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Sound System

Please Note the Following Passage from the MCA Standard Contract: The Maine Center for the Arts administration and technical management shall have the right to govern maximum sustained sound pressure levels for all performances within Hutchins Concert Hall. Maximum average levels shall be in accordance with published AES standards. The measuring position shall be the house sound mix position (special needs seating area house right). The measuring device shall be the House's Goldline SPL. An A-weighted scale will be used. If the management of the Maine Center for the Arts measures SPLs in excess of the pre-described limits or monitors unacceptable sound quality, the visiting sound operator must lower sound pressure to meet level requirements and make adjustments to insure maximum sound quality. Standard sound levels in Hutchins concert hall can not run at an average level of 100db or peak above 105db. It should be noted that due to the concert halls design as an unamplified acoustic performance space, intelligibility and accuracy are best below 95db.

Center Speaker Cluster: Tri-amplified overhead center cluster comprised of five JBL 90x60 degree exponential horns and high frequency drivers, four JBL 15" midrange drivers front-loaded into a custom enclosure, and four JBL 18" bass drivers, front-loaded, two each, in side-by-side bass reflex enclosures.

Side Speaker Clusters (House L & R): Tri-amplified overhead side clusters each comprised of four JBL 90x40 degree exponential horns and high-frequency drivers, two 15" JBL midrange drivers front loaded into a custom enclosure. Bass frequencies are summed and routed through Center Cluster bass units.

Signal path for each Cluster...

  • 1 Urei LA-4 Compressor/Limiter
  • 1 Klark-Teknik DN-300 1/3 8va Graphic Equalizer
  • 1 Urei Model 525 Electronic Crossover
  • 6 Channels of Crown PS400 Amplification

Delay Speaker Cluster: 3 Apogee AE-2 full-range cabinets hung on the rear of the FOH light focus position. Each cabinet is focused on one of three sections of our balcony. They are run dual channel in a mono configuration and cover up to 666 audience members.

Signal Path...

  • 1 dedicated Furman Q-301 1/3 8va graphic Equalizers
  • 1 Symetrix 402 Dual Channel Delay Unit
  • 1 Apogee P-2 Dual Channel Processor for AE-2 Loudspeakers
  • 1 QSC MX 3000a Dual Channel Power Amplifier

Near Field Stage Lip Speaker System

The Maine Center for the Arts has, in it's inventory, 5 EAW JF-80 High Definition loudspeakers. These are primarily positioned along the lip of the stage to enhance clarity and to bring the Acoustic image down to stage level when necessary. However, due to their fidelity and low profile design, they can be used in a variety of configurations. i.e.: as a monitor wash for vocal groups, as monitors for dance troupes, as specials for sound effects and so on.

Mixing Desk: Crest Century Series GTX 32 by 8 by 3 plus 2 w/8 aux sends assignable to 8 discreet power amps assignable to a multitude of circuits positioned throughout the house, around the stage and in the high steel. The mixing desk is located in the back of the hall house right on the orchestra level for live sound mixing. When used to record, or when a touring presentation provides its own equipment, it is located in the sound booth accessible through a sliding glass window immediately behind the hall mixing position. The sound booth is accessible through a door in the lobby.

Assignable Power

Amplifiers:

  • Amp1: QSC MX 3000a Left Channel
  • Amp2: QSC MX 3000a Right Channel
  • Amps 3-8: Crown PS400 L & R Respectively

Note: Amps 1 & 2 used primarily for Near Field Stage Lip system

Sources

  • Recorders: 2 Otari MX5050B II professional open reel machines. Reels to 10"
  • 1 Yamaha C300 cassette deck with Dolby B, C, dbx.
  • 1 Tascam DA-30 MKII Digital Audio Tape Player/Recorder D.A.T.
  • Format1Denon DN-1000F Compact Disc Player

There are wired remotes for one Otari deck, the Yamaha cassette deck, and the Tascam D.A.T.

Microphones:

  • 4 AKG C451 EB Power Supplies
  • 4 AKG CK-22 Capsules Omni/Condenser
  • 4 AKG CK-1 Capsules Cardiod/Condenser
  • 3 Shure SM81 Cardiod/Condenser
  • 2 Audio-Tecnica AT 4033 Cardiod Condenser w/shock mounts
  • 5 Audio-Tecnica AT 8531 PZM Floor Microphones
  • 1 Crown PZM Floor Microphone
  • 5 Shure SM-57 Cardiod/Dynamic
  • 5 Shure SM-58 Cardiod/Dynamic
  • 4 AKG 1200 Cardiod/Dynamic
  • 2 Electro-Voice RE20 Large Diaphragm Cardiod/Dynamic
  • 2 Sennheiser MD 421 Cardiod/Dynamic
  • 3 Electro-Voice N/D 757 Hyper Cardiod/Dynamic
  • 3 AKG D130E
  • 2 Beyer Dynamic TGX 580
  • 1 Sony ECM 50 Wired Lavalier

Wireless:

  • 2 Sony WRT-810A UHF Wireless Hand Held Microphones Freqs: 99 User Select
  • 2 Sony WRT-820A UHF Wireless Belt Pack w\ECM 50 Lavalier Freqs: 99 User
  • 2 HME VHF wireless body pack/lavalier Freqs: 169.445Mhz & 171.105Mhz

Mic. Stands: A full array of Microphone stands including straight stands, boom stands, mini boom stands, weighted base and tripod. Plus related hardware such as goosenecks and adapters

Processing Gear:

Dynamics: 2 DBX 166 compressor, 4 channels total.

Equalizers:

  • 1 Yamaha 2031 dual 1/3 8va
  • 1 Urei dual octave eq
  • 3 Furman Q301 1/3 8va Graphic Equalizers

Effects Processors:

  • 1 Lexicon LXP-5 Effects processor w/MRC MIDI Remote Controller
  • 1 Lexicon Reflex Dynamic Reverberator
  • Yamaha SPX-990 Multi-Effects Processor
  • Sony DPS-F7 Dynamic Filter Plus

Auxiliary Loudspeakers:

  • 4 JBL 4602 wedge floor monitors.
  • 2 JBL G731 wedge floor monitors.
  • 2 ElectroVoice Sentry IV three-way portable loudspeakers.
  • 2 JBL Model 4312A Control Monitors Powered by Crown D-75

Hearing Impaired System

We utilize a Williams Sound Wireless FM hearing assist system. We will provide to an audience member a wireless belt pack receiver with either a headset or Neck loop Telecoil Coupler upon request. Frequently this involves a balanced sound feed from visiting Audio Engineers and their sound system.