Brussels—Jun 19, 2007
Kinepolis Turns to QSC DCA/Basis Solution for Next Generation of Multiplexes
The new eight-screen Kinepolis Oostende multiplex on the Belgian north coast will be using QSC BASIS and DCA
Belgian-based Kinepolis Group has spent its first decade developing a portfolio of 22 THX cinema complexes throughout Belgium, France, Spain, Poland and Switzerland, making it today one of the most significant players on the European stage.
Soon after its formation in 1997, Kinepolis started using QSC Audio THX-approved products - and soon became major users of ISA 450 and 750 Series amplifiers and DCM-3 Digital Cinema Monitors, to meet its processing and system optimisation requirements.
But time and technology march on, and with the remorseless advance towards full digital cinema, QSC's local territorial distributors and cinema specialists, AED bvba, ensured that the burgeoning cinema group were kept informed of the tasks QSC's new generation of mission critical digital devices could perform when placed on a CobraNet™ network.
As a result, the new eight-screen Kinepolis Oostende multiplex on the Belgian north coast, set to open next month, will propel the company into a new technological age entirely.
Nicolas Hamon, the operators' Projection and Sound Manager, confirms that Oostende will be the first site to use QSC's BASIS 922az and 914lz network control in combination with multiples of DCA amplifiers - again supplied by AED bvba.
The complete network universe has been designed around eight each of the BASIS hubs, in conjunction with 31 x DCA1622, 11 x DCA1824, 3 x DCA3022, 6 x DCA1222 and 8 x DCA2422 two-channel amplifiers. With cinemas in mind, this series also features a PowerLight™ power supply to produce seat-shaking bass, Active Inrush Limiting to ensure that circuit breakers aren't blown at switch-on, and both speaker and monitor panel outputs.
Operating under QSControl.net, the BASIS platform meets the control, monitoring and processing needs of Kinepolis' amplification and loudspeaker systems over an Ethernet network, offering system protection and configurable DSP - all integrated within a single RU package.
The Kinepolis technician immediately saw all the benefits of this open architecture, such as the ability to route 64 channels of pristine bi-directional audio over a single Ethernet cable, with low latency and quiet operation. "On top of that, this design significantly reduces installation time, allows quicker and easier maintenance/repair and the CobraNet cabling will experience less signal loss than traditional copper wiring," observes Mr. Hamon.
These were the principal reasons for choosing the QSC BASIS and DCA multi-channel amplifiers for Oostende. "We want to provide our customers the best entertainment experience - and great sound is pivotal to that experience.
"By installing the QSC BASIS and DCA amplifiers we can now guarantee a perfect quality for every show since we can monitor and control the entire system through Venue Manager Software."
Mr. Hamon also recognises the true cost of ownership and operation of a system set-up to recognise the limit of each loudspeaker, and provide the necessary protection.
The flexible infrastructure will also enable him to look beyond the cinema's mainstream functionality, sensing that the Basis systems will provide the house with the possibility of routing alternative sound sources (such as mics, DVD and presentation audio) into every screening room, using the simple macro selection.
"Thanks to the CobraNet network we can patch non-synced music to every screen from a single source without adding extra hardware - as well as being able to monitor sound in the projection booth."
With digital projection rapidly replacing traditional 35mm formats, digital soundtracks can also be hooked up directly in the Basis system. Kinepolis Oostende for instance has four with digital capability, two of which are exclusive, end-to end digital.
The new cinema is set to open on July 8 - fittingly just one week after Cinema Expo, the cinema industry's global annual showcase event in nearby Amsterdam.