Financed by the reconstruction funds for the Tōhuku region, and named after the initials of the economic and cultural regeneration programme ‘Power Into Tōhuku’, the Sendai PIT is a 1200-capacity performance house for all genres of entertainment. Designed using the latest technology, the venue has been fitted with a state-of-the-art NEXO-Yamaha audio system.
Responsibility for design and implementation of the venue’s technology lies with Mr Kazuhiro Sato, an experienced audio and theatre specialist.
“The speaker system should not be bulky, and should give a high SPL using a small number of loudspeakers. These should be as compact as possible, since space is limited. Of course we look for sound quality, and another important factor is the number of amplifiers needed, again so that we can use our limited space effectively.” Mr Sato also itemised maintenance and handling among his key criteria.
After listening sessions at the InterBee expo in Tokyo, he had gained a very favourable impression of NEXO’s M28 Omni Module, a new compact main cabinet for the STM Series modular line array. After a comprehensive evaluation of comparable alternatives from other manufacturers, Mr Sato and his team decided on STM as the main PA.
“Because I’ve used their products for a long time, I felt secure in our choice of NEXO, its sound and its maintenance capability. I considered Alpha to be extremely easy to use, with powerful and intelligible sound, and excellent handling of high volume. Also from a management point of view, we knew the NEXO products would be supported by Yamaha for the long-term.”
Working closely with Mr Izawa Motoo of Yamaha Music Japan, Mr Sato used NEXO’s proprietary NS-1 simulation oftware to anticipate SPL distribution and to determine the required number of STM cabinets.
For the main PA, the L/R system was configured with 2x STM B112 bass cabinets flown above 8x STM M28 main modules. Under the stage, there are 10x STM S118 subbass cabinets, surrounded by sandbags which reduce any vibration of the stage surface. Alpha-e cabinets are used for sidefill, and there is a complement of 22x PS15-R2 cabinets to meet infill and floor monitor requirements. Entirely powered by NEXO NXAMP4x4s, the system is controlled by a Yamaha CL5 console, also handling monitors.
Opening night at Sendai PIT saw a live set by PRINCESS PRINCESS, a well-known female rock band which supported the new venue with its own donation; since then, the PIT has hosted live acts, playback source events and different genres of music – “we have not had a peak in the monitoring function as shown on the iPad.”
Mr Sato summarises, “the design is well-balanced overall. Sound pressure levels are stable, there is little change in the sound as you move between listening positions, and we are achieving high speech intelligibility through the system. The sound has an easy-to-hear texture. The first three engineers provided us with an excellent evaluation, telling us that the EQ operation reflects the sound truthfully and comprehensively. I can confidently give nearly 100 points out of 100 to our achievement of the brief and the audience response to the new system.”
Further information: http://www.yamaha-ss.co.jp/
