AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK SPECTACULAR INSTALLS ALLEN & HEATH

Warner Village Theme Parks has opened the Australian Outback Spectacular (AOS) selecting two iDR-8 DSP mixers and a PA12-CP powered mixer as part of the extensive audio installation. Situated on the Gold Coast, the $23 million extravaganza is an evening dinner show and the first of its kind in Australia. The evening starts in a huge barn themed as a traditional outback sheering shed complete with beer kegs, harvester parts, sheering machinery and the obligatory ‘roo bar equipped Ford ute. This area features a live musician or band and mixing for the live acts is via an Allen & Heath PA12-CP powered mixer with a selection of Audio-Technica wireless and hand held microphones. A Martin Audio speaker system was also selected with power and processing by QSC. Set in a 1000-seat arena, the main show features a cast of skilled stockmen and women demonstrating herding techniques and skilled horsemanship, an array of animals - including 31 horses, 30 cattle, 2 camels, and 50 sheep – and various bush vehicles.

The huge production is handled via a stage manager’s system, which manages show relay and paging to back of house and foyer areas. This is controlled by an Allen & Heath iDR-8 DSP engine, powered by QSC amps and delivered by Atlas Sound ceiling speakers and Martin Audio C115’s. As an international attraction, pocket radio/headphone sets are available for every guest requiring translation. The radios have seven languages on offer on presets and guests can then monitor the show in their choice of Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese and Arabic with two more to follow, plus a hard-of-hearing English commentary. As the operator steps through his normal show cues, Midi commands trigger the appropriate language cues in the LTS computer. A MOTU Digital interface is used as a D to A converter and an Allen & Heath iDR-8 performs audio post processing and critical limiting prior to transmission. Audio operators can monitor the progress of cues on separate PC monitors and even add live commentary if required.