Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts Opts for RCF PA

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Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts Opts for RCF PA

Posted on: 4th December 2018

Founded in the nineteenth century, Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts has it all – a rich history, a leading position among institutes of its kind, and a reputation for excellence in the performing arts. It offers more than 20 music, theatre and dance programs attended by over 900 students.

The university recently put out a tender for a public address system to be installed in its foyer. Speech and music figure prominently at a college for the performing arts, so the prospective PA would have to satisfy some very lofty expectations. The foyer was to be covered from three angles with a directional system designed to the given architectural specifications. This PA would also have to tame the complex acoustics of a room with ceilings of different heights, a two-storey auditorium, and coverage zones with depths ranging from 15 to 25 meters. This client had some very specific ideas about size, looks and placement. Cabinets were to have a height of around 115 centimetres and be placed at a relatively flat angle so as not to jut out from the walls.

Auditions were held; the NXL 24-A came out on top. Made by the Italian vendor RCF, the NXL 24-A is an active line source speaker equipped with four custom-developed 6" RCF transducers, a compression driver with a 2.5" voice coil, and an asymmetrical horn with -25° / + 5° vertical and 100° horizontal directivity.

To meet Germany’s very strict fire safety regulations for public venues, RCF worked with the general contractor to develop a passive version of this speaker, with power amps housed in a remote central rack placed around 40 meters from the speakers.

Space is tight in this control room, so the power amps for the three bi-amped line array units and a patch bay are housed in one 19" 3U rack. A pre-input matrix connected upstream from the amps provides presets serving to tune the speakers’ level, EQ and delay to the given sound reinforcement scenario.

Engineers calibrated the system with a concert on CD, prompting students to ask in which hall the orchestra was playing. Thinking this a live broadcast, they could not believe that the RCF NXL 24-A units could serve up such a rich, full soundscape. Perhaps even more surprisingly, these full-range speakers delivered the goods without added subwoofers.

Christoph Schulte, sound engineer at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts, also heaped praise on the NXL 24-A system. He is convinced that this RCF system was definitely the right choice.

Courtesy of RCF

Further Information

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Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts Opts for RCF PA
Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts Opts for RCF PA
Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts Opts for RCF PA
Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts Opts for RCF PA