BSS Soundweb London digital building blocks have been used to control three karaoke pods in a new Japanese-themed diner in Clapham’s Battersea Rise.

F1:Sound Company undertook the technical fit-out of the new Asian-inspired lounge and karaoke bar for Sanzaru Ltd — formed by MD Steve Kelly, with Jeff Veitch and Toby Cobb.


The three karaoke pods are running Lucky Voice software and IT as part of the powerby.Luckyvoice scheme (another karaoke concept with which the F1:Sound team are closely associated).

The new venue, which has been lovingly created in collaboration with Focus Design, features three state-of-the-art karaoke pods for up to 20 guests each, down in its basement. Meanwhile, up on the ground floor, which is split into four separate sound zones, guests dine on Asian cuisine and drink cocktails while listening to an eclectic mix of funk, soul, blues, chilled house, Motown and lounge.

F1:Sound’s digital solution has been to provide a Soundweb London BLU-160 for the master processing, adding a BLU-120 to satisfy the additional mic inputs, and a BLU-BOB2 break-out box, which offers eight channels of analogue audio output expansion. Reverb is provided by external reverb units.

Said F1:Sound director, Sam Liston: “We have developed the concept from the original Lucky Voice designs we were involved in. The powerful modular design of the BSS London range meant we could design an efficient system for the venue, with its multiple zones and functions. In the karaoke pods the BLU system handles the microphone and music source inputs, volume controls and mixing of the FX, while customers take control with our custom designed control panels.”

Liston adds, “The finite control over the sound meant microphone feedback was never an issue and the control of the Soundweb over wireless ethernet made commissioning a joy. The system is designed to be as simple as possible, to offer maximum reliability … and it sounds great.”

F1:Sound MD Matt Bate also knew the BSS devices would provide an elegant solution — having worked for the company back in the 1990’s! “The product range has come a long way since then, and now we can use products like BLU-BOB2 break-out boxes to cover a multipurpose venue with minimal hardware.”

More information from Sound Technology Ltd on 01462 480000 / www.soundtech.co.uk/bss