Orbital Sound Ltd

BBC Radio Theatre

BBC upgrades Radio Theatre and portable rigs with Orbital D&B systems

Orbital Sales met the specification for a flown, décor-matched stereo system, based around two tops and three subs per side, designed by d&b audiotechniks John Taylor. This combination of Q1 speakers (with rotatable waveguide) is augmented with the Q-SUBS.

The theatre also has a discreet overhead E0 system, evenly distributed over the audience amongst the audience microphones used to pick up laughter (and other responses). The ultra-compact cabinets provide a subtle boost without adding colouration to the transmission.

In addition the Radio Theatre has a further pair of Q-SUBS in its inventory for additional bottom end as required  while this summer Orbital also supplied d&b B2 subs and M2 monitors  which can either be used in permanent situ or to reinforce the portable rigs.

All system control, EQ and delay are handled entirely within the d&b audiotechniks proprietary R1 software environment, removing the need for additional outboard DSP devices.

As a result, we now have a speech system, music system and events mobile system, says Mark Diamond.

Dating back to the early 1930s (when it was known as the BBC Concert Hall), the Radio Theatre has been responsible for staging many historic classic recordings. After closing for a major overhaul, the BBCs biggest radio studio reopened in June last year with a goal of hosting a wider range of audience shows, including both speech and music performances (largely rock, pop and jazz).

The latest refit of Broadcasting House has taken four years to complete. The refurbishment is part of a bigger building project that will eventually bring the BBCs World Service and News groups alongside Audio & Music in Portland Place.

Orbital Sales are continuing to meet the increasingly versatile audio requirements of the famous BBC Radio Theatre at Londons Broadcasting House, by supplying d&b audiotechnik components.

After meeting the specification for a major upgrade in 2007 Orbital recently provided Theatre Manager, Mark Diamond, with new award-winning E8 and E12 enclosures for portable use, since part of Diamonds remit is to provide AV solutions for one-off events taking place throughout the BBCs radio and television facilities  such as press announcements and conferences.

The events team already operates a portable d&b Q7 rig, provided by Orbital Sales, powered by d&b D6 dual-channel amplifier, which serves their needs where high gain before feedback is required.

However, the BBC regularly reviews its inventory and Mark Diamond saw the need for a more lightweight, compact system, which also offered high power and accurate dispersion. The order for the new E8/E12 enclosures, which combine polyurethane hard foam cabinets with highly efficient coaxial LF/HF drivers, was placed as soon as they were auditioned.

But it was the permanent sound installation  overseen by IVC  that had solved some of the Radio Theatres inherent problems, notably by employing the d&b Q-SUBS in Cardioid Subwoofer mode. With other broadcast studios functioning in the same building the cardioid principle contains the sound and not only minimises the amount of leakage into other studios but also the bass spillage onto the stage area, which in turn would colour the broadcast sound.

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Orbital Sales met the specification for a flown, décor-matched stereo system, based around two tops and three subs per side, designed by d&b audiotechniks John Taylor. This combination of Q1 speakers (with rotatable waveguide) is augmented with the Q-SUBS.

The theatre also has a discreet overhead E0 system, evenly distributed over the audience amongst the audience microphones used to pick up laughter (and other responses). The ultra-compact cabinets provide a subtle boost without adding colouration to the transmission.

In addition the Radio Theatre has a further pair of Q-SUBS in its inventory for additional bottom end as required  while this summer Orbital also supplied d&b B2 subs and M2 monitors  which can either be used in permanent situ or to reinforce the portable rigs.

All system control, EQ and delay are handled entirely within the d&b audiotechniks proprietary R1 software environment, removing the need for additional outboard DSP devices.

As a result, we now have a speech system, music system and events mobile system, says Mark Diamond.

Dating back to the early 1930s (when it was known as the BBC Concert Hall), the Radio Theatre has been responsible for staging many historic classic recordings. After closing for a major overhaul, the BBCs biggest radio studio reopened in June last year with a goal of hosting a wider range of audience shows, including both speech and music performances (largely rock, pop and jazz).

The latest refit of Broadcasting House has taken four years to complete. The refurbishment is part of a bigger building project that will eventually bring the BBCs World Service and News groups alongside Audio & Music in Portland Place.