The sanctuary built around the tomb of 20th century Italian mystic Natuzza Evolo has been equipped with DPA microphones for use in meetings and monthly masses.
Built by the Natuzza Evolo Foundation in Paravati in Southern Italy and opened in 2015, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Refuge of Souls Sanctuary has four separate chapels including one very large space that can accommodate up to 900 people. Acoustician Toni Soddu, founder and CEO of London-based Grand Acoustics, was responsible for designing and installing the sound reinforcement systems in each of the chapels and connecting walkways.
Soddu, who has extensive experience in designing auditoria, conference halls, rehearsal rooms, theatres and music venues, was also responsible for all equipment choices and he worked closely with DPA’s Italian distributor, Casale Bauer, to ensure the sanctuary got the correct microphones for its needs. ‘My brief was to provide a user-friendly sound reinforcement system that was unobtrusive and included the very latest technology,’ he explains. ‘As speech intelligibility was a key factor in this project, it was imperative that I chose the right microphones. DPA was top of the list because I’ve used these microphones for many years.
‘As well as being reliable, they also sound fantastic and are exceptionally well designed, providing optimal vocal reproduction even in places like a church where hard marble surfaces can make reverberation times quite high. As we have installed an active monitoring system, we also needed microphones that had high rejection to feedback. DPA fitted this brief perfectly across its entire range.’
The DPA microphones installed at the sanctuary includes eight d:screet Podium Microphones, eight d:fine Directional Headset Microphones with wireless adapters and eight d:screet Necklace Microphones, which feature the company’s d:screet 4061 Miniature Omnidirectional Capsule in a soft rubber necklace.
‘Church ceremonies and the ambience surrounding them, are very different from music events, so it was important to have microphones that could perform perfectly with many different aspects of speech,’ Soddu says. ‘The range we have specified gives the sanctuary plenty of choice, so they now have the right product for every application.
‘The d:screet podium microphones are great for standing use, especially for inexperienced speakers who don’t know how to deal with a handheld mic. The d:fine headset microphones are ideal for ceremonies where there are multiple celebrants and the d:screet necklace microphones are perfect for single celebrants, especially priests who want an invisible solution that doesn’t detract from their religious dress. With d:fine headset and necklace microphones, the celebrants can also move around freely and don’t have to worry about knocking their microphone out of position.’
Response to the microphones from sanctuary staff has been positive: ‘Everyone loves the DPA mics and if my customers are happy, then I certainly am,’ Soddu reports.
The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Refuge of Souls Sanctuary is now awaiting official inauguration from the Archdiocese of Mileto.
More: www.dpamicrophones.com
