The Quantum338 at AT&T PAC’s monitor mix position (photo: Chris Heinbaugh)
USA - The non-profit AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas will observe its 15th anniversary next year and the five performance venues on its campus - the 2,200-seat Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, the 547-capacity Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre, the outdoor performance space, Annette Strauss Square, whose lawn can hold up to 2,200, and two highly-utilized black box theatre spaces -have geared up to celebrate with a new sound system and an array of DiGiCo products that will enhance the sonic capabilities in the $360m facility.
The new systems, including a new d&b audiotechnik PA, were designed mainly for use in the Margaret McDermott Hall, located within the Winspear Opera House, and home to The Dallas Opera and Texas Ballet Theater; however, all of the DiGiCo systems will be available for use in any of the venues as needed.
Those systems include two Quantum338 consoles, a compact SD11 desk, a 4REA4 processing engine, a Purple Box CAT5/MADI to optical converter, four SD-MiNi Racks, two SD-Nano Racks, and a pair of SD-Racks fully outfitted with 32-bit Stadius Mic/Line cards. DMI-Dante cards were also specified for the consoles, in addition to Optocore connectivity, as well as a dual-redundant Dante IT network that was implemented to connect the system drivelines to drive the new PA.
“The DiGiCo systems are mainly for the opera house but can be moved and used around the entire AT&T Performing Arts Center as needed,” says Jace Hershberger, head audio for the centre. “Flexibility was the main feature we looked for.” In addition to ballet and opera, the centre presents a range of programming in the Winspear Opera House, including touring Broadway productions, comedy, modern dance, and concerts. Keb’Mo’ and Boz Scaggs were among this summer’s headliners.
Ken DeBelius, system integration sales manager at Nashville’s Spectrum Sound, the designer-integrator that handled the entire facility’s audio upgrade, amplified that: “The Quantum338 consoles and SD11 desk, along with the stage racks, are basically set up as portable floater consoles to do either FOH or monitor applications wherever is needed between the three venues.
“The two Quantum338 and the stage racks are completely portable and able to be used freely in any of the three main venues. The 4REA4 is permanently installed in the amplifier rack and is doing processing/routing for the system drivelines in the Winspear. Also, they expect use the SD11 for simple events in their smaller spaces, such as the Wyly Studio Theatre.”

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