Owla, a 270-square-meter space for a range of live events that’s housed in a 1904-constructed former center for worship in Bruges, Belgium, has been outfitted with an installed sound system utilizing CODA Audio N-RAY line arrays and supporting components.
Owla contacted audio specialists Studio Haifax to supply and install a new system, with the company’s Pieter Begard recommending N-RAY to replace the existing setup. He consulted with CODA distributor Viladco’s Hans Engelen over the system design, and using CODA System Optimiser 3D modeling software, they were able to design a system that could overcome what was an awkward room layout.
The final system comprises a main PA of eight N-RAY modules and two SCN-F 15-inch sensor-controlled low frequency extensions per side, with an additional center cluster of four N-RAY elements and a cardioid arrangement of nine SCV-F 18-inch subwoofers beneath the stage. Dual HOPS loudspeakers deliver infill and six HOPS8 serve as delays, with all audio power provided by CODA LINUS14 and LINUS10C DSP amplifiers.
“It was quite a difficult setup because of the layout of the room,” Begard explains. “The main PA couldn’t cover the entire space because there were overlapping audience zones on the left and right sides. To compensate for the height difference, we flew the SCN-F subs in the center of the left and right arrays. To maintain sight lines, the center cluster was necessary to freshen up the center area of the venue between the left and right balconies, since they were shadowing the main left/right array. The HOPS8 were used under the balconies.
“Because the stage depth can be altered, the main PA was mounted on a motorised rail so that it can be automatically moved up to two metres forward. The different presets on the amps ensure that this movement is taken into account.”
Following a fast turn around on delivery and installation, the system was tuned and aligned by freelance audio professional Tim Martens, enabling Owla to deliver its busy and varied program of events without delay.
