With daily working pressures on hospitality staff always challenging, and a complicated sound system an unwelcome addition, Flipside AV recently installed an Optimal Audio Zone 4 and ZonePad to control three audio zones at Bang in Wells, a modern café, bar and hotel on the North Norfolk coast.

Zone 4 is a zonal audio controller with DSP providing everything required in a single compact unit to become the heart of an efficient, high-quality multi-zoned commercial sound system. It features four line and two mic inputs, plus two HDMI inputs for TV and video sound. This allows an installer to independently allocate sources across four configurable zones – such as a lobby, bar or restaurant – with each zone configured to do precisely what is required using the intuitive WebApp. This includes EQs, loudspeaker presets, and structured time of day routines.

In the case of Bang, Zone 4 was installed to control audio in three zones. Once configured, a ZonePad 4 was added to make end usability effortless. ZonePad 4 is an wal-mounted controller, providing users clear and simple access to the essential controls of up to four zones. It gives all users the confidence and access they need to operate the system and features an intuitive touch interface, enabling selection, volume control of playback sources, and microphones to be easily controlled across the zones of audio from one position. Controlling the sound system on the move is no problem for the venue staff; the venue manager has WebApp pinned to home screen on the venue iPad, ensuring that changes can be made quickly and easily if needed.

‘The unit was super-fast and easy to set up, with just the right amount of control for the team to get the best out of the sound system,’ says Flipside AV MD, James Heath Cooper. ‘In terms of price, it’s spot on really and has some lovely value-added functionality like the HDMI audio inputs. The customer is very happy and finds the system effortless to use. It’s added a lovely vibe to the establishment.’