers can now be deployed at both sides of the stage, where wide coverage is maintained without the need for in fills. In addition, four more CDD-LIVE 12 loudspeakers are available for use as stage monitors. The main power distribution rack, installed at stage left, is equipped with a power supply panel with circuit breakers, enabling more flexible layout. In addition, Dante network audio is adopted for sending and receiving signals, and “plug and play” is facilitated by connecting the power supply and LAN cables.
“We needed this degree of flexibility, as the layout changes according to the event,” Marui notes. “For example we can bring the speakers to the ground floor lobby and hold a PA event there. With that in mind, it makes sense to have a self-powered system.”
In addition to CDD-LIVE, the Dante network also includes a Yamaha QL console and Shure wireless systems. Even when combined with a simple analog mixer for a lobby event, CDD-LIVE can be used with an analog connection without any setting change.
“I really like the fact that this system is more powerful than it looks,” he concludes. “I hope Covid-19 settles down quickly so that this system can be used at many events in the future.”
