CSA Indonesia selects JBL, Crown, AKG, Soundcraft, BSS and dbx solutions to deliver high-quality audio across multiple hotels and clubs

BALI, Indonesia—CSA Indonesia recently equipped several ARTOTEL Group properties across Indonesia with complete audio solutions from HARMAN Professional Solutions.

Founded in 2010, ARTOTEL Group operates a brand of art-inspired hotels and beach clubs in many Indonesian cities, including Bali, Jakarta, Surabaya and more. To create unique and immersive atmospheres for its guests, each ARTOTEL features a specially-curated collection of artwork by local artists. In order to provide guests with premium audio quality for a wide range of areas, activities and events, ARTOTEL Group hired CSA Indonesia to outfit all of their properties with state-of-the-art sound systems. To ensure consistently superb audio experiences across all ARTOTEL Group properties, CSA Indonesia selected end-to-end HARMAN networked audio systems consisting of solutions by JBL, Crown, AKG, dbx, Soundcraft and BSS.

“We asked CSA Indonesia to supply our hotels and beach clubs with robust state-of-the-art audio solutions,” said Eduard Rudolf Pangkerego, COO, ARTOTEL Group. “We love the HARMAN systems, which provide exceptional sound quality, coverage and versatility for a wide range of events and functions. With many new hotels under construction now, we look forward to continuing to work with CSA Indonesia and HARMAN, which is critical to ensuring consistently top-tier audio experiences across all properties.”  

CSA Indonesia installed an array of JBL Professional loudspeakers to deliver optimized clarity and coverage in the wide range of environments throughout ARTOTEL Group’s properties. To ensure powerful and intelligible sound for musical performances and events, CSA Indonesia outfitted the convention spaces with JBL EON Series speakers and SRX Series subwoofers, while JRX 212 speakers provide accurate stage monitoring. Versatile JBL AWC All-Weather Series speakers and subwoofers provide high quality audio for indoor and outdoor events. CSA Indonesia installed JBL Control 25AV compact indoor/outdoor speakers, Control SB2210 compact subwoofers and JBL 8128 in-ceiling speakers to provide elegant ambience in the hotel’s lobby, restaurant, bar and exterior areas.

All speakers are powered by Crown CDi Series and XTi 2 Series amplifiers, with multi-zone control supplied by dbx ZonePro 1260 digital zone processors. For networking of the convention and meeting spaces, CSA Indonesia installed BSS Soundweb London BLU-100 audio processors and EC-8BV wall controllers to enable easy volume control and source selection locally in each space.

“Hotels and beach clubs require reliable and versatile audio solutions to ensure excellent sound quality for many kinds of events, moods and spaces,” said Setiawan Winarto, CEO, CSA Indonesia. “ARTOTEL is very satisfied with the quality provided by the HARMAN systems, and their seamless integration allowed us to better serve each unique space. We chose to use HARMAN systems because they consistently deliver the best complete audio solutions for any environment, and for a complex multi-property project like this, you can’t beat HARMAN’s reliability.”   

Events at ARTOTEL hotels and beach clubs benefit from the excellent wireless performance and sound quality of AKG WMS420 wireless microphone sets. For high-energy music performances, CSA Indonesia included AKG D5 dynamic vocal microphones, which delivers incredible gain before feedback to make vocals cut through any band mix. Finally, to ensure top-notch mixes at a wide range of large events and small functions, CSA Indonesia installed Soundcraft Expression Series digital consoles and EPM Series analog mixers.

“We feel honored to be associated with ARTOTEL Group properties, and appreciate the amount of confidence they have placed in our solutions,” said Ramesh Jayaraman, VP & GM, HARMAN Professional Solutions, APAC. “An installation project of this scale requires meticulous planning, technical knowledge and attention to detail. We commend CSA Indonesia for their innovative support and customer-first approach, and we thank them for their continued faith in HARMAN solutions.”

Strawberry Sound select JBL VTX Series speakers and Soundcraft Vi Series consoles to power wide range of performances

DUNEDIN, New Zealand—Strawberry Sound recently deployed a complete sound reinforcement system by HARMAN Professional Solutions at Dunedin Town Hall for the 2017 APRA Silver Scroll Awards.

The APRA Silver Scroll Awards is an annual music awards ceremony recognizing the achievements and success of New Zealand-based music creators. Since 1952, the Australasian Performing Rights Association has awarded a single Silver Scroll each year to songwriters and artists across all genres of music, including The Naked And Famous, Bic Runga, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and more. This year, the highly coveted Silver Scroll Award was given to pop superstar Lorde and the songwriters behind the hit “Green Light.”

In addition to the presentations of numerous awards in several categories, the 2017 APRA Silver Scroll Awards also featured live cover performances of many of the nominated songs. In order to ensure world-class audio quality for presentations and performances alike, the show’s producers hired live production company Strawberry Sound to provide a sound reinforcement system and mixing solution capable of supporting the prestigious ceremony. Strawberry Sound utilized a JBL VTX V20 line array system and Soundcraft Vi Series consoles to deliver a superb audio experience.

“Planning for a show like this can be very challenging from an audio perspective,” said David Craig, Audio Production Manager, Strawberry Sound. “It is a corporate awards show, yet we are still handling a number of live bands and artists throughout the evening. The PA system needed to deliver crisp and intelligible speech as well as the power and dynamics of a live band. The VTX system enabled us to provide incredible sound quality and completely balanced coverage at Dunedin Town Hall. And because we used JBL’s extremely useful HiQnet Performance Manager and LAC Line Array Calculator software to design the system beforehand, minimal changes were required once we were in the venue.”

The JBL system deployed by Strawberry Sound included a main hang of six VTX V20 line array speakers per side and three VTX G28 subwoofers per side in cardioid configuration. The team also included six ground stacked JBL VT 4886 speakers for stage fills and two VT 4886 front fills. For stage monitoring, Strawberry Sound provided seven monitor mixes, using JBL SRX 712 two-way speakers. The entire system was powered by Crown I-Tech HD Series amplifiers.

Accomplished sound engineer Kevin Bennett was hired to mix monitors and after being given a choice of several consoles, he selected the Soundcraft Vi2000 for its workflow, audio quality and feature set. The Soundcraft Vi2000 helped Bennett deliver great-sounding monitor mixes for a wide range of performers.

“I was given the option to use a number of different consoles and I decided to go with the small-format Vi2000,” said Bennett. “This was my first opportunity mixing on the Vi2000, and now I’m proud to say it’s my go-to console. First off, the audio quality is superb and I can work very quickly with it. The interface is easy to navigate and the whole thing is extremely dependable—and my love of the built-in BSS DRP901ii Dynamic EQ really sweetens the deal!”

At front of house, FOH engineer Chris Tate utilized a Soundcraft Vi3000 console to support a wide range of musical performances and ensure smooth transitions between speeches by presenters and recipients. The Vi3000’s built-in MADI interface also facilitated the streamlined distribution of all input channels to the television and radio broadcast mixers.

“Working with multiple bands and artists at the Silver Scroll Awards kept me on my toes, but mixing on the Vi3000 console made my life a lot easier,” said Tate. “With the Vi3000’s unique workflow makes operations a breeze, including changing show cues, soft patching channels and arranging tie lines. It’s also very easy to clock-sync with other devices which, when combined with the built-in MADI outputs, made for a very efficient audio distribution solution for handling the live mix and broadcast mixes simultaneously.”

“We are pleased to see the continued growth of Strawberry Sound as a production company, with the ability to provide state of the art sound equipment for large scale events,” says Nicholas van Dyk, audio specialist with New Zealand JBL and Soundcraft distributor JPRO (formerly known as JANDS NZ).

“We’re thrilled to be a part of the 2017 APRA Silver Scroll Awards recognizing the best musical talent in New Zealand,” said Ramesh Jayaraman, VP & GM, HARMAN Professional Solutions, APAC. “We thank Strawberry Sound for trusting HARMAN solutions to deliver legendary audio quality for this prestigious event, and we thank our New Zealand partner JANDS NZ, now called JPRO for their loyalty, expertise and customer-focused service.”

Integrator David Kendall and JPRO (Formerly JANDS NZ) deploy JBL, Crown, Soundcraft and BSS solutions to provide balanced coverage and exceptional intelligibility

WELLINGTON, New Zealand— David Kendall Audio Visual recently installed an end-to-end networked audio system by HARMAN Professional Solutions at the Wellington Cathedral of St. Paul.

Located in the historic district of Thorndon, the Wellington Cathedral of St. Paul is the mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Wellington, attracting a vibrant community of worshippers each week. In addition to serving an important role in the Anglican Church, the ornate architecture and refined acoustics of Wellington Cathedral also make it a popular venue for choral and orchestral concerts.

With sound reinforcement playing a critical role at Wellington Cathedral, management wanted to ensure optimum audio quality and balanced coverage during church services and concerts. To achieve these goals, management hired David Kendall Audio Visual to upgrade its aging sound system with a complete HARMAN networked sound reinforcement system. Due to their professional audio expertise and ability to provide unique custom designs, David Kendall chose supplier JPRO (formerly JANDS NZ) to partner on the project.

“I knew this was going to be a challenging job—many people have tried over the years,” said David Kendall, Integrator. “Thanks to the technology provided by HARMAN solutions, we were able to make big improvements while staying within the church’s budget. I am very proud of what we achieved with the HARMAN system in the cathedral’s challenging acoustic environment.”

The front nave, the Cathedral’s main area, is covered using JBL Intellivox DS280 array speakers, which offer excellent speech intelligibility throughout the coverage area while maintaining a constant sound pressure level up to 110 feet. The Intellivox DS280’s unobtrusive design and active vertical beam shaping helped the JPRO design to achieve seamless integration and optimum performance in the cathedral.  To cover the rear nave of the cathedral, Intellivox DC280 speakers that were part of the previous sound system were redeployed, while JBL CBT-50LA and CBT-100LA column speakers were deployed for chancel-, choir- and front-fills. The CBT Series speakers are powered by Crown DCi Series amplifiers.

“The main objective when designing the system was to ensure that the loudspeakers distributed the sound evenly in the desired areas, while minimizing unwanted reflections,” said Nicholas van Dyk, JPRO. “The JBL Intellivox and CBT line array column speakers delivered the coverage and clarity needed to produce properly balanced speech and music reinforcement in the acoustically sensitive cathedral.”

For mixing and audio processing, David Kendall included two BSS Soundweb London BLU-100 audio processors and a Soundcraft Si Impact digital mixing console. The system’s ease of use and intelligent design allows simple operation for everyone at the church, while offering great flexibility for skilled operators.

During liturgy, the microphone levels are controlled with the Soundcraft ViSi iPad app, and can be automatically mixed via a BLU-100 stage box and the Soundweb London automix function. When the venue hosts guest artists and large concerts, a Soundcraft Si Impact digital mixer provides intuitive professional control over the mix. 

 “We try to update our sound system every ten years or so,” said Reverend Digby Wilkinson, Dean of Wellington. “I am very happy with the latest upgrade—the sound quality, coverage and control provided by the HARMAN system is a huge improvement and it sounds fantastic! We thank David Kendall and the JPRO team for the expertise and hard work they displayed during the installation.”

“It is a privilege to see our solutions being used in the beautiful Wellington Cathedral,” said Ramesh Jayaramn, VP & GM, HARMAN Professional Solutions, APAC. “The new HARMAN system ensures that sermons can be preached with clarity, and the beauty of the choral music can be delivered with perfect balance in the cathedral. Thanks to JPRO for their confidence in HARMAN solutions, and for their relationship-driven approach.” 

Ba Sao Audio deploys JBL, Crown, BSS, Soundcraft and Martin solutions to create an end-to-end HARMAN AV system with premium sound quality and versatility

PHU QUOC, VIETNAM—Ba Sao Audio recently deployed complete HARMAN Professional Solutions audio and lighting systems at the Rock Island Club at the Nam Nghi Resort.

Located on a small private island offshore from Phu Quoc island, the Rock Island Club is an outdoor eating, drinking and dancing venue that offers a 360-degree panorama of Phu Quoc’s beautiful coastline and a mesmerizing ocean view. The club is renowned for its team of mixologists and chefs, who craft innovative cocktails and provide a contemporary culinary experience. Management recently decided to upgrade the sound and lighting with the intention of turning the Rock Island Club into an international party destination. To achieve this goal, management hired Ba Sao Audio to design and install a complete HARMAN audio and lighting system made up of JBL, Crown, BSS, Soundcraft and Martin solutions.  

“Club and DJ events require a comprehensive range of high-quality audio products that provide exquisite sound quality,” said Nguyen Khac Anh, CEO, Ba Sao Audio. “The HARMAN solutions work perfectly for the venue, and the system allows the guests to enjoy crystal-clear music, not only onstage, but in the entire building. HARMAN’s wide range of brands provided us with a great deal of flexibility, which has helped turn the Rock Island Club into an incredible party venue.”

The HARMAN system includes JBL Control 31 two-way loudspeakers, which are paired with JBL PRX418S subwoofers to reinforce the bottom end. The system is powered by Crown DriveCore Install and CTs 2000 amplifiers. Audio processing is provided by BSS Soundweb London BLU-100 and BLU-50 signal processors, and a BSS Ethernet controller is used for signal routing. Audio is mixed on Soundcraft Signature 16 consoles. The lighting solution features numerous Martin by HARMAN fixtures, including the RUSH Aqua compact LED, the RUSH Wizard "full-house" effect light, and the RUSH Multibeam 2 LED effect light.

“We chose iconic brands by HARMAN Professional Solutions because we wanted premium AV solutions that would provide a unique experience to our guests," said a spokesperson for Nam Nghi Resort. “No other venue in the city is so well-equipped to provide a scintillating party experience. We hope to make Rock Island Club a party destination so famous that people will mention it in the same breath as Rock Bar in Bali, or Café Del Mar on the Spanish party isle of Ibiza.”

“We are privileged to offer the highest quality audio experience at the Rock Island Club," said Ramesh Jayaraman, VP and GM of HARMAN Professional Solutions, APAC. "The sound system perfectly complements the high-end atmosphere of the venue, and sets it apart from the other entertainment resorts. We thank our partner Ba Sao Audio for coordinating with Nam Nghi Resort and delivering and excellent customer experience.”

Mahajak Development knocks its first stadium sound system installation out of the park with JBL, Crown, BSS and Soundcraft solutions

RATCHABURI, Thailand—Mahajak Development recently installed a complete audio system by HARMAN Professional Solutions at Mitr Phol Stadium.

The dedicated 10,000-seat soccer stadium in Huai Phai, Thailand is the official home field of Thai Premier League team Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC. Completed in 2016 and constructed to FIFA standards at the cost of over 9 million dollars, Mitr Phol Stadium is a world-class soccer facility, equipped with sufficient parking lots, pressrooms, locker rooms and souvenir shops.

In order to ensure an exceptional audio experiences for fans with clear intelligibility at every seat in stadium, Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC hired Mahajak Development to perform its first stadium audio installation. Mahajak rose to the challenge, selecting a complete HARMAN system for its unmatched audio quality, reliability and powerful performance.

“We required a customized audio solution for the new stadium that would deliver consistent coverage and vocal clarity for announcements and music performances,” said Tanawat Nitikarnchana, Vice President, Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC. “Mahajak supplied us with great customer service and a state-of-the-art HARMAN system. We’re highly satisfied with the HARMAN system, which provides exceptional audio quality and perfect coverage, no matter where you are in the stadium.“

The HARMAN system installed by Mahajak at Mitr Phol includes JBL speakers, Crown amplifiers, BSS audio processors and a Soundcraft audio mixer.

For the stadium’s main PA, Mahajak deployed the JBL PD500 Series, a line of horn-loaded loudspeaker systems with patented WRC weather protection and WRX extreme weather finish for outdoor stadium use. The respective 60° x 40°, 60° x 60° and 90° x 50° horn coverage patterns of the PD564-WRC, PD566-WRC and PD595-WRC speakers enabled Mahajak to optimize system performance in each area of the stadium, delivering clear and balanced coverage in the grandstands, on the field and behind the goals. Highly weather-resistant JBL AWC129 compact loudspeakers provide additional support for fans sitting beneath the roof of the upper deck.

Every component in the system is centrally controlled via BSS Soundweb London BLU-100 and BLU-50 audio processors, and HiQnet-integrated Crown CTs 1200 power amplifiers. For mixing, Mahajak equipped the stadium’s control room with a Soundcraft M-Series analog console, which offers intuitive audio control over live microphones and music playback sources during matches. 

“HARMAN Professional Solutions is honored to have partnered with Mahajak Development to provide its first stadium sound system at Mitr Phol Stadium,” said Ramesh Jayaraman, VP & GM, HARMAN Professional Solutions, APAC. “Our long-standing partner Mahajak Development has once again performed an exceptional job, and we look forward to growing our relationship with them.”

TechData and Winmeditech deploy JBL, Crown, AKG, Soundcraft, BSS, and AMX solutions to create an end-to-end HARMAN AV solution in the newly-opened hotel complex

SEOUL, South Korea—Systems integrators Winmeditech and TechData, recently deployed a range of complete HARMAN Professional Solutions AV systems in the Seoul Dragon City hotel complex.

Opened in October of 2017 by AccorHotels, Seoul Dragon City contains 1,700 guest rooms spread over four hotels, all within an interconnected series of skyscrapers. Billed as a “lifestyle hotel-plex,” the massive facility features 11 restaurants and bars, 17 meeting rooms, two multi-function grand ballrooms, and four full floors of entertainment in a Sky Bridge—the first of its kind in the world—suspended between two of the towers.

In order to deliver exceptional audio, visual, lighting and control throughout the massive complex, TechData and Winmeditech deployed a cutting-edge, end-to-end HARMAN solution made up of 428 JBL Professional speakers, 31 Crown amplifiers, eight Soundcraft mixers, 35 BSS signal processors, 147 AKG microphones and accessories and 212 AMX control systems.

“2017 has been a record-breaking year for AccorHotels in South Korea, highlighted by the launch of this largest project we have signed in the country featuring four hotel brands in the same complex, including the introduction of Grand Mercure and Novotel Suites in this market,” said Patrick Basset, Chief Operating Officer of AccorHotels, Upper Southeast and Northeast Asia. “The HARMAN Professional AV solution provided by TechData and Winmeditech enables us to deliver world-class audio, video and lighting throughout the entire Seoul Dragon City complex, all with exceptional control. It is an impressive system, and we are extremely pleased with the results.”

TechData was hired to design audio systems for many of the critical areas in the complex, while Winmeditech was hired to provide smart environments for the AV and control systems. The HARMAN system is divided into 13 main zones that cover the two grand ballrooms, three dining rooms, four meeting rooms, a fitness center, two gyms and the building-safety center. JBL VerTec VT4887 and VT4886 line-array loudspeakers and VT4882 subwoofers deliver audio in the ballrooms, and a variety of Control Contractor Series speakers and EON Series speakers handle the smaller spaces. Power is provided by Crown DriveCore Install series amplifiers.

“With the grand ballrooms serving as multi-purpose venues, we were hired to design a highly-customizable audio system with superb clarity for any event,” said Jonathan Choi, Technical Engineer, TechData. “To meet these requirements, we selected JBL Professional Vertec line arrays as the main speaker system. When the ballrooms are partitioned into smaller spaces, the output system will switch automatically via the integrated control system to utilize the ceiling speakers as the main speaker.”

Audio is mixed on Soundcraft VI-3000 72MO and GB4-32 consoles, and processed via BSS BLU-806, BLU-326 and BLU-100 signal processors. The system includes a wide range of AKG microphones to accommodate any type of event, including D5S and D7S vocal mics. The control infrastructure includes a range of AMX products, including AMX NX‑3200 NetLinx controllers, MMC-1000-NC tabletop touch panels and MKP‑108L keypads. The HARMAN systems are configured to allow for centralized monitoring in the building-safety center, requiring fewer operators and reducing costs.

“Seoul Dragon City is positioned locally, regionally and internationally to be a global landmark, and it was important for us to have world-class audio, video, lighting and control solutions in our state-of-the-art facility,” said Jerome Stubert, Cluster General Manager of Seoul Dragon City. “The complex features the widest range of convention spaces in Seoul, and the HARMAN AV solution enables us to accommodate a wide range of events—from corporate meetings to private events.”

“HARMAN Professional Solutions is a one-stop solution for audio, visual, lighting and control systems,” said Ramesh Jayaraman, VP & GM HARMAN Professional Solutions, APAC. "We are extremely privileged to be associated with the first ever grand lifestyle-hotel complex in South Korea, providing effective and efficient audio, visual, lighting, and controls solutions powered by our iconic brands. We thank our partner, TechData, for their deep technical expertise, relationship and customer-first approach.”