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NCA settles into new H.Q.
A
very busy end of year was in store
for Noise Control as 2007 came to
a close. Embarking on a hasty move
into a new U.K. head office premises,
right in the midst of a hectic summer
season, was always going to be a tricky
manoeuvre.
The move itself went well, however
due to the heavy schedule a few things
ended being left in boxes for a while.
As summer came to a close so the builders
moved in to smarten things up, add
a few walls and an expansive mezzanine
floor. More emptying of boxes insued,
new stock systems set into place and
a bit of argey bargey over whose desk
went where, everything seemed to be
falling into shape!
The last leg of the move was to install
a room to demonstrate their products
and with that now completed Unit 7
Lockwood Industrial Park otherwise
known as Noise Control HQ is proudly
open to the public!
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NCA Introduces its range to
Belgium
Supporting
their Benelux Distributor "Full-On
Sound and Light Bv" in an
exploration into this market, Noise
Control Audio packed up a truck full
of products and set of to Belgium
for the ACF show for the first time
this year.
The response from those who visited
the stand was very positive. Particular
note was shown to the build quality,
clarity of of the systems and the
balance in tonal qualities right from
the long throw I-Fly systems down
to the AYSM Series and the new compact
coaxial boxes. Whilst for the most
part sound levels had to be very subdued
it was a good opportunity to demonstrate
the hi-fidelity sound of our products.
To the surprise of those who listened
it was possible to balance a stereo
image between systems that are hugely
different in size and power capabilities,
creating a stereo "sweet spot"
where listeners eyes could hardly
believe what there ears where telling
them. This may seem like a bit of
a gimmick, but far from it. Being
able to install a multi zone system
where the audio quality reflected
around the venue matches that heard
by the FOH engineers or the DJ at
his monitors is of huge advantage
in ensuring an accurate, precise reflection
of the music as it is intended to
be heard, where ever you are in the
venue. However regardless of this,
the one occasion where we were given
the opportunity to turn the levels
up a bit resulted in one buyer rushing
over to the stand to demand to know
exactly where he could purchase such
a system immediately!
Noise Control Audio and Full-On Sound
and Light would like to say thank
you to all the new faces and contacts
made. Overall the experience was friendly
and positive with a lot of support
shown to our endeavors to keep quality
and innovation ahead of the forces
of cheap and mass production in the
sound reinforcement market.
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NCA Takes Centre Stage at the Hackney
Empire
Charlie Chaplin,
Stan Laurel, Tony Hancock and Cliff Richard are
just some of the stars who have all trodden the
boards at the Hackney Empire, the famous theatre
built in 1901, which had its heyday as a music
hall in Edwardian times. When
Komedia started its whirlwind climb to fame as
Brighton’s hottest live performance venue – and
one of the best known in the UK – it needed a
audio solution that wouldn’t let it – or its artists
down.
Perhaps the most famous music hall star to perform
there was Marie Lloyd, who more recently gave
her name to an annexe built next to the theatre
as part of a massive £15m renovation and
restoration project completed in 2004.
The annexe houses a studio theatre and hospitality
area – plus the 220 seat Marie Lloyd Bar,
which provides for the needs of theatre goers
as well as for the general public via a separate
street entrance. In true ‘trooper’
tradition, the bar also hosts live entertainment
– with a full programme of regular live
music evenings and singers’ jam sessions
as well as poetry and comedy shows.
Manager Laura Muldoon says the bar often also
hosts wedding receptions due to its proximity
to Hackney Town Hall!
With restoration funding focusing on essentials
like an orchestra pit and dressing rooms for the
Empire, there was nothing left over to pay for
a sound system for the Marie Lloyd Bar, even though
it was ready to open in October 2004.
Noise Control Audio stepped in by loaning some
equipment on a temporary basis before a budget
could be found to pay for a permanent installation.
“Then it was all systems go,” explains
Laura. “We needed to appoint a company who
could deliver in a very short space of time –
in just a few weeks actually - so that everything
was in place and just right for our launch evening
on New Years Eve. It was further complicated by
the fact that we moved the stage and had to re-wire
everywhere.”
“We also needed equipment which would match
our requirements – live music at one end
of the scale and poetry at the other and the equipment
also needed to be discreet – not ugly or
conspicuous. Although we obtained several quotations,
we went with Noise Control Audio partly because
they were highly recommended to us and we felt
we could trust them to deliver – both in
terms of time and in meeting our specification.
“We have been really pleased with what they
have done for us – and the speakers have
stood the test of time. What is really good is
that the sound doesn’t dominate every corner
of the bar – people can get away from the
live music by moving up to the balcony if they
want to chat.”
“And they were able to supply us with flat
hanging speakers for daytime use which you barely
notice – which is really important in a
venue like ours.”
“But one of the overriding reasons for choosing
them was their reliability. I know that NCA are
there for us should anything go wrong - and that
peace of mind is really important.”
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Noise control audio at the ACF show in Budapest , Hungary 21st – 23rd November 2006
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the visitors who took the time to visit our stand at the 1st ACF show Budapest.
The ACF show in Budapest in November 2006 was the first Pro Audio / Lighting show there for 10 years so it was a bit of a risk for a small company like ours but we believe that Eastern Europe and Hungary especially is a developing market. Hungary boast’s Europe’s largest festival, the Sziget festival so we felt that it was a risk worth taking and it has turned that we were right. Although the turn out for the show was very low we made the most of the visitors that made the effort and have already made significant roads into the pro user / installation markets. The Show was well organised for the most but it did seem to lack in the promotional aspect, I’m hoping that the future events in the east will be better promoted there and we look forward to going back to Budapest in the near future..
Steve Stavrinides
Head Of Business Development
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Brighton’s brightest performance venue
gets upstairs downstairs treatment from NCA
When Komedia started
its whirlwind climb to fame as Brighton’s hottest
live performance venue – and one of the best known
in the UK – it needed a audio solution that wouldn’t
let it – or its artists down.
It would have been natural for Komedia to turn
to one of the big industry names for a system
to provide the quality it needed to take it on
into the big league when it re-opened in May 2004
after developing and enlarging the relatively
humble 80-seater venue it had been for a decade
or so.
Instead, mirroring the approach it had taken with
its own acts, by giving talented newcomers like
Graham Norton and the League of Gentlemen a break,
it bravely took on a relative unknown to provide
its new sound system – London based Noise Control
Audio (NCA).
The proof is in the pudding as they say. Just
over two years on and Komedia has been so impressed
with the system NCA provided that it is about
to launch a new upstairs venue, once again boasting
a sound system designed, produced and installed
by NCA.
Komedia’s Technical Manager Chris Williams takes
up the story. “When we reopened in May 2004, our
old system was not big enough or good enough for
the new downstairs venue. We had heard of NCA
through one of our engineers who works for Alstublieft
Audio here in Brighton.
“So they put in a PA system for a one month trial
period for us free of charge. We were really impressed
with the clarity of sound and the size and the
look of the system. NCA were also able to consult
/ supply and install many other aspects of the
system to compliment their enclosures and so we
went ahead.”
“We have had nothing but positive responses about
the system. A few bands were a bit dubious when
they first saw the system because it wasn’t a
name they knew, but they are always really happy
to come back. Having an excellent system in place
makes it much easier for us to attract quality
bands back, as well as fresh new bands. They are
keen to come here because the NCA system means
we have built a good reputation.
“I know that many of the bands have been so impressed
with the sound they get here, that they have approached
NCA to get a system from them for when they go
on tour.”
NCA installed its MPM1815/VSB215 enclosures downstairs
at Komedia but has put in a more comprehensive
system better suited to the larger upstairs space
for round two of the development.
This includes:The I-Fly system
• 2 x VSB218 Sub enclosures
• 4 x RGW112 Bass enclosures
• 4 x TMT600 Mid /Hi enclosures
• 5 x SW15 stage wedge
• 1 x ASYM 2 used as a Drum fill
• All powered by NCA’s Full Frequency range of speaker management and amplifiers
• FF208D processor. An XTA 4 series OEM product FF6.0 /3.6 amplifiers. An FFA Amplifier OEM product
Komedia invited
four companies to tender for the second installation
and Chris says “after another demonstration
over the Great Escape festival weekend in May
2006 he simply couldn’t refuse the I-Fly
system that NCA’s Business Development Director
Steve Stavrinides came up with.”
“Again, they were able to give us a great deal and even sourced finance for us. And of course this time round we had the confidence of knowing that the quality of NCA’s products is second to none. Steve came in and designed the system to fit and they have been extremely flexible in terms of logistics – we have made some changes very late in the day and they have been happy to respond by working around them.
“The great thing about their systems for us too is that they provide the oomph required by big rock bands but the subtlety we need for the different types of performance we have here. We don’t just want a system to blare. We need something which enhances all types of music since we put on everything from rock to jazz and flamenco evenings as well as theatre.
Chris appreciates the NCA combination of traditional workmanship, contemporary design and reliable service offered by the small company, with a growing reputation. “Reay, who is head of NCA’s research and development, is an old fashioned boffin, who really knows his stuff and knows his sound inside out while the rest of the team provides great customer service. This means I feel confident both about their equipment and about their ability and willingness to give me the after sales service I need.”
NCA designs and produces its own systems to ensure that sound and look is perfect for every situation. Its range of boxes stacks attractively in all kinds of configurations. Inside the enclosures are moulded organic curves which refract sound more efficiently than flattened surfaces. Made from high-density void-free Birch ply, the boxes are also designed to be durable and stable when used on tour. In permanent venues like Komedia, NCA’s flexibility and adaptability really shines through with its designs now making a mark with clubs, Hire companies and music venues around the country. NCA produces systems to suit any application where sound reinforcement is required, offers on-site consultation and free demonstrations.
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Barfly Group Launch Latest London Venue
Using Noise Control Audio.
In July 2006 the
barfly group launched its latest venue THE FLY
in London’s New Oxford Street once again
they turned to London based Noise Control Audio
to consult / design / install the speaker system.
Steve Stavrinides from noise control explained
why they chose the ASYM series for this particular
install “the barfly group has many different
size and shape venue’s ranging from small
intimate environments to large scale 600 person
rock “n” roll venues and the ASYM
series is designed to be scaleable to achieve
the coverage and audio excellence that is required
to cope with the pounding they get from the demanding
schedule that the barfly put them through. All
in all the ASYM series is a very rugged design
that can cope with all situations so it seemed
the natural solution”. Steve Revealed.
The Barfly Group has worked with the Noise Control
team since 1997, when there only existed a single
Barfly PA system in the back room of a Camden
pub. With 7 venues now operating in the UK, incorporating
London, Cardiff, Liverpool, Glasgow, York and
Birmingham, Barfly have a total of 12 PA systems
with some of them running 7 days a week. Noise
Control Audio are an organization that's experienced
enough to provide the best 24/7 advice, equipment,
servicing and maintenance capability, yet adaptable
enough to cater to unique audio requirements.
We're expecting over 500,000 patrons through the
doors of our 7 venues this year, and we'll be
promoting 2,700 events and 6,500 bands, so we
need to be working with the best quality and most
reliable sound equipment supported by the most
reliable back-up. We also need sound equipment
that caters for a range of musical genres from
rock, pop, acoustic, dance, hip hop, reggae and
urban. For our needs, Noise Control have always
delivered.
Noise Control products and recommendations are
designed to keep on keeping on, often in uncomfortable
live environments where variables such as temperature,
artist and audience demands on the equipment can
be extreme. Barfly needs work horse equipment
that creates a consistent quality sound and Noise
Control strives to deliver this for us in all
situations.
I'm particularly delighted to have the new Noise
Control Full Frequency amps and ASYM 3 speakers
installed in Barfly Birmingham and The Fly in
London. The response from the audiences to date
has been nothing short of brilliant and we look
forward to working with Noise Control equipment
in the new venues that we expect to open in the
next 12 months.
Jeremy Ledlin
Managing Directors
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