Blog

Earlier this year we announced the introduction of the fully redesigned Diva full-stage acoustical shell, from Wenger Corporation. Martin Loft a member of Black Cat acoustics technical team recently returned from in-depth product training with the engineering team behind the acoustic shell development.

Martin’s busy two day intensive training with the Applications Engineering Department included time spent with Ron Freiheit, Wenger’s Director of Engineering and Denny Meyer, Wenger’s Product Manager for acoustic panels. Then accompanied by Mark Ingalls, Wenger DIVAProduct Manager, Martin took a short trip to a Wenger “hometown” installation at Owatonna High School, featuring a beautiful shell of cherry veneer, 4 towers and a flown back wall set including rigging by parent company JR Clancy. Easier to handle, larger and with greater aesthetic flexibility for architects and designers, the New Diva incorporates numerous functional and aesthetic improvements built on the heritage and operational experience gained from hundreds of custom acoustical shells installed around the world.

Martin, recently earned a diploma over an 18 month-long course from the Institute of Acousticians (IOA), an international body known for setting global acoustic standards. Martin’s diploma was capped by a 2-day final written exam, which encompasses general principals of acoustics, plus two electives. Martin chose to study Building Acoustics and Noise & Vibration Control. Martin says when it comes to music, he plays “a little bit of everything”, including guitar and keyboard. Martin has been with the Black Cat team for 20 months and returns from America better equipped to address customer needs and with a greater understanding of Wenger’s manufacturing capabilities. Martin also received training on StageTek™ and Fixed Audience Seating during his visit.

During July, Black Cat Music is offering a 10 per cent discount on the Wenger Conductor’s Upper Podium which is supplied complete with a safety handrail.

Stable, stylish and sturdy the Conductor’s Upper Podium is ideally suited for use in an auditorium or performance venue and is equally at home in the rehearsal room. Designed for use with a companion base podium to which it locks securely it includes a detachable safety rail finished with black, scratch resistant powder coated paint. The platform surface enjoys the benefit of a hard wearing but stylish grey carpet, while the one-piece steel framework provides strength and rigidity. Rubber pads ensure stability and thanks to in-built wheels mobility when moving the podium from one location to another is made easy.

Take a look at the video demonstration on the Black Cat Music YouTube channel or go straight to our online offer page

Following their visit to Showtech billed as the ‘world forum for the stage’, the Black Cat team of Brigitte, Martin and Myke are back from a busy exhibition and conference season.

Showtech is held every two years and described as the “International Trade Show and Conference for Theatre, Film and Events.” Showtech 2013 took place at the Berlin Exhibition Centre from 18 to 20 June.

Brigitte Downs, said, “The Berlin show provided a great opportunity to network with many of our valued customers in technical theatre and it was particulary good to meet our suppliers Wenger who were exhiting as part of the J R Clancy presence at the show.”

Black Cat Music has exclusive distributorship of Wenger Corporation’s extensive product range in the UK, Europe and Russia - acknowledged as the largest manufacturer of fully guaranteed staging and music performance equipment in the world.

Our June discount on Wenger Preface Conductor’s music stand proved to be a hot offer this month with stocks sold right out!

The good news is that more stock is on the way from Wenger, so those who missed out on the offer price can soon buy the affordably priced stand. Thanks to elegant design and clever engineering, the Preface Conductor’s stand benefits from plenty of useful features. This stylish conductor's stand enjoys a large desk, a sleek, non-scratch black surface, and dual posts offering superb stability and strength. Although robust it's also extremely lightweight and easy to use and store. The tilting desk permits easy angle adjustment while integrated storage keeps all the conductor's needs nearby and out-of-sight. In fact, it's been exquisitely fine-tuned to give conductors more stand for less money. Plus each stand comes with a 5-year warranty.

For full details of the Preface Conductor’s stand, visit the Black Cat Music web site.

Black Cat Acoustics provides authorative guidance to steer anyone experiencing noise problems quickly towards pin-pointing a solution. The company is experienced finding practical solutions to common noise problems. Four of the most frequently encountered noise problems are described here, with an explanation of cause and how they can be overcome.

Reverberant sound levels and reflections, commonly described as echoes, are formed by sound bouncing back off hard surfaces. We can measure the time it takes to reflect and decay by 60db and this is known as the “reverberation time”. These reflections occur due to hard surfaces which allow much of the generated sound pressure levels to propagate as reverberant sound. To provide a solution we use absorptive, open cell products such as acoustic panels which may be combined with diffusive products. Acoustic panels can be the same colour as the surrounding décor. Alternatively they can be covered in fabric, or made into a coloured pattern and used as a design feature.

Another example is where unwanted sound can be generated through floors and ceilings, from outside the building and from plant such as air-conditioning within the structure. This can lead to a noisy environment in which to work. Structure-borne noise transfer can be attributed to a lack of insulation in walls, floors and glazing, holes in the structure, common walls, service ducts and pipework.By measuring the ambient noise of a space typically over a 30minute period a benchmark can be established and compared to recommended levels. Readings in excess of these ideals indicate it’s going to be a difficult space to work in. Solutions to structure-borne noise transfer are to use additional insulation, increased mass, secondary walls, floating floors and resilient fixings for plant and machinery. Pipework is one of the largest problem areas as these are so wrapped up in the structure of the building, in some extreme cases the cheapest solution is actually to change the use of the area. Although you can limit the problem with acoustic covers on the pipes if they are accessible, or install an internal sound isolating room such as our Music Practice Rooms.

Another common problem is associated with difficulties in hearing speech in a learning environment. This is not due to a lack of volume but when the words themselves are hard to understand. Also, a linked problem is when you hear too much, such as several conversations going on simultaneously. It is due to sound waves bouncing all over the place and are frequently a combination of reverberation times and/or high ambient noise. Because the problem is a combination of the previous two, the solutions are going to be a combination of the previous two as well, such as acoustic panels and acoustic curtains which can be deployed quickly to change the characteristics of a room’s acoustics.

Finally a quick look at problems with music or speech on a stage not being heard in the auditorium. The problem here is not down to increasing volume of the performer, you can’t just “sing louder” or play your musical instrument louder as that would be exhausting for the artists and ruin any kind of light and shade within a piece. The solution is to use panels designed to reflect the sound back intothe auditorium such as a full sized combination of shell “towers” and overhead reflective panels being installed at the venue. Schools or colleges with a smaller space can use ranges designed to be folded up when not required.

Packed with useful information, example case studies, video demonstrations and user testimonials, the Black Cat Acoustics web site a> is a ‘must bookmark’ site for anyone with noise problems or seeking a better acoustc environment.

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