Knockout Concert Sound At Knockdown Center
The Knockdown Center, in Queens, New York, is housed in a 120-year-old former glass factory that later became a door frame manufacturer, hence the name. L-Acoustics, now a concert and performance venue, is helping modernize one of Queens' hot spots.
Much of New York's manufacturing heritage can be found in the Maspeth neighborhood of Queens, where 19th-century factory and warehouse structures still stand despite the rapidly transforming neighborhoods. It's no surprise that as neighborhoods like Williamsburg and Greenpoint abandon their industrial-era roots for gentrification, this multi-ethnic enclave has become home to a variety of downtown-style events like raves and parties. techno Some years.
The Knockdown Center is the hub for most of them. It has hosted concerts by the likes of LCD Soundsystem, Louie Vega and Hot Chip, as well as art shows and events such as comedian Eric Andre's 40th birthday party. Now the brick walls of the Knockdown Center look as modern as they do thanks to a new L-Acoustics integrated sound system designed and installed by Boulevard Carroll Entertainment Group.
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"We've been waiting a long time for something more substantial," said Daniel Martin McCormick, Knockdown Center's director of marketing for the new L-Acoustic system. "Especially with a very busy schedule that covers a wide range of different genres, including a lot of electronic music that needs a really big sound, as well as international pop and metal artists that need a different kind of exposure." In addition to the variety of shows, the Knockdown Center will host a wide variety of events. "Sometimes it reaches 3,200 people, and sometimes it reaches 1,800 or even less than 1,000," he said. “So the new platform had to be something that spanned the spectrum. It could not ease the greater pain or suppress the lesser pain.”
The new L-Acoustic system does just that. The core system has 14 K2 planes divided into a left-to-right matrix with two A15 planes on each side as external fills. In addition, seven K3 speakers per side and two A15 speakers per side were arranged as delay speakers in the bottom of the main room. These, along with four A15 surrounds and four Kara II front fills, become the primary PA system when a small portion of the room is being used for an event. This reconfiguration requires removing the KS21 subwoofer and only the Kara II front wedges from the system; The rest of the reboot process is done using the LA Network Manager software and the P1 processor prerequisites. A mix of LA12X and LA4X power the entire system, with a set of X12 speakers used as wedge monitors on stage.
"It's an inspiring space with great potential for contemplation, including brick walls and floors, lots of wood and iron beams and more," explains Darryl Moore, head of audio at Boulevard Carroll Entertainment Group. “There's a lot of space between the good ones where the sound can get lost. Balancing this with the need for events and performances of various sizes was very difficult. Fortunately, the L-Acoustic systems were more than adequate to meet all of these needs.
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Boulevard Carroll Entertainment Group CFO Anthony Fischetta said the L-Acoustic system made sense as a business proposition for Knockdown Center because the venues needed to be as flexible as possible to accommodate the wide range and scale of events. "It's getting more competitive and they want to book as many different types of events as possible, so the sound system has to be able to handle it all," he says. "Because of the way the system is designed and implemented, it can handle everything from huge concerts to the most intimate arts events, and every event gets the sound it needs." In addition, he added, the P1's intelligent processing helps keep the sound above the audience and away from reflective surfaces, providing high-quality coverage.
The first outing of the venue's L-Acoustic system took place on July 29, when the venue welcomed Outlier with a DJ set by Bonobo and performances by Jack Green, Romar, O'Flynn and Joan McLain. "The first Knockdown Center shows covered a wide range of styles with new instrumentation, and the sound was quieter than all the other shows," Moore said. "Bands and artists love sound."
Knockdown's Martin McCormick agrees. "The K2 offers excellent, clear and accurate sound," he says. “I think that with the diversity of our programs and genres, and the diversity of event sizes, which is both a challenge and an advantage, our new personal assistant can adapt to what's happening here. This allows us to provide artists and audiences with the best possible experience."
