Cargo bistro and live venue at the Univeristy of Kent features a new audio infrastructure featuring BSS Audio, Crown and Soundcraft, designed and installed by Penguin Media Solutions

Brighton based Pro Audio, Video and Lighting integrator Penguin Media Solutions have recently completed an audio and video installation for new student bar, bistro and live venue; Cargo in Medway, Kent.

Keith Williams, Head of Hospitality for the University of Kent was looking for a system that offered quality audio and video, reliability, but above all, versatility. In addition, a complex noise management study had been undertaken, so strict guidelines had to be met from the design stage onwards.

Penguin presented and delivered a solution that integrated components from HARMAN’s BSS Audio, Crown and Soundcraft.

As Certified BSS Audio Programmers and Installers, Penguin specified a BSS Audio Soundweb London BLU-100, using Harman’s Motion Control iOS software running on an iPad Mini to control the system. The powerful partnership of the BLU‐100 coupled with the Audio Architect programming software offered the flexibility and ease of operation required, along with the powerful logic programming and audio processing to meet the noise management plan.

Photo above: iOS control of BSS Audio Soundweb via HARMAN’s Motion Control App

With the multi-­purpose intent of the venue, there are a number of input plates in various locations, for DJ, live and daytime background music playback, as well as microphone inputs which can be used for quiz nights, quick announcements and the like without having to connect to the DJ mixer or live desk. The custom control panel on the iPad gives background and stage level control, source selects, as well as more advanced options on subsequent pages. The signal is then fed to a brace of Crown XLS2500 power amplifiers.

Photo above: Crown XLS2500 amplifier

For live use, a Soundcraft Expression 1 desk was specified – its compact size, intuitive layout, 16 onboard mic preamps as well as its versatility with the Si digital stageboxes made it an easy choice – once again providing flexibility for the students and guest engineers alike.

Photo above: Soundcraft Si Expression 1 digital live console

Dylan Thompson, Penguin’s Director of Operations, said,  “We wanted to offer Cargo a simple, versatile yet capable system that will provide many years of reliable, consistent use. By using quality components right the way through, we lose no sleep at night in that respect! It was especially important to us that the quality in the products, the audio fidelity and in the installation itself was plain to see – we’re looking forward to seeing Cargo at capacity, full of happy customers! The University have been a great client to deal with, as were the other contractors involved in the build – from our point of view, we couldn’t have asked for more.”

Keith Williams is also suitably pleased with the project: “Penguin Media exceeded our expectations in every way – the audio and visual systems they installed were of superb quality -­ crystal clear sound that brought the room to life. Nothing was too much trouble, from finding a cost-­effective solution, to installing the equipment, to training our team -­ Penguin Media bent over backwards to assist in every way possible. They were a pleasure to work with.”

Penguin Media Solutions are a Brighton based Pro Audio, Video and Lighting design and Installation Company, covering Brighton, London and the rest of the South East of England. For more information please visit www.penguinmediasolutions.com or call 0845 872 0871.

HARMAN Professional products are distributed in the UK and ROI by Sound Technology Ltd.  For more information please visit http://www.soundtech.co.uk/professional-audio or call 01462 480000.