RMP serves up the audio in Jakarta venues
Published: ASIA
INDONESIA: Businesses in any modern bustling metropolis all suffer from rising rents and Indonesia’s capital city Jakarta is no exception. To keep up or forge ahead of the competition, bar and restaurant owners heed the demands of their customers in providing audio masking, BGM and all out sound reinforcement during their long hours of operation. Durability, reliability and ease of use are compulsory requirements of these owners when commissioning audio installers to fulfil these missing ingredients. Rhema Multi Perkasa (RMP) continue to satisfy such needs on an ever-increasing basis thanks to referrals and plaudits from its extensive network of F&B outlets.
‘We simply cannot keep up with the demand,’ grinned RMP project manager Dax M Wenas. The audio systems installed may be simple in their design, but they all require a discrete solution that will not interfere with the F&B outlets’ main business needs. Furthermore, they can only be installed during the non-operational hours in the dead of night. ‘It’s the nature of the beast – we have to perform when the patrons rest.’
Entering into Bau-Haus 1933 is like stepping into a pre-war Bavarian bierkeller. The cellar bar restaurant located in East Plaza soothes its diners during the day with a BGM system taking its feed from an iPod played through 12 self-powered FBT J5a speakers. When the sun goes down, the DJ operating twin Pioneer CDJ2000 decks and a DJM2000 mixer raises the SPLs using an FBT MaxX 4a and SubLine 15a subwoofer system. An ARX transformer isolated Uniface provides a steady, even level of output in the signal chain for the DJs. ‘Distortion is a common problem for all venues if they don’t add this simple solution,’ explains Mr Wenas. An ARX AudiBox USB-IO converts digital to analogue with full transformer balancing and isolation, ensuring that the iPod playback doesn’t suffer from humming or distortion. ‘It converts the iPod mini-jack connection to an RCA output and in doing so provides an unbalanced signal.’ An FBT DLM26 processor provides loudspeaker management in the bar, restaurant and VIP room zones.
Adorned with collections of fine wines throughout its interior, Cork and Screw recently opened its doors in the swanky Pacific Place mall. It also boasts an outdoor restaurant offering its guests a non-air conditioned alternative should they wish. The RMP team installed another winning 5-inch two-way speaker design into this eatery by way of a Martin Audio AQ5 system. Four floor standing AQ210 subwoofers enhance the lower frequencies, whilst MA4.8C ceiling speakers have been added to the VIP rooms. An aptly named ARX BarMIX is employed as a Zone Mixer, allowing up to four audio sources to be routed to either zone. Powered by Powersoft M50Q and M28Q amplifiers, the DSP in Cork & Screw is refined by way of an FBT DLM26 loudspeaker processor. The ambience is lifted in the evenings courtesy of another Pioneer DJ system comprising twin CDJ850 turntables and a DJM850 mixer.
In close proximity, Chinese restaurant Pau Pau operates a similar system with FBT Jolly J5a speakers and three JS12a subwoofer and Soundcraft MFX mixer for iPod playback and live music. A DJ once again creates a nocturnal setting via Pioneer CDJ850 and DJM850 decks. With the kitchens and bars closed during Mr Wenas’ working hours, breakfast cannot come too soon once the cables have been terminated and the outlets can boast audio relish to enhance their customers’ senses.