|  | |
| It is a new world for DAS Compact 1 |
The very latest DAS Audio sound reinforcement system was specified for the European premier production of the hit Broadway musical Songs For A New World. The new production, which had a nine day run at The Old Fire Station Theatre during the recent ‘Oxford Festival of Theatre’, was sound designed by Giles Sutton, who specified the new DAS COMPACT 1 3-way, self powered cabs.
Giles, who this year graduated from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts with a BA Honours in Sound Technology, previously sound designed the show in a highly successful student production at LIPA; where it played to packed houses for a week. He was therefore already familiar with the level of reinforcement he was going to need for the seven voices on stage and four piece electric band in the pit.
Having worked with the DAS house system in LIPA’s Paul McCartney Auditorium, Giles contacted UK distributor Sennheiser to find out if there was anything in the DAS inventory that would provide a similar level of sound quality, that could be flown in the theatre with a minimum of fuss. As luck would have it, the very first production COMPACT 1s had just arrived in the country that week. Any scepticism that two of these cabs were sufficient to cover the auditorium was dispelled on power-up, as the diminutively sized, class-D switching bi-amped cabs output up to 133 dB SPL.
”As the score is rhythm based with a real soul accent,” explains Giles, ”we needed a system that could fill the room. The COMPACT 1’s have mids and highs that are really sympathetic to vocals and even though I knew DAS would give us a big sound without the need for overall EQ, I was genuinely surprised when we plugged them in. I immediately gave up any thoughts of hiring extra subs, but I suppose dedicated 500 W amps feeding 15” drivers help.”
Matt Smith, the shows Producer, pianist and Musical Director also rated the system very highly; ”With complex vocal performances featuring close harmonies, it‘s all too easy to lose the clarity and richness of the voices. This wasn’t even an issue with the DAS system and we received several compliments from members of the audience on the intelligibility of the lyrics. Of course a lot of this is down to the performers and Giles, but the COMPACT 1’s allowed the whole show to come alive. We’re able to combine a band, including electric bass, a full kit, sequencers, keys and driving left hand piano with a vocal blend that put the intricate score across with volume and clarity.”
The Joker79 production of Songs For A New World in association with LIPA, has already won a major award for Best Production at the ‘Festival de Theatre’ in Lausanne, Switzerland and plans are being made to present at a theatre festival in Korea in 2002 and to take the show on a UK educational tour in the Spring of 2002.
The DAS COMPACT 1 is a highly versatile, bi-amplified, three-way trapezoidal system cab, featuring class D switching self-powered amplification at a uniquely competitive price point. Configurable as a powerful stand alone full-range unit, or as a mid-high range partner to a dedicated low end system, the COMPACT 1 represents unrivalled quality, performance and cost efficiency in the highly competitive mid-price sound reinforcement market, for either portable PA or fixed installation applications.
The class D amplification delivers considerable advantage in terms of weight-to-power, dynamic response and efficiency, and provides 500 W (RMS) each to the low frequency driver and the mid-high section.
The low frequency section employs a 15” driver (with 4” voice coil), mid range is handled by a horn loaded 6” cone loudspeaker and the M-5 1” exit compression driver, with 2” titanium diaphragm, completes the array and is coupled with a constant directivity horn to provide enhanced high frequency pattern control and definition. Input, Satellite Output and Thru Speakon connectors are included.
Optional Ancra Track flying hardware enables safe and simple suspension and permits fast vert
ical angle variation for precise coverage. 16 M10 eyebolt based points are also included for fixed installation applications.
D.A.S. Audio, based in Valencia, Spain, has been designing and manufacturing loudspeakers and audio components to the highest standards since the 1970’s. Components used in the manufacture of its loudspeakers are designed and manufactured exclusively at its own plant. D.A.S. Audio is distributed exclusively by Sennheiser in the UK.
SENNHEISER UK
For further information:
Sally Milne
SENNHEISER UK LTD
Tel: + 44 (0) 1494 551 551
Editors’ Contact:
Peter Jones
KGa press + communications
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7836 8088
|
| | |
