EM Acoustic equips the new art space in Milton Keynes

The auditorium, called Sky Room, has a sound system based on the EMS line and the i-Series installation range. Everything is networked via Dante for quick and easy setup.

the MK Gallery in Milton Keynes (United Kingdom) is an art space designed by the studio 6to architects in which the original MK gallery has been preserved, adding a new structure that is more than double the available space.

The complete development, which opened its doors in March 2019, offers five exhibition galleries, a great learning and community studio, and The Sky Room, a flexible auditorium, located on the top floor with 150 retractable seats (300 Stand up) and sweeping views over Campbell Park.

The Sky Room is equipped with a sound system EM Acoustics based on the EMS series and the i-Series range of installations, systems that have been supplied by Hawthorn, company specialized in the production of events.

An EM Acoustics system was specified as part of the overall design of the Sky Room. “Sounded great, but I found the initial specification to lack bass and needed a bit of adjustments to really meet our needs., so I contacted EM Acoustics directly to see if they could help us. With the help of David Kelland, of MS, we designed a system that suited both our needs and our budget.", explains Jamie Aylard, Technical and Facilities Director at MK Gallery.

In addition to offering great sound quality, the primary criterion was flexibility, since the Sky Room is a multipurpose space. As well as being the new home of independent cinema in Milton Keynes (in partnership with Curzon), the place also hosts live music, theatre, conferences and conferences and more. “Whatever the event, we have to make it work and that means the sound system has to adapt”, says Aylard.

The main system is composed of two full-range coaxial i-C12 speakers that come out of the ceiling grille and are used for conferences and, Of course, for cinema. This is complemented by four compact EMS-61, flown from the grid, that provide additional vocal reinforcement and help bring sound to the back of the room.

For live music apps, the room has a pair of EMS-215 subwoofers with an i-C12, pole mounted, at the top to create a full-range L/R system. It also features four M12 stage monitors and a spare pair of i-C12s that can act as monitors when needed or as additional reinforcement for the main system.. Two DQ-20D amplifiers take care of power requirements. The entire system is networked via Dante for quick and easy setup.

“Having all the infrastructure in one Dante network makes everything much easier. We adapt the system to the needs of the bands since it is never the same twice. It's like being in a real concert hall”, adds Aylard.

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