The Manshead Makeover with CHAUVET, Allen & Heath and ChamSys
River Audio is a reputable sound, lighting, staging, and video systems installation company with a base in Gloucestershire. It serves a diverse range of clients, including offices, hotels and restaurants across the southwest, London, and the Midlands. It also operates in the educational sector, offering state-of-the-art audio and lighting solutions.
The transformation of the main hall at Manshead Church of England Academy is a case in point. The secondary school had collaborated with River Audio in the past – successfully fitting its art studio with CHAUVET lighting and Martin Audio sound equipment – and now wanted to upgrade the school hall, focusing again on lighting and sound systems.
River Audio had consistently seen high quality and performance from CHAUVET products, making them the preferred choice for the installation, and deciding on the ChamSys QuickQ10 lighting desk as the control system.
The installation was executed during the school holidays, with the team spending a week on-site, establishing new DMX runs to all the bars from the splitter. Programming the lights with the QuickQ10 meant the school had a user-friendly, easy-to-use, lighting control system, perfect for staff and students to use.
Recognising the limitations of the existing sound system, River Audio installed new amplifiers with time alignment and EQ to significantly improve the audio quality. An Allen & Heath QU24 mixer was also integrated into the setup, offering versatile mixing options and live recording capabilities. A rack-mount mixer was then included for day-to-day use, with the ability to switch to the QU24 for larger performances. With ten radio microphones installed, Manshead Academy now has the necessary tools for high-quality and captivating stage performances.
In parallel, Manshead Academy required all-new lighting solutions for which River Audio picked CHAUVET DJ’s EVE and Intimidator range. It introduced ten EVE P-160 Wash Lights with Changeable Lenses – the RGBW light is a fan-less design to ensure silent operation and features a high-frequency, flicker-free operation so when performances are recorded they’re as high quality on camera as they are in person.
To accompany the P-160, it added P-100 warm white lights with barn doors. The aluminium housing meant the school could have high-powered lights without the extra weight. The barn doors also enable the school to easily control the light output on a show-to-show basis.
Finally, in the EVE range, the E-100Z Ellipsoidal spotlight was added to the collection. Its versatility with metal and glass gobos means the academy can get the desired lighting patterns to fit all performance needs. Plus, the manual zoom and framing shutters make the light beams easy to control.
Next was CHAUVET DJ’s Intimidator Spot 375Z Moving Head. This excellently bright 150W LED includes built-in, automated and sound-activated programmes which were needed to make the school's music shows come to life without the need for a lighting professional.
Last but not least, River Audio incorporated the Data Stream 4, which is designed to distribute incoming DMX signals and daisy chain configurations to all parts of the school’s rack. This also provides the school with an easy way to control each fixture without needing professional support.
'The school's delighted with the installation and how it has transformed their hall… the EVE range truly delivers great colours and light output,' says River Audio Director Howard Williams. 'The school now has a high quality and easy-to-operate lighting system that they’ll use for years to come'.
Courtesy of River Audio
About Leisuretec
Established in 1990, we are Trade Distributors of Professional and Commercial Audio, Lighting, Video, Special Effects and Ancillary. Through our AV Hire Production, AV Installation and Re-seller customers we address the live entertainment, leisure, commercial, residential and retail markets throughout the UK.
We support our trade customers with immense stock holding across a vast choice of products, knowledgeable technical support, competitive trade pricing, speedy delivery and attentive after-sales support.
