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Meyer Sound & TC Furlong Inc. Equip Krannert Center with No-Compromise Solutions for Performance and Education

Originally posted on the Meyer Sound website: https://meyersound.com/news/krannert-center/

Situated on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts serves not only as a world-class venue for visiting artists and student ensembles but also as a hands-on learning facility for the school’s sound design programs. Last summer, the Center took a major leap ahead in furthering both missions with installation of a multi-faceted Meyer Sound solution that encompasses Constellation active acoustics, surround sound systems with Spacemap control, and a main reinforcement system based on LINA line array loudspeakers.

The new systems, supplied by Chicago-area integrator TC Furlong, Inc., were installed in the 674-seat Colwell Playhouse, one of four venues in the expansive Krannert Center.

The 2021 project is the first in a series of upgrades planned by Rick Scholwin, who doubles as both the Center’s director of audio services and Chair of the university’s sound design program.

“When I accepted this position, my goal was to support artists with technology that is the best available in the world,” says Scholwin, “while also giving students hands-on experience with systems that are on the cutting edge and will be current long into the future.”

At the foundation of the complete audio makeover is a Constellation acoustic system comprising 99 distributed loudspeakers, 27 microphones for sensing ambient acoustics, and 21 D‑Mitri digital audio modules. Three processors are devoted to hosting the patented VRAS algorithm for generating natural acoustical environments across the hall’s three discrete zones.

The self-powered loudspeaker complement for Constellation and immersive systems includes Meyer Sound Ashby‑8C, UPM‑1XP, UPJunior-XP, and UPJ‑1XP full-range models along with UMS-1XP subwoofers.

“Everybody on campus is excited about the new acoustical flexibility and rightfully so,” comments Scholwin. “The Colwell was designed principally for theater and spoken word events, with a reverberation time of a little over one second. But now we can, for example, emulate the acoustics of Krannert’s Great Hall, with a 2.8 second RT for orchestral music, we can extend that even further for choral works. Now we are blowing the doors off the programming possibilities. We can do opera in here, or host a bluegrass band with one microphone and let the active acoustics fill the room as if it were the Ryman Auditorium.”

For advanced theatrical sound design, the self-powered loudspeaker systems can be instantly configured to work with the Spacemap sound design software, enabling both immersive effects and dynamic panning of discrete sounds across any and all locations. “If we want to fly a bumblebee around the room, we can do that easily,” says Scholwin.

The Colwell Playhouse’s new direct reinforcement system, which functions separately from Constellation, is anchored by twin arrays of eight each LINA line array loudspeakers, with each array flown under two 750‑LFC low-frequency control elements. Two ULTRA‑X40 compact loudspeakers serve as the center cluster, and three additional 750-LFC elements on the floor augment the low-frequency thrust.

The new systems made their debut at the post-pandemic return of the Krannert Center’s highly regarded Ellnora Guitar Festival. Artists supported by the new systems included The Punch Brothers (neo-bluegrass), Katie Pruitt (Americana), Adam del Monte with Sonia Olla and Ismael Fernández (flamenco), Isaiah Sharkey (multi-genre), and Cedric Burnside (blues). Other performances hosted by the venue include drama (The Neverland), dance (Tango Argentina), and Afro-Cuban Jazz (Jane Bunnett and Maqueque).

In addition to supporting a diversity of performance genres, the new systems afford extraordinary learning opportunities for the school’s BFA and MFA sound design students, says Scholwin. “This is a merging of professional arts technologies and education at the highest level. They will leave here with an in-depth, theoretical, and practical knowledge of large-scale immersive systems. They can master all they need to know to step into high-level positions.”

Krannert Center Director Mike Ross played a pivotal role in securing funding for the new systems, and he is elated with the outcome. “What I’ve experienced in the Colwell Playhouse has been utterly inspiring. In addition to greatly enhancing live performances in support of our public engagement mission, the new systems will be a tremendous asset in support of our educational mission, vis-à-vis training students pursuing sound-related career paths in the performing arts.”

Other key contributors to the project on behalf of the Krannert Center were Assistant Audio Director/Video Director Alec LaBau (also on the university’s sound design faculty) and Theatre Audio and Media Specialist Keith Norton. Handling logistics and technical coordination for TC Furlong, Inc., were General Manager Jeff Cech and President TC Furlong.

First opened in 1969, the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts was made possible by a large donation from University of Illinois alumnus Herman Krannert and his wife, Ellnora. The facility was designed by architect Max Abramovitz, also an alumnus of the university.

Interested in Meyer Sound solutions? Reach out to our Sales Team at 847-367-9588 or sales@tcfurlong.com for more information, pricing, & design support.

We also provide Meyer Sound products in our rental inventory, and our experienced Project Managers can help design an optimized system for your next show. Reach out to them today at 847-367-9588 or rentals@tcfurlong.com to get started.

TC Furlong Pivots to Virtual Live Event for Virtual Digital Console Expo 2020

From December 1st – 3rd, TC Furlong Inc. hosted its 10th Annual Digital Console Expo as a three day virtual live event. This year’s Expo featured content from seven leading manufacturers of digital consoles, including Allen & Heath, AVID, DiGiCo, Lawo, Solid State Logic (SSL), Waves, and Yamaha.

The Digital Console Expo has traditionally been an in-person event, held each year at Moody Church in Chicago. When it became apparent that an in-person event would not be possible this year, we pivoted to using our experience in virtual and hybrid live event production to bring our Expo entirely online, with the goal of providing the same engaging and valuable experience attendees have come to expect from the events of years past.

A New Format

The Expo featured morning Main Session presentations by two or three of our manufacturer partners each day, followed by afternoon Breakout Q&A sessions, giving attendees the opportunity to engage in direct dialogue with presenters in a small group setting. Some manufacturers also presented additional Deep Dive webinar sessions in the evening each day.

Each manufacturer’s Main Session segment consisted of a short, pre-recorded presentation, followed by a brief live segment with a member of the TC Furlong Sales & Marketing Team. Those who watched the Main Sessions live were eligible for a chance to win giveaway prizes from each of the manufacturers.

The Breakout Q&A Sessions were 30-minute, open format Zoom meetings. A virtual alternative to stepping into a manufacturer’s booth at an in-person Expo, the Q&A sessions were an opportunity for attendees to ask questions that weren’t addressed during the main presentations, and dig in to details about specific products.

The Expo also featured Deep Dive webinars from Allen & Heath and Lawo. Allen & Heath presented three webinars on their SQ Series, dLive Series, and Avantis consoles. Lawo’s Deep Dive focused on their mc2 Series of digital consoles.

All of the Main Session presentations and Deep Dive webinars were recorded, and are available for review on our YouTube channel.

Behind The Scenes

Switching to a virtual event this year was not only a hurdle for the format of the event, it also presented a challenge to the TC Furlong Live Events team, who were tasked with putting together the entire production. The annual trade show-style, live event at Moody Church has always been a TC Furlong team effort, but this year’s event was truly an interdepartmental project with the necessary video, audio, lighting, and overall event production all being handled in-house at the Lake Forest, IL office.

The first step was designing the office layout including the presentation set, the video playback/control, and audio control suites in a safe and pandemic-responsible setup. To allow for appropriate social distancing measures, the set for the shoot was located in one of our warehouse spaces, while video switching, technical direction, and audio mixing took place in separate office spaces throughout the building. All of these spaces were tied together with the necessary cabling for audio/video I/O and each location had a multi-view monitor setup to see what was happening all over the office.

Technicians were using FreeSpeak II wireless intercom to stay connected and had a separate intercom channel dedicated to stage announce/aux inputs to talk to and hear back from the hosts of the event on-set. Audio for the program and other matrix outputs was mixed in our front lobby, and playback and Zoom audio returns were routed through monitors at each technician’s work area and into the in-ear monitors of the on-screen hosts.

The multi-camera shoot was routed to a video switcher in the office where a technician was able to handle switching duties. Video playback of manufacturer presentations was handled locally, while manufacturers joined us live via Zoom from across the country.

While we weren’t able to gather in person for this year’s event, we’re proud that we were able to provide much of the same great educational content and opportunities for conversation via a virtual alternative. We’d like to extend our thanks to our manufacturer partners, and everyone who attended, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to our next Digital Console Expo in 2021!

TC Furlong Inc. is proud to be an authorized dealer for the manufacturers featured at this year’s Expo. To request a quote, or more information about any of the featured products at this year’s show, reach out to our Sales Team at sales@tcfurlong.com or call 847-367-9588.

We also carry many of the brands featured at the Expo in our rental inventory. To learn more about renting a digital console, or anything else in our extensive rental inventory, reach out to our Rental Team at rentals@tcfurlong.com or call 847-367-9588.

Is your organization looking to host a virtual or hybrid live event? TC Furlong Inc.’s Live Events team can provide a full AV production solution for your next event. Contact Jeff Cech at jc@tcfurlong.com to get started.

TC Furlong Inc. Supports Hybrid Live Events

The live events landscape has shifted dramatically this year. Social distancing measures and travel restrictions have brought virtual events and livestreams to the forefront in ways they never have been before. The TC Furlong Inc. live events team has leveraged our collective decades of experience, vast inventory of professional equipment, and relationships with trusted partners throughout the AV production industry to support all manner of live events.

Recently, we’ve provided production support for several “hybrid” events. These are events that have a limited, socially distanced in-person audience, as well as a remote audience watching via livestream. An upside of the hybrid event model is that the audience is not limited by geography or venue size; several of our customers have found that their hybrid event’s virtual audience dwarfed what they would normally expect for a strictly in-person event. Special considerations for hybrid events often include distributed loudspeakers and video displays throughout the venue, allowing for proper social distancing, and a consistent experience for all attendees.

While virtual and hybrid event productions share many of the same principles of typical live events, additional care must be taken in order to create a safe environment for all crew members and presenters. Whether you’re hosting a traditional event with an in-person audience, a livestream, or a hybrid event combining both, we can take the stress off your shoulders and provide the high quality on-site AV production your event needs.

Here are some highlights of hybrid events we’ve supported in recent months:

University Commencement

Our production of the commencement ceremony for a major university involved a highly choreographed mix of live and pre-recorded segments. Originally designed as a hybrid event, the live audience had to be struck due to the increased risk of the pandemic. The event was still held in an auditorium to provide the feeling of a live event, and our team was able to create a matrix of audio and video confidence monitors to make interactions between presenters in different physical locations feel more natural and realistic. Through multi-camera video switching, we were able to create a comfortable and safe atmosphere for all presenters. The full scope of the production included a broadcast audio mix for the stream, a full TV control room with a video editor, closed captioning, a sophisticated intercom system, as well as a presidential-style teleprompter and operator.

Special Worship Services

Our team provided technical direction for High Holidays services with over 900 virtual attendees for several Chicago synagogues. The live broadcast included a mix of worship leaders (speaking and singing), a small orchestral group, and a choir. Multi-camera video switching and the usage of ambient room microphones in the livestream broadcast mix created an immersive environment for viewers. The broadcast team also integrated the audio stream with the in-house phone system to allow congregation members without internet access to call-in and listen.

Private Event

The production crew for this event consisted of over 16 technicians and engineers across multiple disciplines, including audio, video, and lighting, plus stage management and overall production management. The team integrated with the house sound and lighting systems, providing an audio split for separate in-house and broadcast mixes. We reinforced a 7-piece band with floor wedges. Again, another multi-camera shoot with video switching, the video was sent to the livestream, as well as audio/video displays set up at 3 different event spaces throughout the venue for the socially-distanced audience.

Each of the cases listed here was the first foray into hybrid live events for each of our customers. Whether you’re planning a hybrid event for the first time, and need guidance from start to finish, or you’re an experienced event producer just looking for a bit of extra help, our team has the know-how to make your event a success.

TC Furlong Inc.’s live event team can provide a full AV production solution for your next event. Contact one of our Project Managers next time you need flexible, expert planning, and flawless execution for your in-person, virtual, or hybrid event. Give us a call at 847-367-9588, or email Jeff Cech at jc@tcfurlong.com.

TC Featured on the FILO Podcast

TC was recently featured on the FILO podcast with Todd Elliott. Take a listen to hear TC and Todd chat about the barriers to great production: filo.org/episode-041-tc-furlong

TC will still be presenting at the FILO online live-streamed event on May 19 and 20.

Meyer Sound LINA Strikes a Chord at Chicago’s Renowned Orchestra Hall

Originally posted by Meyer Sound.

Chicago’s historic Orchestra Hall recently updated their audio production capabilities with the installation of a new sound reinforcement system based on LINA line array loudspeakers, the newest and smallest member of Meyer Sound’s LEO Family. In addition to normally unamplified concerts by the resident Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the resplendent 2,521-seat venue also hosts a range of amplified jazz and pop concerts and special events that will benefit from the power, linear response and uniform coverage of the compact and discreetly color-matched new loudspeakers.

“We are extremely pleased with the upgrade of our in-house system, and we are grateful to Meyer Sound for their guidance and support from early in the design process through installation and calibration,” states Vanessa Moss, vice president for orchestra and building operations for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association. “We continue to monitor and refine the system’s performance during sound checks and concerts that require amplified sound, and we are delighted with the clarity of sound and increased coverage to all seating areas in Orchestra Hall.”

Grammy-winning orchestral and film scoring mixer, Shawn Murphy, introduced the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association to Meyer Sound. Shawn also helped determine the scope of the system and provided guidance throughout the process.

The Meyer Sound system was provided by TC Furlong, Inc., a company based in suburban Lake Forest that has worked closely with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association for more than two decades. “The old system we provided had served them well but it had become less and less rider-friendly,” recalls company president TC Furlong. “Early in a long decision process, before LINA had been introduced, we brought in a LEOPARD line array system for a Joan Baez concert, and they were very impressed. But when it came time for final design, it turned out that LINA would have ample power while also offering a slightly narrower horizontal pattern to stay off the walls, a smaller profile, and lower cost. So it checked off all the boxes.”

The new system is anchored by flown left and right arrays of eight-each LINA line array loudspeakers, with additional ground-stacked arrays of five LINAs each for lower front seating areas. Five UP-4XP and two UPM-1XP IntelligentDC loudspeakers are deployed as front, side and box delay fills, with three UPA-1P loudspeakers hung for gallery delays. Two CAL 64 column array loudspeakers apply advanced beam steering technology target coverage for the acoustically problematic seating arc behind the stage while presenting a near-invisible profile. Four 750-LFC low frequency control elements in twin cardioid arrays provide directional deep bass reproduction and two Galileo GALAXY 816 processors handle system drive and optimization.

For Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association Production Manager Jeffrey Stang, the new Meyer Sound system proved a perfect fit for a hall built long before the era of amplified sound. “Orchestra Hall is an intimate performance space for its size, but it’s also very vertical with multiple seating levels with seating beneath each of the overhangs,” he relates. “Achieving even coverage to these areas while avoiding excessive levels for those sitting near the speakers was challenging. But as the new LINA system was designed and calibrated to meet the unique needs of Orchestra Hall, we now have direct sound arriving at seats where direct sound could not reach before. Strategically placed area fills for intelligibility enhance this even more. For overall sound clarity, coverage, aesthetics and cost, the Meyer Sound LINA system had the best overall solution.”

The terrace seating around the rear of the stage benefitted greatly from the beam steering technology in the CAL 64 loudspeakers, according to Stang. “It was important to improve the intelligibility in those seats, especially for vocals both spoken and sung, but we also wanted to avoid bouncing sound off walls or having it spill onto the stage. The beam-steering capability of the CALs let us steer sound into that curved shape and bring it directly to the seats.”

Other celebrated concert halls relying on CAL loudspeakers for immaculate sound reinforcement when appropriate include the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Konzerthaus Berlin, and both the Musikverein and Konzerthaus in Vienna.

Notable concerts using the new system in Symphony Center to date include performances by Herbie Hancock, Punch Brothers, Branford Marsalis, Zakir Hussain, and Ahmad Jamal, among others. The system was also put to use in 2019 for two films, North by Northwest and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in Concert, all with live accompaniment by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The CSO also will likely use the system for future pop concerts or contemporary electronic compositions when amplification is specifically required.

Orchestra Hall is the largest venue in the multi-faceted Symphony Center. Designed by famed Chicago architect Daniel Burnham, Orchestra Hall was built in 1904 and underwent a major renovation between 1995 and 1997 which included installation of the prior audio system.

TC Furlong Inc. is a long-time Meyer Sound dealer in the Chicago area, and we have a large inventory of Meyer Sound loudspeakers in our rental inventory. For more information on adding a Meyer Sound to your next rental or show, contact our Rental Team at 847.367.9588 or rentals@tcfurlong.com.

If you have any questions about purchasing a LINA system, or anything from our list of over 100 professional audio manufacturers, contact our Sales Team at 847.367.9588 or sales@tcfurlong.com.

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