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A perspective of the Miami Symphony performing at the Moore Elastika Building, with coverage provided by QSC CP and K.2 Series loudspeakers. Photo credit: Worldredeye.com

QSC Loudspeakers Support Unique Miami Symphony Orchestra Concert

CP and K.2 Series help optimize coverage in an unusual performance space.

For Miami Symphony Orchestra (MISO) concerts in unique venues such as the Moore Elastika Building — originally a 1920s furniture store and now an art gallery and event space in the heart of the Design District — events contractor Pete Diaz Productions chose to deploy QSC loudspeakers, specifically, a host of CP8 compact powered units, K12.2 active models, and KW181 active subwoofers.

“The Moore Building is a centerpiece of the Miami Design District, and the Miami Symphony does several shows there every season,” says Peter Diaz, Jr. “We’re their preferred vendor for audio; we use QSC speakers for everything the audience hears as well as the orchestra’s monitors.”

The room comprises a main floor ringed by three levels of mezzanines, with the soaring atrium creating an acoustical challenge for the Diaz team in attempting to ensure that audience members heard the same sound no matter where they were seated. “The challenge in this venue is the floor plan,” Diaz notes. “The orchestra is set up on the main floor, with some of the audience seated there as well. You also have some of the audience seated on the balconies, which surround the main floor on all four sides. So we had to consider independent listening zones for the different areas.”

Richard Gomez, an engineer for Pete Diaz Productions who operated the event, determined that the irregular spaces would be best served by a large number of small point-sources as opposed to a lesser number of large speakers, and gravitated to the QSC CP8. “The dimensions of the QSC CP8 were key,” says Diaz. “The ceilings in the mezzanine areas are not high, maybe eight feet. The CP8s were so unobtrusive and could be mounted in a variety of ways. And the fact that they have 90 degrees of nice, even coverage let us make sure everyone was having the same listening experience.

A QSC K.2 loudspeaker deployed in support of a Miami Symphony concert at the unique venue.

“We wound up buying 16 of them to spread throughout the venue, plus four of the KW181 subs to distribute the extra lows of instruments like double bass and timpani. This allowed us to basically establish a separate sonic zone per floor. The K12.2 loudspeakers, which are fuller range and larger, are used as long-throw fills and monitors for the orchestra on the ground floor.

“Everyone is really, really delighted with the QSC CP8,” he concludes. “We regularly receive very positive comments about the sound from the audience members. Musicians in the orchestra have commented that they can hear players in other sections better. The musical director, Maestro Marturet, is an extremely accomplished guy and he’s very happy with the sound as well.”

QSC
Pete Diaz Productions

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