2004. november 23.

ALLEN & HEATH ZONE IN ON THE LOST CITY

Allen & Heath's Saudi Arabian distributor, Halwani Audio Visual, has installed a DR66 digital processor in a new themed restaurant in the Red Sea port of Jeddah.



The restaurant, called the Lost City, is divided into six zones, each area depicting a different theme - a cave, jungle, Mexican house, Spanish villa, VIP area, and the entrance/waiting area. There are several styles of music playing in the different zones, distributed through the 6 input/6 output DR66.

The ‘Cave’ area of the Lost City



Using the DR66's patch functionality, audio in the venue is programmed with multiple modes. There are two SFX tracks running continuously as background ambience and track fillers during silent periods - in some zones it is jungle sounds, while in others there is the relaxing sound of a waterfall.



The DR66 automatically mutes this background sound whenever an audio track is activated. To prevent tampering with the volume controls there are three presets - low, mid and high - which change the music levels to accommodate the ambient noise levels when the restaurant gets crowded.







The Mexican House area of the Lost City





Other parameters, such as gates, compressors, EQs and limiters, are also set up on a PC using the WinDR system manager software, which means the busy bar staff do not have to adjust the system all evening.



"The zoned audio, coupled with soothing lighting effects, produces a fantastic atmosphere in which customers can dine and relax," comments Halwani Audio Visual's MD, Bassam Halwani.