One of the largest and most important theatres in the German-speaking countries, the Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus has recently upgraded its technical network with the installation of an Optocore fibre-optic digital backbone.
Opened in 1970 in the Bernhard Peacock building at Gustaf-Gründgens Platz, the theatre was designed by architect Bernhard Pfau. Inside, it offers a large 760-seat auditorium and a smaller room with seating for up to 200. It also contains the Young Schauspielhaus Dusseldorf-Rath, with separate 300- and 100-seat theatre spaces. The venue hosts local artists and institutions, as well as dance, experimental music and the visual arts.
Optocore dealer, Synthax, provided a number of modules to installation contractor, Salzbrenner Stagetec Media Group to provide a fully redundant distribution system from stage to FOH. In order to meet safety and legal requirements, the house system is now interfaced to the fire alarm/voice evacuation system, via one of the modified Optocore X6R-FX units.
Salzbrenner’s rack design revolved around two Optocore DD32R-FX AES-EBU hubs from which the network is constructed, and includes a number of Optocore/SANE converters connected to the Yamaha mixing platforms. These include X6R-FX providing 16LI (Line In) channels and V3R-TP-8LI. In addition six X6R-FX are equipped with 8MI (Mic In)/8LO (Line Out) boards, with four V3R-TP-8LO, X6R-FX-16MI, X6R-TP-8MI/8LO and X6R-TP-16LO.
The new technology has provided more flexible routing options for sound engineer, Hans-Jürgen Becker and the Schauspielhaus technical team.
‘Optocore is well known for flexibility and custom solutions,’ says Synthax Optocore Product Specialist, Kai Reiter. ‘In addition to the high-channel count platform, this installation has unique fire alarm firmware, which allows the fire alarm to trigger the Optocore system mute. Thanks to this feature, the theatre passed all the rigorous safety tests and conforms to fire regulations.’
More: www.optocore.com
