Abstract

Collaborative and Portable (moved by program coordinator upon committee vote)

Meany Hall for the Performing Arts is requesting funds to purchase a digital sound board to replace the current, antiquated analog board. The primary components will include a state-of-the-art Midas PRO3 Console, a case and rack for protection, a split card to separate sound tracks, and an iPad for remote control. The new system would not only provide better all-around sound quality for the thousands of UW students and student groups that use Meany Hall each year, it would also meet their growing demand for increased sound processing options and avoid costly fixes and the risk of system failure.

Background

Meany Hall is among the region's foremost performance facilities with superior acoustics and an intimate ambiance. Meany Hall's main stage venue, Meany Theater, is a 1,206-seat proscenium theater. Meany Hall's mission is to provide a supportive environment and encourage the presentation of engaging and diverse performing arts programs and events. Meany Hall's primary clients include the UW academic performing arts units (School of Music, Dance Program, School of Drama and the Digital Arts Program), UW student groups and other departments, the UW World Series, and community performing organizations. Over 15,000 students attend events at Meany Hall each year. On average, we host over 50 events by UW students in arts and non-arts units as well as student groups each year. Events includes over 30 performances by students and faculty from the School of Music, Dance Program, DXArts, and School of Drama and 24 events by other non-arts units and student groups such as Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, UW Gospel Choir, UW Educational Outreach, Desi Dhamaka, Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW), Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, Foundation for International Understanding Through Students (FIUTS) and numerous departmental graduation ceremonies.

Meany Theatre currently utilizes an analog sound system that was purchased in 1999. Comparable theaters throughout the Puget Sound, such as Seattle Theatre Group, Benaroya Hall, Kirkland Performing Arts Center, and Seattle Repertory Theater, use digital sound systems. Digital is considered the industry standard today, and Meany Hall is unquestionably "behind the times." At present, our analog sound board uses knobs hard-wired to electronics to manipulate audio, whereas new digital systems use Digital Signal Processing (DSP) controlled by a computer. In essence, it is like comparing a typewriter to a computer.

There are some notable disadvantages to the current analog system that could be easily improved with a digital system. A few include: (1) poor sound quality (e.g. a constant, noisy hiss); (2) an inability to perform routine processing requests from clients (e.g. splitting sound tracks, producing webcasts); (3) risk of system failure at an event because there is no backup system; (4) no recall of sound settings, meaning sound check settings may vary from the actual performance settings; (5) costly fixes when the hardware wears out, which happens frequently. To solve these issues, Meany Hall proposes the purchase of a new digital sound board, the Midas PRO3 Consol that will meet today's sound production standards as well as the evolving needs of UW students and student groups.

While our application is not student initiated, we recognize this urgent equipment need as a result of our direct interaction with UW students, student groups and instructors who produce events at Meany Hall. It is also widely known among arts units that there is a high need for updated technology and equipment for arts students and theaters across campus. It is critical to the educational experience of our students and faculty and to our reputation as one of the region's leading performance halls that we transform our facilities into 21st century performance spaces that provide all of our users with first-rate experiences.

Benefits

Meany Hall proposes the purchase of a digital sound board and accompanying components that will include: a state-of-the-art Midas PRO3 Console plus a case and rack for protection; a split card to separate sound tracks; and a remote control for Midas consoles. It is a cutting-edge, flexible system that will provide UW students and student groups with performance and event experiences that feature the latest sound engineering services. The benefits of this system are numerous. Thousands of UW students from arts and non-arts units that use Meany Theatre would benefit in their roles as artists, audience members and theater clients. The sound quality and variety will be significantly improved for artists and audience members; UW student group and department clients will have enhanced sound production options; and backend operations will be simplified considerably. Furthermore, a new sound board will reduce the cost of regularly repairing the analog board, which amounts to an upwards of $1,000 annually. These costs are ultimately passed on to Meany Hall clients.

The Midas PRO3 Console is a top-rated system and provides clients with industry-standard services. Features include:

- More sound processing options, including dynamic range compression, which controls the volume of loud and quiet sounds; gates, which turn sound on/off automatically; de-essers, which eliminate out excess "s", "z" or "sh" sounds through microphones; effects, such as reverberation, echo and delay, to name a few; and side-chain processing, when one process is controlled by another (a classic example is "ducking" compression, when music "ducks" down in level so a voice can be heard from a microphone and then automatically restores when the voice stops). Presently, the analog system only offers volume and equalization options.
- Sound splitting, so clients can edit each split separately. For example, 12 microphones equal 12 distinct sound splits. Sound splitting is a standard industry service that Meany Hall is currently unable to provide for its clients despite the high demand.
- More and more flexible inputs and outputs. For example, the analog sound board has only 11 outputs, and each output is dedicated to a specific purpose. The Midas PRO3 has 27 adaptable outputs; thus, simultaneous recording, media, and distribution feeds will be possible and simple to program.
- Recall of previous sound settings. A client will be able to conduct a sound check prior to an event, and the same settings will be saved for the actual event. With the current analog system, exact recall is impossible because settings are recorded manually with pen and paper. This presents a high risk of inaccuracy that could be easily avoided with the Midas PRO3.
- Smooth, quality transitions from instances when sound support is required to when it is not. For example, in a chamber music concert, in order to add amplified instrumentation for one piece, the ensemble would risk a loud buzzing noise during an otherwise quiet, acoustic performance.
- Continuity in sound quality and production in the case of a system failure. The audience would be unaware that such a failure occurred with the Midas PRO3, as opposed to the analog system which would disrupt the event for audience members and clients.

Implementing the Midas PRO3 Console will revolutionize amplified sound production in Meany Theatre. The system will open up new presentation possibilities for student clients' from UW Dance Program to DX Arts, provide the over 15,000 annual student audience members with access to cutting-edge presentations, and move Meany Hall and the University of Washington into 21st century sound production.

Student Access

The proposed equipment will be managed, installed, and maintained by Meany Hall staff. At present, it is unrealistic to check-out the equipment to students due to the high volume of theater users, as well as the expertise necessary to operate the equipment. However, the Midas PRO3 possesses varying levels of access so any knowledgeable sound engineer from client groups, including student groups and UW departments, could run their own sound production if desired. DX Arts students who are learning sound engineering would be particularly excellent candidates to operate the Midas PRO3 for their Meany Theatre productions.

Available Resources

Meany Hall's Technical Director, with support from our professional production team, will be in charge of the installation, usage, and maintenance of the equipment. The initial installation and training of technical and production staff will take approximately 40-50 hours. Our in-house sound engineer, who is already familiar with the equipment, will train other production staff on operating the Midas PRO3.

Installation Timeline

Meany Hall will purchase and install the equipment, as well as train staff in July-September of 2012 in order to start off the 2012/13 academic calendar with the new sound system in place.

Departmental Endorsement

I write to lend my strong support for Meany Hall's request for a state of the art Digital Sound Mixing System. The analog sound system currently in use in the Meany Hall for the Performing Arts is now 13 years old, and in need of ongoing repairs and maintenance to keep it in use. Failure of the analog sound mixing system remains an ongoing reality in the hall. This is not a sustainable mode of operation for Meany, which is dedicated to serving the UW campus and Puget Sound region through the presentation of engaging and diverse performing arts programs. New leadership in Meany Hall operations and the UW World Series promises to deepen and enliven the already rich offerings in community education, culture, and the arts. Meany Hall is used by the School of Drama, School of Music, Dance Program, and the Center for Digital Arts & Experimental Media as well as an array of registered student groups and community organizations. Purchase of a new digital sound mixing system will ensure that patrons, performers, student groups and community users are assured access to a reliable and high quality sound technology that is easier to use, to set up and to maintain. I urge the STF committee to fund this high priority proposal in full.
- Betsy Cooper, Director, Dance Program & Interim Divisional Dean of Arts, College of Arts & Sciences

As a guest lecturer for the Drama department, Meany Hall is an essential resource for my students and our class (Intro to Sound Design for the Theatre). The students spend most of the quarter in a classroom/lab setting talking about and building theatrical sound. Being able to then experience on a large real-world scale, what they have been studying in the classroom provides an invaluable perspective. This new equipment would provide them the opportunity to see and hear an up-to-date modern sound system in action.
- Matt Starritt, Guest Faculty, Sound Design

I heartily endorse Meany Hall's Student Technology funding proposal for a digital sound board for Meany Hall. This purchase would guarantee improved sound quality for our concert audiences. The current equipment is dated and unreliable. Music is moving in the direction of combined digital/acoustic presentation and mixing console difficulties can easily ruin a concert presentation. In a venue of such distinction it is imperative that quality of all audio presentations is clear and consistent. I'm hopeful that their request will be granted.
- Tim Salzman, Professor, Director of Wind Ensembles

FIUTS depends on Meany Hall as an important way to produce large-scale programs on campus and to engage the entire UW community in programs that build intercultural awareness and understanding. Meany is one of the few places on campus where the wider community has easy access, parking, and an amazing calendar of events that connect the university to Puget Sound residents. It is an important way to showcase the work of students and others at our renown institution, so it is imperative that Meany Hall have the best possible equipment to ensure that programs meet everyone's needs and technical standards. FIUTS is proud to support Meany Hall's proposal to the Student Technology Fee committee.
- Era Schrepfer; Executive Director, FIUTS

Our department (DXARTS) has at least two surround-sound concerts in Meany Hall every year, in each of these concerts students get their digital compositions played, sometimes including acoustic instruments or video. These are not just DXARTS students but also Music Composition students and many other non-DXARTS majors taking our sound classes. The current situation forces us to transport our own 48-channel digital mixer to Meany for every concert and install it in the hall, which takes a lot of time and effort. Having a Midas Pro3 mixer in place would be a great improvement, not only we won't have to transport our own mixer to Meany but we will have access to a professional piece of equipment adapted for the hall and ready to use, significantly reducing setup time and giving the students more time for rehearsal in the hall. For the aforementioned reasons I give my strongest endorsement to this proposal and I encourage the STF Committee to fund it in full.
- Juan Pampin, Director Center for Digital Arts and Experimental Media (DXARTS)

In recent years the staff at Meany Theater has really gone out of their way to work with student groups on their rentals and events. These events often push the limits of what the current sound equipment can facilitate. I wholeheartedly support any enhancements to existing audio equipment and know that the staff at Meany will continue their excellent support of student event planning endeavors.
- Trevor Whiton, Senior Adviser for student organizations (ASUW, Desi, Miss Greek, Mr. Greek etc.), Student Activities Office

As a Professor of Jazz Studies in the University of Washington School of Music, I whole-heartedly endorse Meany Theater's proposal for a digital sound board in the theater. The jazz students and faculty of the School of Music regularly give performances in Meany along with our world renowned guest artists. The music that we create and perform continue to evolve along with the technical advances that inform our work. It is with these advances that our performances require the technical equipment to adhere to the current industry standards as well as meeting the needs of Meany's staff in their efforts in providing the highest excellence in audio service to the musicians as well as their audience. The new digital sound board would be not only solve all of the problematic limitations of Meany's current sound board but also be the major contribution to the excellence that Meany's staff seek to provide.
- Cuong Vu, Assistant Professor, Jazz Studies

I am very pleased to give my strongest endorsement to the STF proposal from Meany for: (1) Midas Pro3 (48 Input, 24 Output) Digital Sound Mixing System; (2) Under Console Equipment Racks and Tabletop. This equipment represents a significant upgrade and will have direct benefit to many students who perform in Meany in music, dance, and theater productions. Many of these students are not performing arts majors and so the impact of this equipment, while significant for music, dance, and drama majors (combined these units have hundreds of majors, would also directly affect the wider student community who perform as well as those who attend as audience members. I encourage the STF Committee to fund this proposal in full.
- Richard Karpen, Director, School of Music/Professor Digital Arts and Experimental Media

Student Endorsement

My name is Adrian Swan, I am a music performance major at the university and in the past year or two I have on several occasions had to use Meany Hall's sound system as part of a performance I was involved in. This included hooking up several basses to be amplified, microphones to amplify singers, and the use of electronics such as synthesizers, laptops and drum machines. On several occasions there were problems with the house sound board, resulting in certain things not coming through. I ended up using my own mixer for most of it, but this was very much so a hassle. As many ensembles at the University are starting to move towards more modern music, a great deal of which includes electronics of many types, I strongly support the move to update the sound board and overall system in the hall. Both as a performer of new music, and one who wishes to see more new music be able to be performed. The current sound board is very worn out at this point, and this results in the very real threat of gear malfunctioning during a performance. I feel this should be acted upon before that happens.
-Adrian Swan, Student, Applied Music - String Instruments

As a graduate conducting student and a member of the UW Wind Ensemble, I have utilized the sound mixing system in Meany Theatre for many of our performances as well as our Band Festival. The current system is well over ten years old and the reliability and quality of the analog system is inferior to today's digital systems. We depend on the reliability of the system for not only for the live performances we hold in Meany Theatre, but also for the posterity of our concerts. Should the system fail, not only is the live performance affected, but our recordings, which are often used for auditions and job applications, are also affected. A new digital sound mixing system would benefit over 250 UW students involved in the UW Bands.
- Erin Bodnar, Graduate Student, Instrumental Conducting

As a graduate student in Music Composition and Jazz at the University of Washington, I strongly endorse Meany Theater's proposal for a new digital sound board. As the school of music continues to expand the caliber and scope of its musical endeavors at Meany, it is vital that we are responsive to the call to include technology that supports the musical performances as much as possible. Specifically as a student who has performed at Meany Hall on a number of occasions, the ease and improvements that a digital mixing board will bring to the coexistence of performers and sound engineers is essential to the best possible presentations of our work.
-Ivan Luis Arteaga, Graduate Student, Music Composition

Meany Hall is the go to place for large events on campus. It offers a unique and professional quality space for student events that cannot be found anywhere else. Last year I was incredibly pleased with having the annual ASUW Drag Competition in Meany and heard from many people that it really brought the show to a new level. In order for Meany to continue to be the amazing space that is I believe it is imperative for Meany to update its sound equipment. This update would continue to make Meany an attractive space for student events as well ensuring a high level quality for all events hosted there.
- Jennifer Gibbons, Student, Director of Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, Transgender Commission, Associated Students of the University of Washington

Items

Below are the items making up the current proposal. The asterisk (*) beside items signify that they were approved by the committee. This however was not implemented correctly for our database before 2005, so earlier years may not show this.

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