XTA has Moorings Bar sound all tied up ( 09/10/2008)
Aug 21, 2008
There’s a saying that the best things come in small packages, and this
is certainly true of Aberdeen’s Moorings Bar, where XTA processors are
helping to ensure that this compact live music venue has remarkable
quality sound.
Located close to the centre of the city, the Moorings Bar has a capacity of just 200. However, its owners Craig and Laura Adams have shown remarkable commitment to providing the very best sound quality for its audience.
Installed by Stonehaven-based Taylored Sound, the all-digital audio system features a Funktion One PA system (complete with delays), controlled by a pair of XTA DP448 processors, fed from a rackmount Yamaha mixing console and all controlled via a PC.
Originally the system featured Funktion One’s own crossovers, but as these featured analogue inputs and all-digital sound quality was wanted, Taylored Sound replaced them with the XTA units, which are controlled via AudioCore.
“We have used XTA for the last six years on our rental systems, including DP448s on our own Funktion One PA,” says Taylored Sound’s Nick Taylor.
“The sound quality is always the first thing we look for, then it’s build quality followed by ease of use. The XTA units tick all our boxes. We only recommend things to customers that we have tried and tested ourselves and for us there is no better sounding unit.”
With the compact nature of the Moorings Bar, there is no space for a conventional FOH console, hence the decision to go for an all-rackmount system with control via software. This was also something that had to be borne in mind when specifying the new crossovers.
“The ability to control them via software was very important,” says Craig Adams. “Because we don’t have a great deal of room, all the audio equipment is in a rack and the DP448s are not within easy reach. But the AudioCore software makes control very straightforward.”
Most importantly, of course, the DP448s have made a tangible difference to the venue’s sound.
“The Moorings system has always sounded great, but we noticed a huge difference when we switched to all-digital,” says Nick Taylor. “The DP448s are very transparent and don’t colour the sound at all.”
“There was a massive difference in quality once we went to full digital,” adds Craig. “We particularly like the fact that we can increase the relative volumes of all the drivers to balance the sound for the room and the amount of people in it. It works so much better than messing around with equalisation.”
As well as for a diverse array of live bands, the system is also used extensively for DJ sets, film nights and background music. Being almost constantly in use in a small venue - with the resultant condensation caused by a packed, sweating crowd rubbing shoulders with a regular influx of cold, salty air from the chill Aberdeen nights - means that the XTA processors are certainly put through their paces. But both Craig and Nick are more than happy with the DP448’s reliability and XTA’s customer backup.
“We have had very few problems with XTA equipment, but on the odd occasion that we have had one, it has been dealt with very quickly and with lots of apologies for there being any problems at all,” says Nick.
“XTA’s customer support is second to none! I can always phone them and get any technical questions dealt with immediately. It would be safe to say that we will be using them for many years to come.”
Located close to the centre of the city, the Moorings Bar has a capacity of just 200. However, its owners Craig and Laura Adams have shown remarkable commitment to providing the very best sound quality for its audience.
Installed by Stonehaven-based Taylored Sound, the all-digital audio system features a Funktion One PA system (complete with delays), controlled by a pair of XTA DP448 processors, fed from a rackmount Yamaha mixing console and all controlled via a PC.
Originally the system featured Funktion One’s own crossovers, but as these featured analogue inputs and all-digital sound quality was wanted, Taylored Sound replaced them with the XTA units, which are controlled via AudioCore.
“We have used XTA for the last six years on our rental systems, including DP448s on our own Funktion One PA,” says Taylored Sound’s Nick Taylor.
“The sound quality is always the first thing we look for, then it’s build quality followed by ease of use. The XTA units tick all our boxes. We only recommend things to customers that we have tried and tested ourselves and for us there is no better sounding unit.”
With the compact nature of the Moorings Bar, there is no space for a conventional FOH console, hence the decision to go for an all-rackmount system with control via software. This was also something that had to be borne in mind when specifying the new crossovers.
“The ability to control them via software was very important,” says Craig Adams. “Because we don’t have a great deal of room, all the audio equipment is in a rack and the DP448s are not within easy reach. But the AudioCore software makes control very straightforward.”
Most importantly, of course, the DP448s have made a tangible difference to the venue’s sound.
“The Moorings system has always sounded great, but we noticed a huge difference when we switched to all-digital,” says Nick Taylor. “The DP448s are very transparent and don’t colour the sound at all.”
“There was a massive difference in quality once we went to full digital,” adds Craig. “We particularly like the fact that we can increase the relative volumes of all the drivers to balance the sound for the room and the amount of people in it. It works so much better than messing around with equalisation.”
As well as for a diverse array of live bands, the system is also used extensively for DJ sets, film nights and background music. Being almost constantly in use in a small venue - with the resultant condensation caused by a packed, sweating crowd rubbing shoulders with a regular influx of cold, salty air from the chill Aberdeen nights - means that the XTA processors are certainly put through their paces. But both Craig and Nick are more than happy with the DP448’s reliability and XTA’s customer backup.
“We have had very few problems with XTA equipment, but on the odd occasion that we have had one, it has been dealt with very quickly and with lots of apologies for there being any problems at all,” says Nick.
“XTA’s customer support is second to none! I can always phone them and get any technical questions dealt with immediately. It would be safe to say that we will be using them for many years to come.”
