ADLIB Audio has won a competitive tender to design and install an audio system for the main venue in the new £13 million refurbishment project at the Villa Marina leisure complex in Douglas, Isle of Man.
The Liverpool-based company will be supplying a JBL VerTec 4888 line array system and dbx drive rack system control to the 'new' 1500 capacity Royal Hall. The JBL and dbx elements will be supplied to ADLIB by Harman Pro UK.
ADLIB is also supplying Crown amplification and Soundcraft consoles, and will be building a customised JBL-loaded sub bass system to fit under the stage.
ADLIB's Andy Dockerty has designed and specified the system. He is working to the brief to provide top quality live production facilities for to all types of performance - music of all genres from rock to cabaret to comedy.
With his vast experience in the live concert touring industry, Dockerty and his team have come up with many lateral and practical solutions to ensure the Royal Hall will become a regular venue on the UK touring circuit. "We're putting plenty of thought into this" comments Dockerty. "And we're looking forward to develop a long term relationship with the venue."
ADLIB has also had the advantage of being a manufacturer itself, and therefore able to accommodate specialist technical requirements like the bespoke sub bass system.
Harman Pro UK's Max Lindsay-Johnson says, "Having worked with ADLIB as touring partners, it's great to be teaming up with them again in an installation context. The venue is aiming to attract top level touring bands, and the equipment spec reflects this quality requirement."
The Isle of Man's Department of tourism wants The Royal Hall to gain the stature of other high profile receiving houses like Shepherd's Bush Empire in London or Glasgow's Academy. It's hoped the completion of the project will encourage more performers to put Douglas on their itineraries, by reducing the need to bring their own equipment and offering the best possible production facilities.