Ref: Caroline Moss PR0625
Date: December 2007

RUSSIAN STATE THEATRE CHOOSES DUAL CONTROL XL8 FOR MAJOR REFURB

Midas’ Russian distributor Theatre Technics and Technology has installed a dual control surface XL8 Live Performance System into the State Academic Maly Theatre in Moscow, one of the country’s oldest theatres, as part of a major renovation project spanning six years.

Last year the theatre celebrated its troupe’s 250th anniversary. Formed in 1756 by decree of Empress Elizabeth at Moscow State University and named Moscow Russia Theater, in 1780 the troupe moved to the Petrovskii Theater, next to the Bolshoi Theater, on what is now Theater Square. In 1824 the theatre became officially known as the Maly, which means ‘small’ in Russian, as opposed to Bolshoi (‘big’). Only minor repairs have been carried out since the 1940s, but last year the Maly was awarded a government grant to refurbish the façade, revitalize artwork in the theatre and its entrance and update the lighting and sound systems.

The historical aspect of the building and its architecture had to be taken into account while updating the technology. The new mixing system had to be installed with the minimum amount of disruption to the architecture - a traditional horseshoe-shaped theatre with dress circle, upper circle, gallery, private boxes and elaborate plaster and woodworking. Among the restrictions was the creation of new cable channels, which meant using the existing ones.

“We had to come up with a solution which could provide us with a great number of audio channels with a minimal amount of cabling,” says the Maly’s head of sound, Alexander Kazarin. “The only solution was to use a digital communication system.

“We looked at many digital systems on the market, but none of them were suitable due to such limitations as the length of the digital signal transmission. But the main problem with most other digital desks was the difference in the ergonomic control surfaces of the analogue consoles that engineers are used to. The complications this would have thrown up are unacceptable for our theatre, which holds many festivals and concerts being operated by different sound engineers, who usually don’t have the opportunity to become acquainted with the system.

“The XL8 has completely fulfilled our criteria. All the channels can be relayed from the console to the stage via just two CAT6 cables. We also have a huge input and output count compared to what we had before.”

The theatre has two mix positions, one at the rear of the stage and a second control surface in a box to the side of stage. The mix position can be changed dependent on the type of production, and is easily accomplished by reconnecting the HyperMac cable from the stage routers to the required console. A recording studio one level up can also be fed with 48 channels of audio from the stage via four CAT5 cables.

So how have Russia’s sound engineers taken to the XL8? “When people saw the console for the first time, they were a little nervous, wondering what knobs and buttons they had to use. However everyone has got used to it really quickly and the verdict of everyone who has used it is unanimous: it is simple to operate. Everyone is also quick too mention the high quality and ease of the compressors and equalizers. It has also given us the opportunity to record the shows live; we’ve never been able to do this before.

“We would say that it is absolutely revolutionary – the first installation of XL8 system in Russia and one of the first theatre installations in the world. This first phase of renovation by Theatre Technics and Technology has provided a very pure, natural sound, and we envisage that XL8 will give us increasing flexibility of use as time progresses.”

The full renovation is due to be completed in 2012. However, the Maly won’t need to close, as the major work is being carried out during the summer months when the troupe is on tour so as not to disturb the performance schedule.

Photo caption: Midas XL8 in the Maly Theatre, Moscow

 

ENDS

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Editor’s information:
Midas live performance mixing consoles have been used by the world's most demanding sound engineers, performers and rental companies for three decades. The company strives to raise the standards of sonic quality through its programme of continual research and development, implementing new control functionality and user-friendly desk operation to anticipate and accommodate the ever-evolving needs of audio professionals who specify Midas consoles for their major tours, festivals, international events, broadcast projects and prestigious fixed installations.

Klark Teknik was founded in 1974 and in the years immediately following, their innovative approach to design and development allowed them to introduce some truly groundbreaking designs. Klark Teknik was responsible for the world’s first digital delay and digital reverb units, however it was their concepts for equalisation devices that really changed the world of professional audio resulting in the DN370 and the famous DN360. Today Klark Teknik continues to bring innovation in design and dedication to engineering and sonic quality in both the analogue and digital realm of signal processing, with the Square ONE and Show Command ranges updating the brand.

The Bosch Group is a leading global manufacturer of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology. In fiscal 2006, some 260,000 associates generated sales of 43.7 billion euros. Set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as “Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering,” the Bosch Group today comprises a manufacturing, sales, and after-sales service network of some 300 subsidiaries and more than 13,000 Bosch service centers in over 140 countries.

The special ownership structure of the Bosch Group guarantees its financial independence and entrepreneurial freedom. It makes it possible for the company to undertake significant up-front investments in the safeguarding of its future, as well as to do justice to its social responsibility in a manner reflective of the spirit and will of its founder. A total of 92 % of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by the charitable foundation Robert Bosch Stiftung. The entrepreneurial ownership functions are carried out by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG.

Additional information can be accessed at www.bosch.com.