The sound of Salvation
Published: WORSHIP
AUSTRALIA: Melbourne’s Salvation Army Temple might be a beautiful example of the high Victorian style, but it is also a challenging audio environment. The job of taming the acoustics fell to Fitzpatrick’s Pro Audio with Aaron Young called in to oversee as the project designer.
‘We tried out a bunch of different speakers and finally settled on the dB technologies DVA line array system,’ recalled Mr Young. The final system installed consists of six DVA T4s, two DVA S20s and a Yamaha M7-48ES for control. The monitors of choice are also from dB Technologies, a pair of DVX-DM28s and a further two DVX-DM15s were installed. All of the equipment was supplied by Entertainment Warehouse.
With its use of cast iron columns and beams internally to support the main staircase and the gallery, the room provided many different audio challenges, but Mr Young believes this highlights what can be achieved with line arrays. ‘It’s great to see line array technology for these types of rooms, as you can achieve a lot of pattern control.’
The building was originally erected for the Young Men’s Christian Association, but due to financial difficulties it was taken over by the Savings Bank Commissioners and subsequently purchased by the Salvation Army in October 1894. The building was dedicated the January 1895 as the Salvation Army’s Australasian Headquarters and Central Barracks. It now operates as the Army’s Southern Territorial Headquarters.