EightyTwo Lounge Opens with an All QSC Sound System
QSC Loudspeakers with Q-SYS Core 250i Processing Bolsters Club’s Reputation among DJs for Great Sound
Los Angeles, CA, (June 11, 2014) — QSC K Series and AcousticDesign™ Series loudspeakers are delivering tunes to the gamers at EightyTwo, a new 4,000-square-foot classic video arcade and pinball bar that recently opened in L.A.’s Downtown Arts District. EightyTwo—a reference to 1982, the peak year of the golden age of arcade games—features a DJ, a dance floor and video games in one room with pinball machines in another room, with the sound system controlled by a Q-SYS™ Core 250i integrated platform.
EightyTwo features more than 40 period arcade games from the 1980’s, such as Donkey Kong, Ms. Pac-Man, and Space Invaders from the personal collection of Scott Davids, who co-owns the venue with Noah Sutcliffe. Across the 1,700-sq.-ft. outdoor patio is a roomful of vintage pinball machines supplied by “Pinball Molly” Atkinson, owner of the Pins and Needles arcade in Echo Park.
Design and installation services for the project were completed by Gridworks, a professional AVL company located in Torrance, CA at the recommendation of Ben Frederick from Audio Geer. According to Christopher Johnson, VP of Sales for Gridworks, the sound design focused on adding power to the dance floor.: “We have two K8s and a KW181 sub local to the dance floor and there are two K8s along the wall where the patio is, shooting into the venue and providing support for the back of the room,” states Johnson. We also added a KSub for low frequency response in the back of the room and all of the full range speakers are at the ceiling line, including the ones fixed on the wall.”
A pair of AcousticDesign AD-S52 five-inch two-way surface-mount speakers provide fill along the side wall by the bar. Johnson explains, “We added the AcousticDesign speakers because we wanted to fill in the space so there wasn’t a dead spot and maintain the sound quality, but keep the sound levels lower so that people could actually talk and order at the bar.”
In the pinball room at the rear of the venue, Gridworks installed two K8s at opposite ends of the room, hung from the ceiling facing downwards, with a KSub for low end response. “It’s a smaller room, so one KSub for that area was fine,” says Johnson. “That room is kept at about 85% of the volume of the main room.”
“We installed a Q-SYS Core 250i as the brains of the operation; that gave us a couple of different options,” he says. “We could scale the project if they want us to, and it allowed us to use a wireless router connected to Q-SYS to give them control of the system from their iPad. They are able to adjust the levels independently in each area or for the whole system.” Gridworks provided several level presets with programmed crossfades that can be selected according to the number of customers and time of day.
In addition to the main input from the DJ booth there is also an audio input in the staff room that allows different music to be played in the back room or just in the restrooms. “We added a parametric EQ for both of the inputs that will allow Scott and Noah to fine tune each input to their liking.” says Johnson.
Gridworks also installed an Extron Electronics MAV 84 AV 8x4 Video & Stereo Audio switcher which allows video feeds from some of the games to be projected onto the wall above the bar. This switcher is controlled by Lua script sending command codes via the RS-232 out of the Core 250i. “They’ve even had a DJ doing some video mixing use the system,” adds Johnson, “A video feed from the DJ booth allows connection to the projectors for just this purpose.”
Johnson says the response to the new audio system has been great. “The comments that we’ve gotten back, both from the owners and from guests are that they really like the fact that the music can be loud, and clear enough that you can still have a conversation.” EightyTwo’s reputation for great audio quality is already spreading among DJs. “It really does pump quite nicely in there. Great sound with enough low end to make your arm hairs vibrate. They’ve had several DJs who have heard about sound quality at the venue come by unannounced and play, including Skrillex,” reports Johnson.
“I tell everybody good things happen when you use QSC products. We install quality and powerful systems and it’s wonderful when on the first day that it’s used they tell us there are no issues,” says Johnson. “That is definitely the case with QSC products.”
About Gridworks
With over 30 years’ experience designing and installing entertainment, educational and public address systems in various venues such as Cruise Ships, Houses of Worship, Schools, Commercial and Residential Locations, Gridworks Inc. is able to assists their clients with quality and professional service.
Gridworks is a first class, full service audio, video, and lighting contractor and sales facility. Their services range from a simple “box sale” to full turnkey concept, design, installation, maintenance/service and support after the sale. The company is located in a 7,000 square foot office and warehouse facilities in Torrance, CA. Their proximity to LAX and both Long Beach and Los Angeles Cruise terminals allow them to quickly react to any expedited needs of their clients.
About QSC
QSC Audio Products, LLC is a leading manufacturer of professional sound reinforcement solutions for installed, portable, production and cinema applications worldwide.
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