“The amps breath in clean air venting out of the stage, keeping them away from audience air which can be less than ideal for amplifiers,” Kenney explains. “I’m not concerned about cooling because we have never had to push the system hard enough to worry about heat.”
The stage offers plenty of monitoring options, including eight EAW Microwedge MW12 wedges, two MW15s, and two Microsub subwoofers.
These too are driven by Powersoft amplifiers – two K3s for the subs, four M30Ds for mids and a 4-channel M28Q on the highs.
They, and two more two more UX8800 digital processors, are kept in a road case on stage.
Earning A Rep
A new house mix/control position was built in the back of the room, with Kenney in the process of evaluating the “right” mixing console. After trying several models, he’s been renting an Avid VENUE SC48 that he admits to favoring.
“Although the final decision on which board to purchase has not been made, I can say that the SC48 fits our needs better than anything else we’ve tried,” he adds. “It doesn’t take up too much space, is easy to use and is familiar to most touring engineers. It also has a lot of excellent features.”
With all of the major pieces in place, the newly renovated Beacham Theater opened this past January.
Although some cosmetic upgrades are still in process along with a “to-do” list of patron amenities to be added, the venue has already been earning a positive reputation as a live performance space.
“At the end of the day, what really matters is if the system sounds good, and in fact, it sounds great,” Kenney says. “We’ve had so many compliments from bands, engineers and the audience. When everyone is happy, you know you put together the right system.”