News ways of working in an old theatre

One of the main goals of renovating the Berlin State Opera was to improve the acoustics. But the media technology, including the intercom, public address and video systems, was also to be brought into line with international standards. BTR talked to the contractors responsible, Amptown System Company (ASC), about the project and the concepts behind it.

Public address system

The basic function of a public-address system is to broadcast announcements to the people in the auditorium and on the stage. But it can also be used for dramatic effect, e.g.

to produce incidental sounds specified in the score, such as distant church bells. Public address is also needed to supply off-stage singers or choruses with monitor speakers, and productions of contemporary operas and avant-garde directorial concepts often require music systems. The Berlin State Opera’s new music system is based on a passive d&b 2-way speaker system, equipped with two 8” drivers and one 1.4” compression driver. For precision location of the sound source, these are installed in the gantry grooves on the left and right, close to the action on stage, but not visible.

Intercom

The intercom is a combined system for regular ...